Finding Inspiration as a Software Engineer

Living away from New York City for over a year has taught me a lot about how important it is to be surrounded by inspiration. While the city has its downsides (smell in the summer, long commutes, expenses) it also comes with a heightened sense of belonging and energy.

For almost twenty-eight years of my life, I was immersed in and influenced by the NYC crowd — if you’ve ever been to New York I’m sure you understand the value of this. Being away from New York I can now see how motivating it was to be surrounded by others who are working hard always striving to be the best versions of themselves and achieve their goals.

Time away has led me to reflect on what is inspiring to me. I have learned that inspiration can come in many forms: a collaborative team, a supportive manager, a friend pursuing their passion, or reaching an impressive accolade. I am doing my best to find inspiration in things other than performance or job reviews as those aren’t core to who I am.

It’s dangerous to intertwine your identity with your job as we are all more than what we do from 9-5. Yet, at times, it can be difficult to be inspired in ways that are not within the workplace. In New York, my self-worth felt more tied to my role, title, and job performance. With time away, I can see that inspiration can, of course, be found in the workplace; however, inspiration that is confined to a job can feel limiting and often fleeting.

I encourage you to take time to think through what is inspiring to you. It has been helpful for me to consistently reevaluate who and what I find inspiring.

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