Tapping Into the Why: The Key to Sustainable Motivation in Mental Performance

By, Brendan Hanley – O2X On-Site Specialist

There comes a time in every high-performer’s journey when external motivation falls short. When the accolades, the promotions, and the validation lose their spark. When fatigue sets in, and the easy option, the more comfortable option, whispers in your ear, asking you to take a step back.

The ones who keep pushing, the ones who rise above, the ones who refuse to back down, they think differently. They do not just train harder or work longer. They own their why at a level most people never touch. They do not need someone in their ear reminding them to show up, because they know who they are, why they are here, and what is at stake.

This is the foundation of sustainable motivation. It is not about hype. It is not about willpower. It is about identity. When you lock in and remind yourself of your why, you become unstoppable.

The Deep Why: Where True Motivation Lives

In sport psychology, Self-Determination Theory (SDT) breaks motivation down into three core needs:

• Autonomy – The drive to own your choices and be in control of your path
• Competence – The need to feel capable and continually improve
• Relatedness – The connection to something bigger than yourself

But beyond all of these is something even more powerful, your self-identity. The best performers are not just chasing a goal. They are embodying who they are meant to be.

This is the difference between someone who trains for an event and someone who trains because it is who they are. Between someone who shows up to work and someone who sees their profession as part of their DNA.

When motivation is rooted in identity, no obstacle, no setback, and no outside force can break it.

Tactical Performance Athletes: The Standard Is Different

At O2X we do not train your average athlete. We do not coach people just looking for trophies, PRs, or applause. We coach tactical performance athletes. The warriors, the protectors, the ones who put themselves on the line.

For them, training is not about personal achievement. It is about responsibility.

• The firefighter does not just train to be stronger. They train because someone’s survival may depend on their ability to push through exhaustion.
• The special operator does not just train their mind for mental resilience. They do it because in combat, hesitation costs lives.
• The police officer does not just develop tactical awareness. They do it because their split-second decision-making could be the difference between life and death.

This is not a game. This is not for show. And that is why tapping into your why is non-negotiable.

For tactical athletes, motivation is not just a feeling but rather a commitment. When you see yourself as someone who is always ready, someone who refuses to be caught off guard, someone who has put in the work because it is who you are, there is no need for hype. You just get it done.

Identity Fuels Everything

At the highest levels, motivation is not about what you do. It is about who you are when you do it.

If you are only motivated by external factors such as rank, salary, recognition then your drive will fade when things get tough. When motivation is tied to who you are, you do not waver.

Take a firefighter in a grueling workout. If they are pushing just to hit a fitness benchmark, they might slow down when it gets hard. But if their mindset is, “I train because I will not let my team down when it matters”, there is no quit.

No one can take that away from you.                                                                                    Your mental toughness. Your adaptability. Your ability to thrive under pressure. These are yours. No one can touch them, and no one can take them away… unless you let them.

So the real question is, how strong is your identity?

Because if you own your why at the deepest level, no situation, no setback, nor opponent can stop you.

The Skin-in-the-Game Effect: Why Your Why Must Be Personal

It is easy to be motivated when things are going well. It is easy to stay locked in when success comes easy. But when the obstacles hit? When doubt creeps in? When you are tested in ways you never expected? That is where your why has to be personal.

This is what I like to call the “Skin-in-the-Game” effect. When your motivation is tied so closely to your identity that setbacks do not discourage you. They fire you up. The top performers embrace a setback as a challenge to get better even if that is a 1% solution.

For tactical athletes, this is everything. They do not train for themselves. They train because their team, their community, and the people they serve need them to be at their best.

And if you are someone who is still relying on external motivation, it is time to change that.

Because when you shift from chasing motivation to owning your identity, you become dangerous.

The Playbook: How to Build Unshakable Motivation

This is how you go from being motivated sometimes to driven every day:

1. Define Your Why – Get crystal clear on why you do what you do. It is not about goals. It is about who you are meant to be.
2. Own Your Strengths – Identify the traits that set you apart. Your resilience. Your problem-solving. Your ability to stay calm in chaos. These are your weapons.
3. Connect to the Bigger Mission – You do not do this just for you. Your team. Your family. The people counting on you. You are part of something bigger. Act like it.
4. Commit to 1% Better Every Day – You do not have to be perfect. But you do have to get better. Small improvements, every single day, add up to an unstoppable force.
5. Reinforce Your Identity Daily – When you wake up, remind yourself: “This is who I am. This is what I do. Nothing will stop me.”

Final Thoughts: Step Up or Step Aside

At the end of the day, motivation is not about words on a page or catchy phrases. It is about who you choose to be when no one is watching.

You do not have the luxury of waiting for motivation to strike. You do not hesitate when things get tough, because this is what separates the elite from the average.

The tactical athlete who knows their why and embodies it every single day is the one who never has to question whether they are ready. They already are. So, ask yourself, who do you choose to be today?Because the answer to that question determines everything. And if you own it, nothing can stop you.

Be relentless. Look at yourself in the mirror and own your greatness. Be 1% better everyday.

About O2X On-Site Specialist Brendan Hanley:

Brendan Hanley is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist and Program Manager specializing in Mental Performance with the U.S. Secret Service. Brendan applies his expertise to help individuals develop and refine the mental skills essential for peak performance in high-stakes environments. He equips tactical professionals with tools to enhance focus, resilience, and decision-making, empowering them to push beyond their physical capabilities and achieve their mission objectives.

Brendan’s career includes extensive experience working with athletes of all levels, from beginners to professionals, across diverse sports. For nearly a decade, he has collaborated with the United States Army, applying sport and performance psychology principles to enhance operational readiness. Most recently, Brendan was embedded with a special operations unit, where he worked closely with high-level leaders and aviators to optimize cognitive performance and elevate leadership capacity. His philosophy emphasizes that with the right mindset and guidance, growth and learning are within reach for everyone.

Brendan holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, a master’s in Sport and Performance Psychology, and a doctorate in Education and Leadership.

About O2X Human Performance:

O2X Human Performance provides comprehensive, science-backed programs to hundreds of public safety departments, federal agencies, and the military. O2X works with clients to elevate culture, improve mental and physical wellbeing, support healthy lifestyles, and reduce healthcare costs associated with injuries and illnesses. Driven by results and cutting edge research, O2X programs are designed and delivered by a team of Special Operations veterans, high level athletes, and hundreds of leading experts in their respective fields of human performance.