Fall in Love with the Process

Grit is not just about pushing through the hard days; it’s about embracing those days. Gritty athletes don’t just endure the process; they fall in love with it. They see every rep, every sprint, and every shot not as a chore, but as a building block in their journey toward mastery.

This mindset transforms the everyday grind into something purposeful. The long hours in the weight room, the early morning drills, the relentless refinement, these athletes lean into the discomfort, excited by the progress hidden in the repetition. They understand that failure isn't final, it's feedback, a chance to recalibrate and improve.

They enter the flow state more often. When you're in flow, you're immersed, focused, and performing at your best. Time disappears. You act without overthinking. The process becomes the reward.

When training gets hard, gritty athletes have this thought: “This rep is making me better. This sprint is building my endurance. This shot is sharpening my focus.” Say that to yourself, they’re not just words, they’re a mindset that elevates execution.

As NBA legend LeBron James reflected on his 22-year career:

"Fall in love with the process," that's the part that has always driven me most. It’s the training, the evolution, the daily work that mattered.

This captures exactly what grit looks like in action. It's not about the final win, it’s about cherishing every step that gets you there.

This is Mental Strength.

For Players

Do:

• Tell yourself, “This training is making me better,” even on your toughest days.

• Seek challenges and find satisfaction in incremental progress.

Don’t:

• View practice as just a path to outcomes; falling in love with the process means finding joy in the journey itself.

• Let monotony or setbacks drain your commitment; see them for the opportunities they truly are.

For Parents

Do:

• Highlight and honor your child’s effort during the process, not only the outcomes.

• Ask them what small improvement they made today, not just whether they won.

Don’t:

• Emphasize that only medals and stats don’t diminish invisible work.

• Rescue them from tough training days, let them lean into the process, and build resilience.

For Coaches

Do:

• Build culture around effort, improvement, and learning, not just results.

• Share stories of athletes who loved the process and let that love drive consistency.

Don’t:

• Run practices without purpose, and each rep should refine something.

• Only acknowledge success, celebrate effort, commitment, and incremental gains.