PE is like golf. Golf is a game of opposites, and I would say that PE is as well.
How so you ask? The harder a person swings in golf, there is far more margin for error. When a person swings as hard as he/she can, the body has a higher percentage chance of being out of sequence. As such, the ball, once struck, if struck cleanly, can slice, hook, and/or balloon. (none of these are good in golf)
So, how does this apply to PE? Let’s think about it. The more you tense up, and TRY HARD to gain, the less gains appear. Instead of playing the PE game, the PE game plays you.
I played golf at Bandon Dunes, Oregon a few years back, and the caddie I had was watching me struggle around the course. (over swinging, being really tense and getting more and more frustrated). On the 9th hole of the original course, I hit a long drive, and I asked the caddie to pull out my 3-wood to go for the green. The caddie ignored me, and handed me a 5-wood, and said, “swing easy and enjoy the extra distance.” I did what he said, and I was putting for eagle because the ball was hit in the sweet spot.
In PE, it is now obvious to me, that we all are trying to “hit the sweet spot”. (oh shit, I know where this will go ;) (pun intended) )
So, in my opinion, PE is all about relaxing, swinging easy and ultimately, enjoying the (extra) gaining.