goal, and to be able to play beyond the goal. This has to do with pacing
and preparation. Learn to tolerate your position and not allow feelings
of euphoria to throw you. In upcoming chapters, I'll offer you some
mental techniques in centering and visual imagery to help you prepare
and pace yourself.
Remember, feelings of triumph and euphoria associated with success
may trigger anxiety and guilt (if you feel undeserving) or cockiness
and a relaxation of discipline (which may keep you from doing what it
takes to realize your ultimate ambitions).
Perhaps most important—don't try to prove your self-worth
through the results of your trading. Learn to trade in a less egocentered
way. Satisfaction can come from the development and implementation
of your skills and trading strategy, not just from a profit and
loss statement.
At the same time, it is essential to take responsibility for your successes
and failures by defining specific strategies and measuring your adherence
to them. This will help you to stay focused as your trading
positions change.
It's also of value to discover how to experience the euphoria of success
without being distracted by thoughts of glory. Such thoughts may
lead to unnecessary risk taking or the rejection of good feelings because,
like Dave, you don't feel you deserve them. Similarly, if you are
succeeding, don't think that you've stretched yourself too far or that
you won't be able to do this again. Notice your negative thoughts and
let them pass. Do not try to suppress or change your response, but consider
the possibility of an alternative nonresponse pattern. Approach
your trading from an entirely different viewpoint, one that's unrelated
to your emotions.
Essentially, you can trade your concepts and utilize all your trading
instincts and skills by setting your goals, deciding on your strategies,
and then focusing on what it will take to make them happen. But first
you need to let go of negative self-concepts, as well as negative ideas
about making money. You need to stop being too invested in the personal
significance of your financial outcome and begin to see trading
strictly as an opportunity for self-expression.
Think about this: You can expand the internal space you need to
succeed, not by undoing the past, but by creating a new space, or as I
prefer to call it, a new vision. Consider whether you can grant yourself
the right to grow. What would that take? How much are you invested
in the negative image of yourself ? What do you get for it? By answering
these questions you can begin the process of self-examination. By learning
more about how you function in the trading world and the obstacles
in your path, you will begin to own your mistakes, correct them,
and move closer to trading mastery.
Read More : Anxiety and Euphoria At Trader
