Grass doesn't grow quicker if you pull at it

Exercise and development: Humans grow from infants to adults in the same way that a tree grows from a seedling. Only humans are in a hurry, for some reason.

Here are some points that have recently helped me re-understand why one should do training, reconfirmed its benefits and reassured me about progression and development in sport and other things in life. From Dan Millman's Body Mind Mastery:

• development follows demand. Without demand, no development.
• progression should be natural. All living things thrive in natural moderations and balance. This also applies to the mind and body
• Exercise should be performed near the top of the 'comfort zone' but not over. Constant over-exursion in training results in extreme exhaustion, fatigue and injury. Ultimately, in burn-out. Stretch the comfort zone with small increments. Improvement is slower but lasts longer.
• Don't get too over-obsessed or sidetracked by the goals and time deadlines. Some goals are important - but time deadlines are arbitrary. Also, remember why you are doing the sport in the first place.
• Stress happens when the mind resits what is. Don't try. Don't try to do things (causes tension in muscles) or try to resit things that happen to you. Secret of efficiency = maximum activity during maximum relaxation.