Something I would like to add to the list (being in the field for 33 years):
Discover that your greatest struggle is with your own deep rooted sense of insecurity,
I think that software engineering, like no other form of engineering, has an aspect of creativity (source code), in combination with many (often hidden) single points of failures (bugs), where cooperation with others is essential, causing all your insecurities to be revealed.
Either you learn to hide these or they drive you on a road to soul searching, possibly resulting in various forms of burn-outs, in alienation from your family and friends outside of you work circle, in changing your world view and/or losing your faith. But which might in the end result in a form of enlightenment.
I am aware that there are some other professions where this also is the case. Just this week, I watch an interview with the neurosurgeon Henry Marsh. You can watch it here (with some Dutch subtitels and advertisements): https://www.npostart.nl/vpro-wintergasten/04-01-2023/VPWON_1...
I'm enjoying that interview right now - thanks for sharing!
I also identified with the rest of your post. I've felt regret recently for the career "potential" I lost to the inner struggle, and at around 15 years in, I think I understand these dynamics well on an intellectual level, but emotionally, I feel further than ever from being able to overcome them.
Could you expand a bit more about what you mean about hiding insecurities? Are you hiding them from yourself, or from others? I am reading this as learning to deal with your insecurities but not sure if that's what you mean. Do you have any advice in particular? I feel like my imposter syndrome takes so much mental energy that I spend a lot of it just worrying whether I can do something rather than just doing it.
I think it depends on you personality whether you are able to hide your insecurities or not. I also do not know whether it is a good thing to hide them, because they can surface in other forms, like anger, bitterness, revenge, depression, and/or indifference.
It is probably better to deal with your insecurities, your deepest fears. With that respect, I think that the litanry against fear (from Dune by Frank Herbert) has some deep meaning. Making your fear larger, and than asking yourself what it would mean in the end, can help to overcome your fears.
Another things that I have discovered is that breathing techniques can help. Slow and deep breathing is a great technique for finding calmness. Many meditation techniques involves a focus on breathing. I think you don't need to sit with you eyes closed in a certain position and/or and think (or not) about certain things. It also works when you are sitting behind your desk or when you are walking around.
Great, thank you for the insightful response! I’ll think about it more. I’m reading the Dune right now coincidentally, the observation about fear is very interesting.
Discover that your greatest struggle is with your own deep rooted sense of insecurity,
I think that software engineering, like no other form of engineering, has an aspect of creativity (source code), in combination with many (often hidden) single points of failures (bugs), where cooperation with others is essential, causing all your insecurities to be revealed.
Either you learn to hide these or they drive you on a road to soul searching, possibly resulting in various forms of burn-outs, in alienation from your family and friends outside of you work circle, in changing your world view and/or losing your faith. But which might in the end result in a form of enlightenment.
I am aware that there are some other professions where this also is the case. Just this week, I watch an interview with the neurosurgeon Henry Marsh. You can watch it here (with some Dutch subtitels and advertisements): https://www.npostart.nl/vpro-wintergasten/04-01-2023/VPWON_1...