Find your "why".

RIZE
Oct 10
3 min read

Every athlete knows how much effort it takes to chase excellence. Early mornings. Long practices. Setbacks. Repeats. The grind never stops.

But one of the things that separates those who burn out from those who break through is not just talent or discipline — it is knowing why you do it.

Your “why” is your compass. It gives meaning to the work. It fuels your motivation and your leadership. And when things get tough, it keeps you moving forward.

1. The quality of motivation: lighting your inner fire

Motivation is not just about how much you have. It is about what kind you have.

When motivation comes from inside — from joy, curiosity, and the love of getting better — it lasts longer and feels lighter. This is called intrinsic motivation. It is what makes you want to master your craft just for the satisfaction of it.

As Olympic champion Peggy Fleming once said: “Love your sport. Never do it to please someone else. It has to be yours.”

External rewards like medals, money, or recognition can be powerful, but if they are your only reason, they can fade fast. To stay motivated through years of training, your drive needs to come from within — from your own standards and personal goals.

Psychologists describe three basic needs that keep that inner motivation strong:

Competence: feeling skilled and capable in what you do.
Autonomy: having a real say in your choices and direction.
Belonging: feeling connected, supported, and part of something bigger than yourself.

When your environment supports these needs, you do not just train harder. You want to.

2. How you define success

Your “why” also depends on how you measure success.

There are two main motivational lenses:

Task orientation (self-challenge): You define success by progress — improving, learning, mastering a skill. You compete with your past self.
Ego orientation (social comparison): You define success by beating others or looking more talented.

Athletes with a strong task focus usually feel more confident and less anxious because they believe effort creates ability. They know skill is trainable, not fixed.

Ego focus can still drive success — many top athletes have both — but when it takes over, confidence becomes fragile. If results dip, motivation crashes.

The goal is balance: stay competitive, but grounded in growth. Compete to win, but train to improve.

3. Purpose as your guiding compass

Without purpose, effort loses direction. You can train hard and still feel lost.

Purpose gives your work meaning. It connects what you do to who you want to be.

Ask yourself:

Why did I start?
What keeps me showing up?
Who am I trying to become?

Maybe your why is to inspire others. Maybe it is to express yourself through movement. Maybe it is to see how far you can go. Whatever it is, it has to feel personal and honest.

Once you define your purpose, every small decision starts to align — how you train, how you lead, how you handle pressure.

A strong purpose does two things:

It pulls you toward your vision.
It pushes you through hard days.

That is how you stay motivated long after the applause fades.

4. Turning your why into action and leadership

Knowing your why is step one. Living it is step two.

Here is how to put purpose into daily action:

Set process goals. Focus on what you can control: the effort, the execution, the attitude. Instead of “win my next competition,” try “nail my first spin with full focus.”

Track progress. Keep an achievement log. Write what you improved, what challenged you, and what felt meaningful. Seeing your growth keeps motivation alive.

Lead yourself first. Leadership starts with self-awareness. When you know your strengths, triggers, and motivation, you lead by example — calm, consistent, and clear.

Stay connected to your purpose. Revisit it often. Say it out loud before training. Write it on your wall or tape it in your bag. Let it be your anchor when doubt or fatigue creeps in.