My drill partner, who’s equal parts hilarious and a little nuts, always says, “Care, but don’t care too much.” And honestly, he’s onto something. There’s this fine line where caring shifts into caring too much, and crossing it can mess with your mindset big time.

For me, caring too much is a major problem. It flips a switch, and suddenly, I’m stuck in a goal-oriented, self-achieving mode where the fun disappears. Worse, I start tying my self-worth to the outcome of a game. Spoiler alert: That’s a one-way ticket to zero joy.

But when I stick to the care, but not too much mindset, it’s a game-changer. I stay focused on enjoying the process instead of obsessing over the result. I laugh more, smile more, and honestly, I become a better player—and a better person.

Finding that balance is tricky. For me, it’s an ongoing battle, a decision I have to make every single time I step on the court. The good news? It’s getting easier. Over time, I’ve started to recognize the little triggers that push me into that over-caring, not-so-fun version of myself. Awareness has been the first—and biggest—step toward keeping it in check.

The bottom line: I like myself a whole lot better when I don’t care too much. Maybe you will too.