Motivation: Why we Challenge Ourselves
By Team EtchRock in All,Challenges,EtchRock,Training
Challenges are on the rise, participation in fitness is up and people are getting up off their butts and daring to push themselves to the limits. But why? What is the driving force behind people putting their bodies through torture? If you asked anyone why they are doing any specific challenge, you would get a range of answers. At the end of the day it all comes down to motivation. In this blog post we take a theoretical look at why people are motivated to undertake a challenge of their own.
Theorists suggest that for a person to be fully committed to undertaking a large challenge, they have to be intrinsically motivated. Intrinsic motivation can be described as a motivation to engage in activities that enhance or maintain a person’s self-concept. Now this doesn’t mean that motivation can’t come from outside sources, there just has to be a personal reason if you are going to see it through. Below we have a look at the key factors that promote intrinsic motivation.
A Big Challenge
People are best motivated when they are working toward personally meaningful goals. These goals will require activity at a continuously optimal level of difficulty. When a defined set of goals are laid out that progressively get harder, challenge participants can start ‘ticking boxes’ and visually see progress towards their overall goal.
Curiosity
When a person see’s someone achieve an incredible feat it makes them question their own ability in comparison to the athlete. When there is a large level of disparity in ability between the viewer and competitor, the viewer will question what it would be like to have the competitor’s skill set. This sensory curiosity can force a change in behaviour that leads to someone training in order to emulate someone that they want to be like.
Control
People have an innate tendency to want to be in control. In relation to physical fitness, individuals undertake challenges to be in peak physical condition. In their mind they want to be ready for whatever unknown situation could be waiting round the corner. Preparing physically will hypothetically give them more control in these unknown situations, as they will be more prepared for anything that may come.
Recognition
Most people feel great satisfaction when they are recognized for an achievement. This satisfaction has enough motivational pull to allow people to compete in some of the toughest challenges. To fulfil these needs, the challenge being must be visible, as it requires attention from outside sources. The thought of being champion can go a long way!
Memory
Perhaps the most powerful of all the motivators in the challenge world is competing in memory/honour of someone or something. Putting a person or event at the forefront of one’s mind can be the most powerful form of motivation. It allows competitors to become detached from their own thoughts and train towards a purpose that is far superior to the pain or struggle that they may currently be feeling.
We all have different reasons for doing a challenge and are motivated by different cues. The reason I chose this topic for our blog is that it I often find that some days I am extremely motivated and others I am not. If we really take a good look at ourselves and list the reasons why we are working towards our respective challenges, it can give us a constant reminder as to why we put ourselves through this pain. Our personal reasons for undertaking a challenge will never disappear, sometimes we just need a reminder.
Why not let us know about your next challenge? What do you do to keep motivated? We’d love to hear from you!
Team EtchRock