People are creatures of habit

Extract from "Oracle PLSQL Programming" of Oreilly.

 We all tend to fall into ruts, in almost every aspect of our lives. People are creatures of habit: you learn to write code in one way; you assume certain limitations about a product; you turn aside possible solutions without serious examination because you just know it cannot be done. Developers become downright prejudiced about their own programs, and often not in positive ways. They are often overheard saying things like:

"It can't run any faster than that; it's a pig."

"I can't make it work the way the user wants; that'll have to wait for the next version."

"If I were using X or Y or Z product, it would be a breeze. But with this stuff, everything is a struggle."

But the reality is that your program can almost always run a little faster. And the screen can, in fact, function just the way the user wants it to. And although each product has its limitations, strength, and weaknesses, you should never have to wait for the next version. Isn't it so much more satisfying to be able to tell your therapist that you tackled the problem head-on, accepted no excuses, and crafted a solution?

How do you do this? Break out of the confines of your hardened views and take a fresh look at the world ( or maybe just your cubicle ). Reassess the programming habits you've developed. Be creative-step away from the traditional methods, from the often limited and mechanical approaches constantly reinforced in our places of business.

Try something new: experiment with what may seem to be a radical departure from the norm. You will be surprised at how much you will learn and grow as a programmer and problem solver. Over the years, I have surprised myself over and over  with what is really achievable when I stopped saying "You can't do  that!" and instead simply nodded quietly and murmured, "Now, if I do it this way...."