On this episode, Matt and Ash explore motivation and the concept of self-determination theory, which suggests that addressing three psychological needs - competence, relatedness, and autonomy - leads to self-determination and sustained motivation. Ashley shares her experiences with these needs in her soccer career, highlighting the importance of autonomy, relatedness, and competence in finding and sustaining motivation. They also discuss the negative impact of missing components of motivation, such as a lack of relatedness or autonomy. Overall, their conversation emphasizes the role of motivation in sports and life and the factors that contribute to its presence or absence. They emphasize the role of parents in motivating children and the need for fun in maintaining motivation. The discussion also highlights how motivation can be a tool for personal growth and the cultural differences in motivation. It delves into finding joy and motivation in sports and the importance of rediscovering the fun in sports. The conversation concludes with a discussion on task orientation versus ego orientation and the significance of motivation and opportunity over raw talent. Give the Ditto Podcast a follow, and if you enjoyed this episode, leave a 5-star review!