The Comfort of Change

If change is comfortable, you’re doing it wrong.

My son Mitchell is a tennis player. He loves it. He’s also extremely coachable, as long as it’s not his dad doing the coaching.  Truth be told, the best coaching at this point comes from him to me anyway.

One day he was helping me with my serve – working on grip, position, feet, movement, ball toss, and leverage – just a few little things to consider ALL AT ONCE!  When we really started adjusting my serve, the grip he showed me was awkward, and I complained in my best subtle fashion. You know how to do it, too – you complain with a smile – that way it seems like you’re kidding, yet you’ve managed to get it on record that you don’t like it! Well, when I offered up my subtle whining, he provided some pretty good advice.  This 14 year old profoundly said to me, “Dad, if the change is comfortable, then you’re doing it wrong.”

Wow! That hit home, though I can’t say I haven’t been silently arguing over the past few weeks.  I’m 47.  Why do I care about the “perfect” serve anyway? Here’s why I care – if for no other reason, submitting to proper teaching is a much better example for my son!

Regardless of my personal struggle with change on the tennis court, the advice is dead on accurate.   How much change do we take on, only to adjust it to a more “comfortable” level? When we do this, we rob ourselves of the real rewards that come from correct and consistent change.

Do you want a better tennis game? How about a raise? Do you want a better, more rewarding career? Do you want a better marriage, better relationships with key people in your life?

Change.  Don’t adjust to your level of comfort; keep it consistent with proper coaching and the ultimate reward you want.

By the way, my serve is starting to improve. Major headway on the court yesterday. Thanks, buddy.