It’s Monday, which means it’s time to talk about motivation. Soon, we’ll use this day to share inspiring stories from the Milers. But before we do, let’s ask ourselves if there is a right or wrong way to be motivated.
In sports psychology, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are commonly known concepts.
Extrinsic means, very broadly speaking, that you are motivated by external factors. Those could be monetary benefits, championships, titles, peer pressure, fear of punishment or judgement – just to name a few. Being externally motivated can be very effective and is not necessarily the ‚wrong‘ kind of motivation. In fact, for short term success, extrinsic motivation can be very helpful.
But generally speaking, to achieve consistently high levels of motivation over longer periods of time, intrinsic motivation is likely to be more effective.
Intrinsic motivation makes use of internal factors, such as enjoyment, longing for mastery and an aim to self-improve. If we find joy in the daily grind of running and are driven by our purpose to make the best of our own abilities instead of external rewards, it is likely that we stick to our sport no matter which setback comes our way.
So sayings like ,falling in love with the process‘ or ‚embracing the grind‘ do hold some value after all!
What are some motivators in your life that keep you running like a maniac in the winter months?