Familiar Does Not Always Mean Best

“We’ve always done it this way” can sound like a solid reason. But sometimes it only means we know what to expect. There is comfort in knowing the routine. We know where things belong, what comes next, and how to do our part. A new way may leave us feeling unsure. We might have to ask for help with something we used to do without thinking. That may be what is hiding behind the excuse. We are not always protecting a good way of doing things. Sometimes we are protecting ourselves from feeling new at something again. Of course, an old way is not wrong just because it is old. It may be safe, wise, and right for the people involved. Change can also cost time and money that simply are not available. Those limits deserve an honest look. But so does our reason for saying no. There is a difference between “This still works well” and “I don’t want to learn another way.” One points to a real benefit. The other names a feeling we may need to face. Before closing the door on a new idea, we can ask what the old way is still doing well. If our only answer is that it feels familiar, perhaps the idea deserves a little more room.