We all know movement is good for mental health. We’ve read it, heard it, nodded along knowingly—often while sitting very still. And yet, knowing and doing are two very different things, especially when life gets busy, bodies age, motivation disappears, or our calendars look like competitive sport.
This year has reminded me—repeatedly—that movement is not about motivation. Motivation is unreliable. It comes and goes like a Wi-Fi signal in a crowded airport. What sustains us is discipline. And discipline, when it is rooted in kindness rather than punishment, is one of the highest forms of self-love.
For context: I am 59, rapidly approaching 60, which means my body now requires a longer warm-up, clearer communication, and occasionally a firm negotiation. Still, movement remains one of the most reliable supports for my mental health.
The Ebb and Flow of Motivation
If we wait until we feel motivated to move, we will wait a very long time. Motivation is emotional. It fluctuates with sleep, stress, hormones, workload, and whatever is happening in our personal lives that week. Discipline, on the other hand, is intentional. It is the quiet, consistent decision to show up even when enthusiasm is missing.
Clinically, this matters. Regular movement supports emotional regulation, improves mood stability, and helps the nervous system move out of chronic stress states. Discipline here is not force—it is self-trust. It is choosing behaviours that support mental health even when our internal dialogue is less than encouraging.
Grit vs. Grind: A Necessary Distinction
Let’s clear something up.
Grind is pushing at all costs. It ignores limits, overrides bodily signals, and is often fuelled by fear, comparison, or external pressure.
Grit is something else entirely. Grit is steady, flexible, and self-respecting. It honours both growth and recovery. Grit says:
“I will keep going—but I will listen, adapt, and rest when needed.”
From a psychological perspective, sustainable change only occurs when effort is paired with recovery. The nervous system requires both activation and rest. Growth happens in the movement; integration and healing happen in the pause. Mental health improves not through relentless pushing, but through consistent, compassionate persistence.
Movement as Mental Health Care
From a Compassionate Inquiry (CI) lens, we understand that symptoms are not problems to eliminate—they are messages to be understood. Anxiety, restlessness, low mood, emotional reactivity, and shutdown are not character flaws or diagnoses; they are adaptive responses shaped by lived experience, stress, and the nervous system’s attempt to protect.
Movement becomes powerful here because it is not about fixing or overriding the body—it is about listening to it.
Research consistently shows that regular physical activity can:
- Reduce anxiety by regulating arousal and stress hormones
- Support focus, attention, and cognitive flexibility (often discussed in ADHD research)
- Improve mood, sleep quality, and emotional resilience
From a CI perspective, movement supports the nervous system’s capacity to come out of threat and into safety. It helps metabolize stored stress, increases interoceptive awareness, and creates space for curiosity rather than self-judgment. In other words, movement helps us ask better questions of ourselves:
What does my body need right now?
What is this sensation or emotion trying to tell me?
Movement works not because it fixes us, but because it supports the body’s innate intelligence to regulate, adapt, and recover.
Internal vs. External “Why”
External motivation—numbers, praise, validation, or comparison—has a very short shelf life. It works briefly and then fades, especially when life gets hard. An internal why endures. An internal why sounds like:
- I move because it steadies my mind.
- I move because it helps me be more present with the people I love.
- I move because it supports the life I want to live—not the image I want to project.
When movement is anchored to identity and values rather than outcomes, it becomes sustainable.
Real Life, Real Obstacles (and a Bit More Honesty)
This year was not exactly ideal. It included:
- Moving in my elderly father
- Recovering from an ankle fracture (an experience I do not recommend)
- Running a busy private practice
- Wanting to be fully present for four very precious grandchildren
- And carving out time to care for my physical and mental health
Some days, movement looked strong and focused. Other days, it looked like negotiating with myself, my schedule, and an ankle that had opinions. This is what grit looks like in real life—not perfection, but intention.
By the Numbers (Not for Bragging—For Reality)
This is not about achievement. It is about consistency.
2025 Movement Review:
- Activities: 2,502
- Total Running Distance: 7,828.33 km
- Total Activity Time: 1,680 hours
These numbers did not happen because I was always motivated. They happened because I returned—again and again—to my internal why, adjusted when needed, rested when required, and stayed disciplined in a self-loving way.
If I Can Do This, You Can Find Your Version
This is not a message of comparison. It is an invitation. Movement does not require perfection, youth, unlimited time, or ideal circumstances. It requires intention, grit, and compassion. It requires letting go of the all-or-nothing mindset and choosing what is sustainable.
Ask yourself:
- What kind of movement supports my mental health right now?
- What would discipline look like if it were rooted in self-respect rather than self-criticism?
An Invitation
Choose one small, intentional movement practice this week. Not because you feel like it. Not because you “should.” But because your nervous system, your mind, and your future self will benefit.
From a Compassionate Inquiry lens, grit is also about staying present with discomfort rather than escaping it. It is the willingness to notice sensations, emotions, and urges with curiosity instead of judgment—and to choose aligned action anyway.
Discipline, when grounded in kindness, is not harsh. It is protective. It is stabilizing. It is love.