Auto-generated description: Two people sit on a bench by the waterfront under a clear blue sky, with a leafless tree nearby.

I’ve become very conscious of my own attitude at work recently.

Unsure if it’s all work or a mixture with current world events putting a damper on hope as a whole, but I’m wary that my default position on things has become “that won’t work”. I see this mindset as very different compared to “that’s not how we do things”.

The latter indicates a blind spot. A lack of consideration to even thnk about alternatives, often a automatic reaction based on past experience.

That won’t work is different. This is understanding that things aren’t working and would be better with a change, but an automatic resignation that there’s no point trying because it will never work.

It’s a loss of hope.

Shifting the mindset

My goal for the remainder of the year is to actively work against this mindset. Stop being reactive and slow down before responding to things. Look at the opportunities moving forward with hope instead of cynicism.

There is a lot of change in my space. I’m traditionally not hesitant to change, and even embraced it successfully in the past to get meaningful outcomes. I should be seeing these changes as opportunities to do the same; I should have more hope.

However, I’ve also been burned in the past few years by the opportunities for change (or promises for such) being squandered; meaningful improvements being blocked and whittled down to token gestures that simply check a box.

I’m tired, but I want to hope.