In this blog, I talk a lot about the process of storytelling.

For one thing, I try to reassure you that it’s meant to be hard.

If you’re feeling frustrated, that’s OK -- it’s normal and perfectly good.

And if you’re struggling a bit, well, that’s all part of it too.

But I ALSO hope to convey the love for the process. Bringing new work and ideas into life — well, doing anything challenging and meaningful, really — isn’t easy.

But it’s also joyful.

I have the pleasure of working with Olympic gold medalist and co-founder of the incredible non-profit Classroom Champions Steve Mesler. Steve recently launched a blog and newsletter. (Yay, Steve! Seriously, my clients’ successes give me SO MUCH joy!)

I wanted to share a snippet of Steve’s first story with you, because I think it aligns well with the storytelling process.

Here it is:

Love the Love of the Process
(Blog excerpt by Steve Mesler)

I'm laying here on the couch with a bag of ice on each knee, a heating pad on my back, a full bottle of water, and my phone.

Before I settled on the couch, I had an Epsom salt bath, and then headed to the kitchen where I ground and prepared the amount of coffee that I’ll need for tomorrow morning. I got out Gatorade powder, creatine, beta-alanine and put it on the counter next to the water bottle that it'll go in. And I filled the tea kettle halfway with water so in the morning all I have to do is press the power button.

Today is Day 10 of my Embrace the Suck challenge — a month-long physical and mental challenge to do the same workout, the hardest workout I’ve ever done, every day for the entire month. No rest days and 5-miles, 100 repetitions of 100kg (220 lbs), and 100 pushups. It really does suck and I’m loving it.

It's 8:40 in the evening and I need to be up at 5:00 a.m. in order to complete my workout, stretch, and share up some social media posts about the challenge.

These rituals of preparation and self-discipline have made me remember something: this is what I loved about sport.

I loved that every single little thing made a difference. I loved the process of getting better—all of it.

And I still love it.

I love that taking the time to take an Epsom salt bath will give me a better chance of recovering in the morning.

I love that everything I’ve done to prepare tonight has one clear purpose: being ready to continue the challenge tomorrow.

And everything that I do until I'm done at 7:30 a.m. will be in service of that one goal: to be able to make it through tomorrow's workout. The same goal that a small group of people are chasing, too. Except this time, there can be as many winners as possible, and if you don't make it, you don't lose, you just tried.

I love that I've been doing this for 10 days in a row, and I love that I get to do it for 18 more days.

And you know what?

I love that I love that feeling.

I find it so joyful to find happiness in doing things that make me better.

[Read the rest of Steve's story here…]

So, what about you?

Do YOU love the process of getting better or chasing a goal?

And do you LOVE that you love the process?

Leave a comment and let me know what you love about it.

Wishing you lots of joy in the process and all its ups and downs.

With Steve Mesler: The Love of The Love of the Process