Lose a different way.

Years ago I played league tennis and I lost every match. Not 6-0, 6-0, but after playing for HOURS and losing in tie-breakers. My husband told me what a coach once said to him and it hit me on so many levels (you might call it an ‘a-ha’ moment):

“Lose a different way.”

If I was going to lose anyway, why not change up my game? I’ve since realized that this works well in LIFE, not just tennis.

Think about it, if you are unhappy in a situation — be it a relationship, work or any other place — if you’re experiencing something in your life that is causing you stress or conflict: change up your game.  What harm will it do to change your approach overtly as well as internally? This is such a great way of taking the fear and risk out of changing your behavior.

We are all afraid to switch our game up because we might lose. We don’t realize that we are already losing. When you lose a different way, you will actually start winning because the pressure and fear are gone.

Don’t keep doing the same thing over and over again. Instead of standing at the baseline – switch it up. The worst thing that will happen is that you’ll still lose. But, I can pretty much guarantee it will get better. You will start to win simply by changing your thinking.