Strategies to Stay Motivated using internal drivers
Increasing Your Motivation Using Sport Psychology
As a mental performance consultant, I often work with athletes struggling with motivation. Whether you're a professional facing competitive pressure or a student-athlete balancing multiple demands, understanding your motivation is key to sustained excellence.
Understanding Performance Motivation Through sport psychology research and practice, we've discovered that motivation isn't just about "wanting it more." It's about understanding the interaction between your personal drives and your performance environment.
Real-World Example: A Division I swimmer I worked with transformed her training approach after we explored her motivation patterns. Instead of focusing solely on race times (extrinsic motivation), she developed a deeper connection to the process of improvement (intrinsic motivation).
Two Types of Performance Motivation
1. Intrinsic Motivation (Internal Drivers)
Knowledge pursuit
Skill mastery
Performance enjoyment
Success Story: An Olympic track athlete enhanced her training consistency by identifying specific aspects of her sport that brought personal satisfaction, leading to improved performance outcomes.
2. Extrinsic Motivation (External Drivers)
Achievement recognition
Competitive rankings
Performance rewards
Building Sustainable Motivation
1. Discover Your Performance 'Why'
Identify core values
Connect with personal meaning
Establish purpose clarity
2. Focus on Process Enjoyment
Recognize daily victories
Appreciate skill development
Value team connections
3. Strategic Goal Alignment
Link daily actions to long-term vision
Create meaningful milestones
Celebrate progress
Practical Assessment Questions:
What aspects of your sport bring genuine joy?
How do your daily actions align with long-term goals?
What motivates you beyond competition results?
Ready to transform your motivation and enhance your performance? Schedule a consultation with our certified mental performance consultants to develop your personalized motivation strategy.
References
Mallett, C., & Hanrahan, S. (2004). Elite athletes: Why does the fire burn so brightly? Psychology of Sport and Exercise Science, 5, 183-200.
Pelletier, L.G., Fortier, M.S., Vallerand, R.J., Tuson, K.M., Briere, N.M., & Blais, M.R. (1995). Toward a new measure of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation in sport: The Sport Motivation Scale (SMS). Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17, 35-53.
Sage, G. (1997). Introduction to motor behavior: A neuropsychological approach (2nd ed.). Addison-Wesley.