Perhaps I was being a bit harsh. If so, I apologize. As I mentioned earlier, I think that introspection is a good thing. You have to know who you are if you are going to trade successfully for any length of time. And while eastern philosophy has its virtues, I wonder how efficient it is to get "too" caught up in it for that purpose. But that is just my opinion. I recognize that we don't all go about our lives in the same way, nor should we. There is no one "right" way to wear a hat.
Here is my bottom line. I think that most reasonably intelligent people willing to put in the effort can learn to trade. Some will take longer than others. I am one of those slow learners. The critical issue is finding a method that not only works, but also fits. In my case, I had developed methods in the past that would have worked on balance, yet I languished. I was confident that, although I would incur losses, I would likely come out ahead over a series of many trades. However, I found that I could not deal very effectively with a fairly high proportion of losses regardless of the expected net outcome over time. It was just not in me. Perhaps it is a matter of upbringing, perhaps it is genetic, or perhaps it is a combination of the two. Regardless, I had to deal with it. I tried to change with limited success. So, I finally decided that it would be easier to find a shirt that fits rather than try to wear a good albeit ill-fitting one. And so, I worked and developed a method that I consider to be very reliable, certainly much more so than anything else I had come up with in the past. There is a catch, however. Because it is quite reliable, it more than occasionally misses fairly sizeable moves. Some people would not be comfortable with this combination. They would rather incur more losses along the way and not miss out on any of the big moves. But that is just not me. I need to be confident that my next trade has a very good chance of not losing money (either profit or break-even). I may be losing out on what is optimal, but it is the only way that I can effectively play the game. And, I like it because it suits me. Perhaps one day I will change, but not today. And probably not tomorrow.
As I said: trading is trading.
So much for introspection. On the other hand, if you are using various tomes on eastern philosophy for change, then may I suggest David Burns' Feeling Good Handbook.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-6179906-5546363?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
I would think that it may have more practical application to personal change than vague and eloquent passages subject to interpretation.
Finally, if you are drawn to meditation, as many devotees of eastern philosophy seem to be, then may I suggest Herbert Benson's The Relaxation Response.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-6179906-5546363?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
It deals with a simple, quick and scientifically proven method of achieving relaxation and the alpha wave response consistent with that achieved by acknowledged masters of meditation and eastern philosophy. And the best part is that you can learn the principle in minutes (although it will take a bit longer to get the hang of it). You won't have to journey to some distant mountain top for answers.
In summary, I am not suggesting that the eastern philosophy that you seem to espouse is without merit. Indeed, I think it has its place in the scheme of things. However, insofar as trading is concerned, I think that there are more practical and efficient means of achieving a favorable end.
Just my opinion.
