Feel into your “why” to stay motivated
Sports ended a few weeks ago. All of a sudden, without warning, you were forced into some weird hybrid of an off-season and a pre-season - with no clear end in sight and a swirling cloud of fear, anxiety and uncertainty. As a mental performance consultant, my heart went out to the athletes I work with directly, but also to the greater athlete community. It was shocking and heartbreaking.
Now that some time has passed and you’re settling into this new normal, I want you to ask yourself a question - and be brutally honest: Right now, how motivated are you to keep training? How focused are you on progressing toward the goals you set earlier this year? How committed are you to training your mind even when you have no idea when your next in-person practice, game, or race will be?
If you’re feeling strongly motivated to train both physically and mentally day in and day out, then bravo! You probably have a very clear sense of purpose, which has kept you focused, grounded and motivated during this strange time.
If you’re like most athletes, and you’re finding that your motivation is ebbing and flowing from day to day - or that it’s just gone entirely - then now is the time for you to come face-to-face with why you do what you do. Note: you may realize that you’re burnt out of your sport - and that’s OK too.
Let’s try this. Without thinking, answer the following questions out loud:
Why do you play your sport?
Why do you show up at practice even when you’re not feeling good?
Why do you sacrifice social events to train?
Why do you put your body through pain?
Stop reading, close your eyes, and see what comes up when you ask yourself those questions . . .
I’ll wait . . .
Those are hard questions to answer. No doubt. And yet, they are critical for your development as an athlete - and as a human being.
Articulating your why is necessary for maintaining steadfast motivation and for getting through the tough days (or seasons). Purpose is directly correlated with drive. And drive, as we know, is directly correlated with success - however you define that.
You have been forced to step back from your sport in one way or another - and with that separation comes the opportunity for clarity. Why do you do what you do? It’s time to get crystal clear about what drives you. If you take the time to do this now, I promise that you will be better equipped to stay your course next time the s*** hits the fan - and there will be a next time, even if it’s not (hopefully) on this scale.
Enough theorizing; let’s take action. Follow the steps below to craft something of a mission statement that will help ground you and keep you motivated. If you’ve never taken the time to create a mission statement, then now is your chance. No excuses. This isn’t about wordsmith-ing something perfect that you frame or etch in stone. Nope. Right now, in the midst of all this weirdness, I just want you to tap into your why and get something down on paper.
Note: Crafting a mission statement is a process, and something I do with the athletes I work with over the course of a few sessions. Below is just a quick and dirty way to gain a greater appreciation for why you do what you do, without the need for a lot of deep work. If you’re interested in going deeper with this, then by all means go for it (or ask me for guidance).
Step 1: Grab a piece of paper or a journal (Not your phone. I want you to physically write; old school style)
Step 2: Allow your body to get really relaxed and close your eyes
Step 3: Take 3 slow, deep breaths
Step 4: Think about the last great memory you have from your sport. When was the last time you felt fulfilled, satisfied, and truly alive participating in your sport? Where were you? What were the circumstances? What were you doing? How did you perform? Sit with this memory for a while and lean into any emotions that surface.
Step 5: Open your eyes and write down words to describe how that memory made you feel. How did you feel? Those feelings are the foundation for your WHY; for your purpose. You participate in your sport to access those feelings and you keep going because you want more of that.
Step 6: Whenever you’re feeling unmotivated, refer to this list of words that describe how your sport makes you feel. Close your eyes, connect to those feelings, and then get back to work relentlessly pursuing those feelings and elevating your craft.
Articulating your why and clarifying your purpose are essential for cultivating an unshakeable mindset. And that, as we know, is what separates good athletes from great ones.