Motivation in Action
Training mental skills is a continuous practice and opportunities to put these skills into action can happen when you least expect it. Let me tell you about my recent trip to Acadia National Park.
In Acadia, there are famous trails known for their narrow ledge walks, rebar hand-holds, and sheer drops: Beehive and Precipice Loop to name a few. As someone who is fueled by a challenge and finds pure joy in hiking, these trails were definitely in my sights.
As the day arrived and my pack was on, a sudden whisper from my inner mental performance coach arrived, offering a few moments of reflection:
Why am I really feeling motivated to hike this trail? Immediate answers were external.
“Because it’s famous and people will know that I did it.” - Am I seeking external validation?
“Because so many other people are.” - Am I trying to prove myself?
“Because I’ll regret it if I don’t”. - Do I have FOMO (“Fear Of Missing Out”)?
Noticing these questions reminded me that the reasons for wanting to hike these dangerous trails were not grounded in steadfast confidence or my joy of a challenge, but instead were fueled by expectations or the desire to “achieve” something.
Don’t get me wrong - external motivators can be advantageous and necessary for peak performance. However, how these motivators are perceived is what can either fuel or inhibit high level execution. For me, these external motivators were controlling and even distracting me from the actual goal of completing the climb - not a great recipe for a hike that requires laser focus and presence.
So what did I do? I chose a different hike that maximized my enjoyment and goals over my ego and external comparison. One where I could relax, enjoy the view, and be completely present in nature - the original reason for the trip. Shifting my intention for the day to align with the deeper reason I enjoy being outdoors was a more internally motivated and growth-oriented decision for me that day.
Will I be back in Acadia? Definitely. Will I have another opportunity to complete the riskier hike? Yes. Will I continue to engage in activities that align with what I value? Also, yes. And, maybe next time I visit the park, the internal drive to improve my tolerance for more aggressive hiking will outweigh the initial desire for external validation for completing the feat.
I offer this anecdote as an example of how core mental performance topics and skills can be applied in a variety of settings, even when they aren’t competitive in nature. And, utilizing opportunities to practice them when it isn’t “go-time” lays a sturdy foundation for when it is.
Takeaway: Check in with yourself about whether your motivation is sourced internally or externally. Internal motivation, or intrinsic motivation, arises when an athlete is motivated by the “love of the game” or by the experience of training and competing. External motivation, or extrinsic motivation, is present when there is an external reward present. These rewards can act as a measure of an athlete’s excellence, performance, or energy devoted, and be helpful for fueling our goals. However, having a stronger connection to the love for training, learning, improving, and for the activity itself will remain stable even when those rewards aren’t there.
References
Williams, J. M., & Krane, V. (Eds.). (2021). Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance. (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
