MINDFULNESS

[loyek590]

spend some time observing that cemetery and realize this is how it will end

 

[marketsurfer]

The pertinent question is: What can one do practically to disassociate from the ego and not have emotional tsunamis when dealing with trading or life?

In other words: How can this state of emotional detachment or something close to it be acquired?

Gringo

Huh? Detaching from the ego is a way to ruin. Why detach emotionally instead of building up and strengthening your emotions to deal with what life throws at you?

 

[dbphoenix]

True, but each person carries their own baggage into trading as with any other pursuit / career etc. Would you agree?

The need to detach ones ego is not limited to the trading arena, but just look at these forums - each struggle to profitability or ruin is different.

I remember @fortydraws saying a while ago he never had issues with fear etc. Contrast that with KP who can't keep a trade open or any multitude of others in the same boat...

Any tool that helps a trader imo is valid. Just my $0.02

OTOH, DIY therapy is rarely successful, even less so on message boards. But if one were devoted to the effort, I'd save the 43 bucks and study what's available for free online and at the library.

 

[damnpenguins]

Agreed.

Just to clarify I was referring to Mindfulness rather than Dayton's book. As a tool. There is a fair amount of science backing it up.

 

[marketsurfer]

Don't listen to authors or anyone without proven success. Follow the real winners in the financial markets. Do you really think Bill Ackman and other winners in the game detach from the ego?? LMFAO!!! Thanks again, parrotbot, for more fodder for the book. This stuff is f$$king hilarious to anyone who actually trades real capital.

 

[loyek590]

Huh? Detaching from the ego is a way to ruin. Why detach emotionally instead of building up and strengthening your emotions to deal with what life throws at you?

emotions are something God gave us to enjoy the game of life, both the highs and the lows

it's not that you have to control them, it's just that they die over time, they are not eternal

 

[marketsurfer]

because after you take that hit of acid and smoke some pot, you understand how the whole deal works, and this time we are alive and well in this very slow moving plane is just temporary, so nothing is any big deal, including your PnL.

it gets better when you are old and out of debt and the government sends you money each month

I'm pretty sure ego and sex are one in the same

my ego and my need for art and music was very strong when my sex drive was strong, now the drive is about gone and so is my ego, and so are my emotions

it wouldn't hurt to spend a quiet night at the cemetery and contemplate how and who always ends up there

That's sad, dude. You should be getting stronger & better as you age not falling into the same trap as the masses. surf

 

[lucysparabola]

Huh? Detaching from the ego is a way to ruin. Why detach emotionally instead of building up and strengthening your emotions to deal with what life throws at you?

the most successful trader I've ever dealt with (and others like him, but less successful) have all had giant egos. But they seemed to know how to control them and redirect that energy towards further successful trading. You have to have balls of steel to bet successfully time and again.

 

[loyek590]

emotions are something God gave us to enjoy the game of life, both the highs and the lows

it's not that you have to control them, it's just that they die over time, they are not eternal

that's why many old men take up dangerous sports, because they miss those old emotions that they had when they were young

 

[dbphoenix]

Agreed.

Just to clarify I was referring to Mindfulness rather than Dayton's book. As a tool. There is a fair amount of science backing it up.

Thank you. I misinterpreted what you said.

Too bad this sort of thing can't be discussed the way "Zen and the Art of Trading" was discussed years ago.