11/06/2025
Failing Forward—One Tennis Match (and Therapy Session) at a Time 🎾
As an Enneagram 3 (the Achiever), failure and I go way back—and we’ve had a complicated relationship.
When I started tennis two years ago, I assumed I’d be winning matches in no time. Spoiler: I didn’t win a single one for two years.
I was frustrated, embarrassed, and ready to quit. But something in me said—keep showing up. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when you feel behind.
Then one day, something clicked. I won my first match. Then another. And I realized: failure hadn’t been blocking my progress—it had been building it.
Here’s what the tennis court (and therapy room) both taught me:
• Most people quit right before the breakthrough. Growth rarely feels good when you’re in it.
• You get better by doing the work, not thinking about it. Insight is great—but repetition rewires the brain.
• Discomfort isn’t proof you’re doing it wrong—it’s proof you’re learning.
• Trying new things as an adult is good for your brain and your soul. It reminds you that you’re still growing, still teachable, still alive.
Whether it’s a backhand or a boundary, progress comes from practice—not perfection.
If you’re in a season of “failing,” maybe you’re just in training.
Keep swinging. You’re closer than you think.
