We tell ourselves all kinds of stories about the work and these stories form the way we think, do things and make decisions. For example: if you spend the whole day thinking 'in this office, everything is always a struggle', you are more likely to encounter conflict and hostility. After all, you are unconsciously ready to defend yourself or go on the attack. You misinterpret employees or managers' intentions and thus miss opportunities for cooperation. Negative stories like these will not help you any further. So change your mindset to a new story. How do you do this? Start by identifying a challenge you are dealing with and ask yourself: 'What is the core story I tell myself and others? Keep in mind how this story affects yourself, your own wellbeing and the team. Is the story limiting or liberating? If it is limiting, think about what you would like to change? Which imagined and true version of your story is more useful to achieve your goals and do things differently? Rewriting a story is often a way to see a situation from a different perspective, more positive and proactive.

Source: Harvard Business Review: 'To make a change at work, tell yourself a different story' by Monique Valcour and John McNulty.