I’m a big fan of pickleball. I love playing, and when I tell others I do, they laugh and remind me that it’s a game for “old people.” Clearly, they have never played pickleball. From my experience, you need to have lightning-fast reaction speeds, be quick and nimble on your feet, and, depending on your partner, have great cardio, or you’ll find yourself out of breath embarrassingly quickly.
You may or may not need a pickleball mindset shift, but many of us need one about our day-to-day jobs and careers. I still see so many people stuck on what their job “used to be.” That could be in the 1980s or even last year when you worked remotely, but every once in a while, we need to look at our mindset and occasionally shift it.
We know that we need to change. Our jobs and offices change daily as new technologies, organizational changes, and shifting expectations shape our reality. Even if we are adaptable and comfortable with change, we sometimes get stuck in negative thought patterns and do not recognize we need to shift.
Here are six signs that it might be time to have a mindset shift (along with actionable ways to address each sign):
- You’ve Become a “Ya, but” Thinker
Is your default thought process to see the negative in situations before you see anything positive? If you zero in on the negatives, it might be time for a mental reset. When someone shares a new idea, are you quick to think (or, gasp, even say), “Ya, but…” For example, if a new AI program has been suggested for you to try, do you dwell on how complicated it seems instead of exploring how it could streamline your work? Do you jump in and share all the negatives about using AI generally rather than look at this specific instance?
Shift Your Mindset: Each time you hear yourself say, “Ya, but …” ask yourself, “How can I make this work? What are the benefits if this all goes according to plan?” Instead of saying, “This will never work,” ask, “How can I make this work for me?” Shifting your focus to problem-solving rather than problem-spotting can make the transition easier.
- You Like Things Predictable
When things change, it means we lose what we were comfortable with. New processes, routines, and even work colleagues mean we must learn new ways to do things. Have you ever said, “I remember when we did X…” and almost wished it would return to how you were comfortable? While it’s natural to miss what’s familiar, staying stuck in that mindset can hold you back. Have you held yourself back from a new job, routine, or even a new item on the menu in fear that it might not be as good as you had before?
Shift Your Mindset: Recognize your feelings but focus on what you’re gaining. Could the new job offer fresh opportunities to learn or more satisfaction? Could it open doors to a better future? Channel your energy into embracing what lies ahead rather than clinging to the past. Look at potential through a positive lens rather than through fear.
- You Feel Like You Have No Control
Feelings of frustration often surface when we feel we have little control over changes happening around us. For example, you might feel annoyed about a shift in company policy or a reorganization of responsibilities and complain that your advice or opinion wasn’t requested. You might feel like decisions are being made for you instead of asking, which can be overwhelmingly frustrating. Feeling like we have no control over what happens is a clue that we aren’t looking at things properly and may need a mindset shift.
Shift Your Mindset: Identify what’s within your control. For instance, if a new policy feels restrictive, explore how to work within its boundaries while still achieving your goals. Speak up during meetings, ask questions, and read more about what is happening and why. Taking proactive steps can help you feel more in control and less frustrated. You still may not like what has been decided, but you can feel less frustrated by understanding why that decision was made.
- Your Inner Judge Comes Alive
When we’re uncomfortable with change, it’s easy to direct that discomfort outward by becoming overly critical of colleagues or senior management. For example, you might catch yourself thinking, “If leadership had handled this better, we wouldn’t be in this mess.” Do you find yourself saying things like, “Oh, they are a millennial…” or other judgemental statements blaming others?
Shift Your Mindset: Practice empathy by considering the bigger picture. Leaders are often navigating complex challenges behind the scenes. Instead of assigning blame, focus on what you can do to contribute positively to the situation. This shift not only benefits your mindset but also strengthens workplace relationships.
- You Only Think About the Things You “Have to Do”
When your to-do list feels like an endless parade of obligations, it’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing work as a series of tasks you “have to” complete rather than opportunities to grow. For example, having to take minutes in a meeting might feel like a burden you don’t want to do rather than an essential part of governance that many people rely on. When you wake up in the morning, do you “have to go to work” or “want to go to work”?
Shift Your Mindset: Reframe your language and replace “I have to” with “I get to” or “I want to.” For example, instead of saying, “I have to take minutes at this meeting,” try saying, “I get to find out before anyone else what is happening and why.” This small shift can give routine tasks more purpose. You can see the big picture instead of focusing on just you.
- You’re Feeling Sorry for Yourself
It’s easy to say, “Poor me,” when we have a to-do list a mile long, obligations and responsibilities that seem never-ending, especially since we not only see no help on the horizon but are rarely appreciated for going that extra mile. When facing changes, it’s easy to slip into a victim mentality, believing that things are happening “to” you rather than “for” you. For instance, if your workload increases due to team downsizing, you might feel like you’re being unfairly targeted and complain to others that you are always the one getting stuck with the extra work. Or, at work, everyone gets to work from home two days a week, but you feel like you are taken advantage of because you cannot work remotely.
Shift Your Mindset: Acknowledge your feelings, but don’t let them define your actions. Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this situation?” or “How can I use this experience to build resilience?” Taking ownership of your response to challenges empowers you to move forward with confidence. Then, you can have a critical conversation about why these things are happening with those who make the decisions rather than getting stuck in a rut complaining about them.
In fairness, none of these examples or signs have anything to do with pickleball, but they all tell us at work we need a mindset shift. We’ve become negative, complaining, a victim, and often get stuck in a rut as we are unwilling to make any changes.
Pickleball isn’t just for “old people,” and getting stuck in a negative mindset doesn’t have to be expected either. Take the steps listed so you can feel better, enjoy what you do better, and see your job from a new perspective.
And if you still think pickleball is for older adults, I’ll challenge you to a game!
This article was written by Rhonda Scharf not by AI.
