Ask HN: How to overcome strong feelings of worthlesness and inadequacy

PS: I've started off with Python today. :)

A meal or two per day and suddenly everybody is complimenting you.

"I do not write tests for my code. I do not write very many comments. I change styles very frequently. And most of all, I shun the predominant styles of coding, because that would go against the very essence of experimentation. In short: all I do is muck around.

So, my way of measuring a great programmer is different from some prevailing thought on the subject. I would like to hear what Matz would say about this. You should ask him, seriously.

I admire programmers who take risks. They aren’t afraid to write dangerous or “crappy” code. If you worry too much about being clean and tidy, you can’t push the boundaries (I don’t think!). I also admire programmers who refuse to stick with one idea about the “way the world is.” These programmers ignore protocol and procedure. I really like Autrijus Tang because he embraces all languages and all procedures. There is no wrong way in his world.

Anyway, you say you want to become better. I mean that’s really all you need. You feel driven, so stick with it. I would also start writing short scripts to share with people on the Web. Little Ruby scripts or Rails programs or MouseHole scripts to show off. Twenty lines here and there, and soon people will be beating you up and you’ll be scrambling to build on those scripts and figure out your style and newer innovations and so on." -why

just pick something, anything, and not major (as to discourage yourself), break it down to small parts and each part into a set of tasks. for that you can use [https://workflowy.com], i like it a lot. just tackle them. DO NOT stop when you're stuck. bulldoze through it, then stop at the middle of a printf or something (again so you will jump back on it because you know how to pick up where you left off).

just pick an idea that you love, and go with it. and never forget who you are.

take care, bud. i promise, you'll be just fine.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelellsberg/2011/07/18/how-i...

Second Part - Easier said than done...

Stop comparing yourself to others and start comparing yourself to yourself.

Humans basically have 3 states - Think, Feel, Do.

If I had to guess, ever since finding HN you've been bouncing between thinking and feeling, with very little doing. It's not healthy, everything needs balance. Try forcing yourself to set a really simple goal of just doing something for a week. Walking 2 miles every other day, playing guitar 30 minutes 3 times a week, something physical. (The reason I say physical is because you're prone to thinking and feeling a lot, keep it simple and avoid going back into that rut)

You need to start finding little rewards and reinforcements for yourself on the 'do' side of things, I suspect even small ones will open doors to greater successes.

Something I find almost impossible to do physically is not think. Sit on your floor, lay in your bed, at your desk chair, whatever, and start counting your breaths, slow, metered even breathing. 5 seconds in, 5 seconds out. As soon as you hear a thought pop into your head that isnt just focused on the in and out of your breathing and on what breath you're on, start over. See how high you can get. Not thinking is an incredible way to train your focus.