I have been reading and writing online almost every day for the last 30 days.

It's been a great experience and I have learned a great deal about how to write online, but I never thought I would learn so much about topics that have nothing to do with writing.

I've learned so many various topics like how to motivate myself, how to view my finances, and even how to change my perception of situations.

One subject that really caught my attention is Stoicism (capital "S" is important here).

As I read multiple posts about Stoicism, it dawned on me - this is a great philosophy for coders to adopt to combat every day fears and doubts in our industry.

Wisdom

Although one may think Wisdom refers to "knowledge", the idea of wisdom as presented in Stoicism is different.

The main point of this pillar is the idea that you need to have the ability to separate things that are in your control and circle of influence, and things that are not. In the coding world, any programmer that has watched a tester completely botch a feature's intended use knows exactly what I'm talking about. There are many things in programming we cannot control - only the way we act towards them

By accepting that fact, we are more inclined to look for opportunities and ways to improve instead of trying to understand unforeseen outcomes.

Courage

Imposter syndrome is real and is a huge Achilles heel to our development as coders.

The idea of Courage in Stoicism refers to the ability to face your fears and doubts, without being foolish or just to prove you're brave. Learning new things, taking a chance on a new opportunity, sharing your thoughts even if they aren't what others want to (but need to) hear are all examples of this. The coding communities are filled with strong opinions, "know-it-alls", and peer pressure.

Block out the noise and the self doubt and realize that it's ok to be unsure (every coder is) - the only way to combat imposter syndrome is to face the negative thoughts and prove them wrong.

Justice

Justice in the sense of the Stoic means that one should harmonize their actions for the common good and treat others with fairness and respect.

For coders, I think there is a very real thing that happens when your "lightbulb" gets turned on to certain coding principles or practices. Once that switch takes place in your mind, the concept has been solidified and it no longer is a problem for you. We need to remember, there were probably a dozen other concepts that had to be connected in your brain for that one final idea to makes sense.

Try to always remember this when training a junior developer or helping a client - they're not stupid or incompetent - they just don't have the same context as you.

Temperance

Temperance in regards to Stoicism refers to the act of self control.

All too often, we as coders lose this when it comes to our coffee habits, buying gadgets, and even time we spend gaming. Stoic philosophy teaches you to always keep in mind that too much of something is bad, as is too little of something. Always strive to find a balance - whether that be a given set of time you work on a bug before asking for help or even a 5 minute walk every hour to make sure you are getting exercise.

Keep pushing for the equilibrium in all facets of your life and this will lead you to making good choices and ultimately make you a better coder.