content/posts/2016/2016-08-01-coping-with-unknown-outcomes/index.md
---
title: "Coping with unknown outcomes"
cover: "https://picsum.photos/1600/800/?image=639"
date: 2016-08-01 20:54:23 +0200
tags:
- Mindset
---
> "I am an old man and I have known a great many troubles, but most of them
> never happened." by Mark Twain
As software developers we have a lot of things that build unnecessary stress
and anxiety in each day of our profession - just to mention a few and in no
particular order:
- Collaborating with different types of personalities
- Dealing with conflict
- Estimating effort
- Managing expectations
- Choosing the right technologies
- Working on legacy repositories
- Fighting fires in production
In many cases we don't know what the outcome of a situation will be. Although
this applies to all aspects of life, dealing with the unknown only amplifies
the stresses that build.
A mentor introduced me to these three questions I could ask myself (and write
down the answers to) when I find myself in a stressful situation
where I can't predict the outcome:
1. What do I think is the worst possible realistic outcome of the situation?
2. How will I feel about it?
3. What will I do about it?
I've seen the value of applying these questions both in my professional and
personal capacity.
When I explore the absolute worst realistic outcome I can think of, I've
given the situation deliberate thought and processed a way to deal with how I
feel about it and how I can overcome it.
> I am an old man and I have known a great many troubles, but most of them
> never happened. ~ Mark Twain
It's actually rare that the worst outcome will materialize so just by thinking
about it I am equipped to take on whatever comes my way without getting worked
up about it.