Absolutely! The “no pain, no gain” line sticks because it’s a punchy story that feels heroic, but science says the real growth happens during rest. Stories power us because they give us a model—someone who pushed through, got injured, then came back stronger. That narrative fuels our drive, but it can also make us overlook the need for recovery. We can honor those stories by treating them as lessons: push hard, then recover fast, keep the intensity, and celebrate the gains that come from balanced effort. The real champion is the one who lifts, recovers, and keeps improving without breaking a sweat.