Any time we want to make a needed change in our life or in our work with others, the tension is familiar:
We find ourselves stuck continuing to do the “old wrong things well” rather than the “new right thing poorly.”
That insight from Stewart Black’s It Starts with One names what so many of us feel but can’t always explain. The challenge isn’t just making the change — it’s recognizing when we’ve become stuck in the past.
Whether it’s personal growth, leadership patterns, or organizational habits, we often hold onto things that once worked — even when they no longer serve the purpose. They feel familiar. Safe. Comfortable.
Sometimes we call it “muscle memory.” But more often, it’s simply inertia — the internal pull to keep doing what we’ve always done.
Jesus saw this too.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment… Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins… No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
— Matthew 9:16–17
The principle? New realities require new behaviors and frameworks.
Trying to force fresh vision into outdated structures — whether in our habits, teams, or systems — doesn’t work. It tears, bursts, or fails to hold. If we want lasting change, we need to let go of the old container and create space for the new.
Why we resist — even when we know change is needed
- Our internal wiring resists
We’re wired with a Survive/Thrive system. Even when change is good, it can trigger fear or insecurity. Our natural reaction is to protect ourselves — which shows up as avoidance, skepticism, or over-control. - Our systems serve the past
Most organizations — and many personal routines — are optimized for efficiency, not agility. They reward predictability and control.
The result? We reinforce patterns that served a previous season, not the one we’re in now.
The outcome? We stay stuck. Even when we want to change.
How to break free: Start here
🔹 Create urgency — without triggering fear
Urgency should awaken hope, not panic. Connect the change to shared purpose, a compelling future, or what’s at stake if we don’t move forward — and create a safe space to begin.
🔹 Pull together the guiding team
Change doesn’t start with a strategic plan. It starts with people.
Whether it’s a shift in behavior or a cultural transformation, we don’t move forward alone.
While fear tempts us to isolate or power through, real change requires community — a few trusted friends, or a committed team.
Bottom line
You can’t step into the future while gripping the past.
Breaking out of outdated patterns — personally or organizationally — takes humility, clarity, and courage. It’s not flashy. It often starts small. But that’s where transformation begins.
Let go of the old wineskin. Make space for what’s next.