So much of Brett's work feels like "it was written for me". He's able to nail the exact problems that I face. To show examples of the behaviours that I'm exactly struggling with.
Lesson #5 WAS written for me : ) It starts with acknowlement that when traders seek coaching, they are usually troubled by a particular emotional state affecting decision-making: anger, frustration, anxiety or doubt.
Thus far, this blog is chalked full of instances where I've struggled with frustration. Consumed in it. Initiating trades rapidly without regard to anything else but fighting the market with more trades. This out of control, all-consuming behaviour has been the most vexing issue of my life!
Our traits and temperaments affect how we experience the world and play a key role in our RANGE of emotions. Some of us feel good and bad very strongly like me. Some of us, like my girlfriend two years ago, are quite even keeled and don't REALLY love or hate anything! Or they are neurotic like my last girlfriend and wired to feel predominately negative emotions (It's ALL negative, really it is!).
Although I'd like to think of myself as being in control of myself, as Brett puts it, "The sobering reality is that much of our emotional experience is hardwired". I'm always going to fight the ups and downs of life. Because good feels GOOD. Bad feels BAD. My ex's will always be calmly boring or unable to find anything positive in anyone or anything. As they say, you CAN'T FIGHT THE TAPE!
But all is not lost. I cannot change my personality, but I can change how it is expressed. The trader trap is trying to control feelings with thoughts, trying to TALK myself into feeling better or different. Feelings are very powerful and meaningful. If it were easy to makes ourselves feel different at will, or talk ourselves into feeling different, then their would be many fewer psychologists in the world.
As my own trading coach, i need to garner the perspective that FEELINGS CONTAIN INFORMATION. Emotion is a key component in rational decision making. People with various parts of their brains knocked out (like my daughter's mother) are unable to properly emotionally process and engage is distorted behaviour.
This lesson is long. I'll finish it up tomorrow with part 2. It's a lot to process.
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