In 2018, a business partner and I bootstrapped a ready-to-eat food company called Authentic Meals. We were scrappy. We bartered, leaned on our past skills, and made things work any way we could. We shared kitchen space, piggybacked on bigger companies’ deliveries, and teamed up with local gyms and wellness centers.

You once wanted what you now have.

Take a breath and let that thought settle in.

Most days, we wake up and start moving before we’ve even checked in with ourselves. We’re already thinking about what’s next, what’s unfinished, what’s urgent, what’s missing.

But what if we paused before the day took over?

What if we asked ourselves one simple question that could shift our entire outlook?

Last week, I led an offsite with one our client. Their entire team was present. I introduced a daily practice that has shaped how I lead, how I live, and how I connect with others. It starts with a simple question:

“How do I want to feel today?”

I’ve asked myself this question for over a decade. It helps me stay grounded, not just in what I want to do, but in who I want to be.

Here was my answer that morning: Playful. Delighted. At ease + content. Engaged.

And then I wrote: “A shift from always pushing forward and pulling others uphill to experiencing and allowing the unfolding.”

That word, unfolding, has stayed with me.

Later that same morning, another question came: Is it possible to be ambitious and content at the same time? Does one steal from another?

Here’s what I believe: I believe it’s possible, but only if you’re grounded, clear, planned, focused, AND open and flexible on ONE THING.

What’s that ONE THING?

• One big, bold goal.

• One present moment.

• One focus that matters.

• One opportunity to pause, notice, and let life unfold.

At The Amplified Life Company, we use this question “How do I want to feel today?” to help teams build emotional intelligence.

When teams start asking this daily and openly sharing their answers, something powerful happens. People become more self-aware. They become better listeners. They speak more clearly and kindly. Trust grows.

This creates real shifts: better communication, smoother operations, and stronger outcomes.

You can’t grow a team that’s burned out or disconnected. But you can grow one that’s self-aware, emotionally present, and aligned.

And it starts with one question.

So here’s something to reflect on:

You once wanted what you now have. Have you moved the goalposts?

If you’re like me, the answer is probably yes. And that’s not a bad thing. Growth is good. Ambition is good.

But don’t forget to shift your energy. Move from pressure to presence. From striving to celebrating. From chasing to allowing.

Because in the unfolding, you may find the one thing we’re all searching for—but often call by other names like success or happiness.

You’ll find peace. 

One way to support this shift is by writing it down. This journal helps you slow down, get clear, and set your intention each day. When you take just a few minutes to answer, “How do I want to feel today?” You create space for better focus, more calm, and stronger leadership.

Try this 90 day journal HERE.

Read this quote and let it sink in for a moment, then keep reading:

“One of the most difficult problems in modern life: how to get everything done you need to do and still have time for creativity, family, and yourself.”  – Gay Hendrick

Two weeks ago, I was sitting in church when the pastor asked, “What are you devoted to?”

He went on to say that devotion is a decision, but misdirected devotion is dangerous.  He shared that devotion is shaped by vision. Vision anchors you. Then he reminded us of this scripture:

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” – Proverbs 29:18

In other words, when people lack clarity of direction, they drift. And when there’s no shared vision, people lose discipline, unity, energy, and hope.

I looked around the church that day as the pastor spoke about the vision for the future:

2026: The Year of Devotion

You could feel it; people were leaning in, ready, hungry, fully receiving the message. It was delivered with purpose, power, and presence.

And when it ended? 

People left inspired, curious, and wondering what devotion could look like in their own lives. 

I concluded that many were left wondering what they needed to do in order to be devoted.  Put plainly in my words, what disciplines would they need to build around what matters most?

People often tell me I’m one of the most disciplined people they know, and I agree. 

I’ve heard it so often that I started studying the nature of discipline itself. That exploration became one of the foundational beliefs at The Amplified Life Company: Disciplines and systems are the key to the freedom you seek.  

And yet, discipline still gets a bad rap.

Take a moment to consider your own deep beliefs around discipline.  We admire discipline from afar. We envy the people who seem to “have it together.” 

But when it comes to applying discipline in our own lives?

We often tell ourselves stories that let us off the hook.

How do I know this is true?

Because that was me, always letting myself off the hook.

For years, that was me, competing to win, yet quietly allowing myself to fall short. Settling for good but never truly touching great. I was the queen of planning, preparing, and color-coding it all.  Then, as soon as discomfort hit, I would slip back into old habits, allowing my discipline to slip away. 

It looked like I had it all together because I was still reaching goals.  Yet, they were comfortable ones. The ones that didn’t ask much of me.  It wasn’t because I was lazy. It was because I didn’t yet understand something important: discipline without devotion doesn’t last.

Maybe you can relate. Have you ever found yourself…

• Talking yourself out of keeping your own commitments because you “don’t have time,” when what you’re really lacking is clarity?

• Believing that discipline will suffocate your creativity or spontaneity, not realizing that structure is actually what gives freedom room to breathe?

• Waiting for motivation to strike instead of designing systems that move you forward, no matter how you feel?

Here’s what I’ve come to realize:

Discipline alone is not enough. Devotion is what makes discipline sustainable.

Let’s be clear, devotion is not just a word for spiritual or religious practice. It’s the foundation of dynamic leadership.

Discipline is doing what you said you’d do. Devotion is remembering why it matters.

Discipline comes from the mind: it’s strategy, structure, systems. Devotion comes from the heart: its meaning, mission, vision.

Without devotion, discipline becomes dry, performative, or even punishing. But when you’re devoted to something greater than yourself, your purpose, your people, your vision, discipline becomes intentional action fueled by purpose.  It becomes who you are, not just what you do.

This is Above the Line leadership. 

It’s not about controlling every outcome. It’s about choosing from commitment, not from comfort. It’s about aligning your actions with what matters most, even when it’s inconvenient, unsexy, or requires you to outgrow your old identity.

You don’t need more willpower. You need more clarity.

You don’t need to be harder on yourself. You need to be more devoted to what truly matters.

Here’s the formula:  

Clarity → Devotion → Discipline → Impact

This week, I challenge you to ask yourself and get clear on what matters most, what you are truly devoted to, and then build your disciplines around that:

• Where am I confusing discipline with deprivation?

• What am I truly devoted to in this season of my life and leadership?

• What systems, habits, or boundaries would be easy to maintain if I were fueled by devotion instead of pressure?

The people you admire aren’t just more “disciplined” than you. They’re more devoted. To their purpose. To their principles. To the person they’re becoming.

And you can be, too.  If this hit home today, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.