In a recent article in Women's Health magazine, "Competitive Fitness Is on the Rise. Here's How to Stay Motivated if That's So Not Your Thing," Fitness Editor Cori Ritchey makes an important point: People can find sources of motivation to exercise besides the desire to win. The author suggests some people may enjoy the camaraderie involved in playing a team sport, others may like to analyze the technique required to master a physical activity, while still others may be energized by striving for challenging goals.
Ritchey's commentary echoes the findings of a study conducted at The Ohio State University by Steven Reiss, James Wiltz, and Michael Sherman, "Trait Motivational Correlates of Athleticism," published in the scientific journal Personality and Individual Differences (May 2001). The researchers administered the Reiss Motivation Profile® (RMP) to students who participated in zero, one, or two or more sports in both high school and college. The number of sports a student played was found to be associated with several RMP motives including intrinsic enjoyment of muscle movement, an active interest in peer companionship, a strong desire for competence and productivity, and a focus on competition and winning. Like Ritchey, Professor Reiss and his colleagues concluded that different sources of motivation can drive people to exercise.
If you are looking to start an exercise program or to increase your physical activity, the RMP can identify motivational sources other than the most obvious ones of a desire for muscle movement and/or competition. For example, if you have a strong need for Order, you may like to follow the same exercise routine day after day. Parents with a strong desire for Family can find motivation to exercise by imagining how improved fitness will enable them to spend quality time with their children for many years. A strong need for Honor may spur a commitment to work out regularly following a promise made to a partner. Finally, individuals with a strong desire for Beauty may enjoy exercising outdoors while surrounded by nature.