Mark Agnew
Adventure is about discovery and not just performance.
How a psychological framework for motivations and narratives changed my life
There are only three reasons anyone takes part in sport, according to two psychologists. Finding this out changed my life, my approach to work and adventures.
David Carless and Kitrina Douglas of Leeds Becket University studied athlete's "narratives": the stories they told themselves as to why they took part.
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They broke down into three:
- Performance
- Discovery
- Relationships
Performance is the the win/loss nature of sport. Discovery is about the the experience. Relationships is all about the people they share the experiences with (teammates, or maybe parents with similar interests etc...).
Their work was not supposed to be 'self-help'. It's a framework to understand.
BUT IT CHANGED MY LIFE.
It applies to everything I do now, adventures in particular but also work and life. It gave me the language and understanding to examine my own motivations. I realised, I'd become focused on performance. But the problem with performance narratives is it's binary, there's nothing to draw on when you lose.
I was disappointed when I lost, and not fulfilled even when I won. I'd forgotten why I wanted to be an adventurer. Their framework reminded me.I wanted to be immersed in nature (discovery). I wanted camaraderie with my teammates (relationships). The beauty is, even if I don't achieve our goal, I can still have both of those experiences.
Experiences of discovery and sharing those experiences with friends is what motivates me.
Intrinsic motivations free you to judge success on your own terms.
Intrinsic motivations empower you enjoy the journey and not just the outcome.
When we set two world first records in the Northwest Passage we:
- Nailed the performance
- Had an epic experience of discovery
- Shared those experiences and have life long relationships
The holy trinity of narratives. And now I don't just feel proud of the performance. I feel content because of the experience and friendships.
And next time I pick a project, I'll think "why do I want to do this", and knowing the answer will help me find a project that fits my passion.