MOTIVATION
FOR SUCCESS
Motivation is a significant factor for success
in sports. Motivation and determination constitute a critical
factor in how far an athlete will develop.With this characteristic
added to an athlete's make-up, an athlete strives relentlessly
toward his or her potential. Intense drive and determination
may be the most distinguishing characteristic of young
athletes who will rise to the top.
MOTIVATION RESULTS IN PERSISTENCE
Athletes want to win, to achieve, to excel. However, individuals
with self-motivation and drive go after their goals with
an unwavering intention that separates them from others.
Their performance in training and in competition shows
steel will determination and unflagging persistence.The
level and strength of motivation impact directly on how
well an athlete will persevere through rigorous training
schedules, setbacks, possibly injuries and disappointments.
With self-motivation, the athlete perseveres and remains
unwavering in a focus on goals.
POSITIVE ENERGY FUELS MOTIVATION
Positive energy enhances motivation. Positive energy
refers to being energized from positive sources such as
team spirit, joy and love for the sport, a feeling of
freedom, exhilaration. This skill of fueling performance
from positive sources is associated with peak performance.
By connecting to these positive energy sources, you can
increase your motivation.With these types of energy sources,
individuals can maintain and direct energy toward a goal
over a long period of time. With positive energy fueling
athletic performance, the body can maintain a state of
calm and can be without unnecessary tension. Positive
energy sources allow for sustained high level energy in
performances over time and seemingly indefatigable reserves
of energy for one's sport.
BELIEFS THAT SUPPORT MOTIVATION
Top achievers typically have a high level of self-confidence.
They know what they want out of life. They know how to
use their strengths to reach their goals. They tend to
take more risk, but they are not afraid of failure.Overall,
there is something about the nature of the beliefs that
peak performers have that build confidence and spurs motivation.
Sally Edwards, a world class triathlete, discussed the
"incurable optimism" of top performers.High
achievers hold beliefs that further and support their
goals. They adopt beliefs which are consistent with their
achieving success and high-level performance.
SELF-TALK AFFECTS MOTIVATION AND CONFIDENCE
Top performers mentally condition themselves with positive
self-talk. Be sure that your self-talk supports your succeeding.
By making adjustments in your self-talk, you can invigorate
feelings of confidence and motivation.
One of the things that we know about top performers is
that they use only two types of statements in their self-talk:
encouraging statements and instructional statements. By
following simple guidelines, you can alter your self-talk
to follow in the mental tracks of top performers.
CONFIDENCE BUILDING TO INCREASE MOTIVATION
Motivation and confidence work hand in hand. If
motivation starts to decline, confidence building techniques
can help to bolster feelings of drive and motivation.
For more information about increasing your motivation
by using positive energy sources, appropriate self-talk,
and confidence building techniques, see Drive and Determination:
Developing Your Inner Motivation in the books section.
Drive and Determination presents a systematic program
for developing heightened motivation.
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