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Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the day –

Our Ben,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed Be-nanke,
Thy auctions come,
Thy Bill’s be done,
In Twos as they are in Sevens,
Give us this day our daily Fed,
And forgive us our Treasuries,
As we forgive those that default against us,
And lead us not into recession,
And deliver us from deflation,
For thine is the borrowing, the easing, and the printing,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

BELIEFS

What you believe, consciously or unconsciously, propels your trading in its many directions.  It might be so simple a matter as whether you believe a market is going up or down or nowhere.  Traders have biases that distort their perceptions and effect their actions, and they need to guard against these with various protections and bias detectors.

Other beliefs are more veiled and ubiquitous.  For example, you may consciously intend to make money, but you have a counter impulse that thwarts you due to unconscious beliefs that go against that intention.  Perhaps you unconsciously believe that money is the root of all evil, or that rich people are corrupt, or that there isn’t enough to go around and so you shouldn’t be greedy, or that you should be laying up your treasure in heaven, and not on this earth.  Perhaps on some level you believe you shouldn’t make more money than your parents.

When you want something, you have to really want it and not be ambivalent about it.  It has to be your desire, and not some alien value set by your parents or society.  The flower loves the sun, and stretches to receive its rays.  The plant loves water and digs its roots deep seeking the object of its desire.  If you want to make money trading, you really have to admire money and have good purposes for its use.  If you want to be a master trader, you have to be comfortable with that role, and not see trading as wasteful gambling, or an unworthy profession.

Perhaps you believe that you don’t deserve to make money trading, or that you have to work hard for your rewards.  Maybe you believe that only the big boys win, that the market is stacked against the ordinary trader.  Maybe you believe that it’s impossible to make money in the futures markets or, worse, any market.  Maybe you believe it’s possible to make money trading, but it’s not probable that you can keep your winnings.  All such ideas run in opposition to easy and effective trading.

Just as insidiously you may doubt that your system really works, or that it won’t work this time.  Some traders get superstitious: for example, they believe that they always, or tend to, lose money on Fridays, and so, of course, they do.  When any of their superstitious factors occur, somehow they manage to lose.

Benjamin Graham Quotes

  • Individuals who cannot master their emotions are ill-suited to profit from the investment process. – View Quote Details on Individuals who cannot master their emotions are ill-suited to profit…
  • Most of the time common stocks are subject to irrational and excessive price fluctuations in both directions as the consequence of the ingrained tendency of most people to speculate or gamble…to give way to hope, fear and greed. – View Quote Details on Most of the time common stocks are subject to irrational…
  • You are neither right nor wrong because the crowd disagrees with you. You are right because your data and reasoning are right. – View Quote Details on You are neither right nor wrong because the crowd disagrees…
  • Warren Buffett, story from Benjamin Graham: A story that was passed down from Ben Graham illustrates the lemminglike behavior of the crowd: “Let me tell you the story of the oil prospector who met St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. When told his occupation, St. Peter said, “Oh, I’m really sorry. You seem to meet all the tests to get into heaven. But we’ve got a terrible problem. See that pen over there? That’s where we keep the oil prospectors waiting to get into heaven. And it’s filled—we haven’t got room for even one more.” The oil prospector thought for a minute and said, “Would you mind if I just said four words to those folks?” “I can’t see any harm in that,” said St. Pete. So the old-timer cupped his hands and yelled out, “Oil discovered in hell!” Immediately, the oil prospectors wrenched the lock off the door of the pen and out they flew, flapping their wings as hard as they could for the lower regions. “You know, that’s a pretty good trick,” St. Pete said. “Move in. The place is yours. You’ve got plenty of room.” The old fellow scratched his head and said, “No. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go along with the rest of ’em. There may be some truth to that rumor after all.” – View Quote Details on Warren Buffett, story from Benjamin Graham: A story that was…

I Trade In The Zone.

  1. I Trade In The Zone’. I Trade IN The Moment, IN The Present, With Total Disregard For What Others Think & Feel About Me.
  2. ‘I Trade In The Zone’. I Ignore ALLEmotions & Defensive Perspectives. I Trade; I Do, I Act From An Entirely Detached & Impartial Perspective.
  3. ‘I Trade In The Zone’. Only In The Zone Do I See The Market As It Truly Is.
  4. ‘I Trade In The Zone’. I Block Out ALL Bad Habits & Self-Limiting Beliefs Attained From My Past, My Environment & Their Surrounding Noise.
  5. ‘I Trade In The Zone’. My Mind Is Pure, Clear, Focused & Yet Empty. The product Of‘Choice’ Means I ALWAYS Can; At Will, ‘Trade In The Zone’.
  6. ‘I Trade In The Zone’. I Trade Without Ego, Never Reacting To Pain, Sorrow Or Fear. I Just Trade The Market As It Truly Is. I Am A Super Trader, I Am The Master Of My Emotions, & So I Can Trade In The Zone. ‘I TRADE IN THE ZONE’.
  7. ‘I Trade In The Zone’. Trading In MY Zone Means I Distinguish Actual Reality From My Interpretations & Projections Of Reality. I Control The Zone!
  8. ‘I Trade In The Zone’. Only In The Zone, My Centred State, Can I ‘Super Trade.’ I Flow With Trends, I Spot Reversals & Breakouts; I Cut Losses Without Hesitancy & Let My Profits Run Perpetually. ‘I Trade In The Zone’.
  9. The Zone Is Where I Live; It’s My Nirvana, My Sanctuary, My Paradise, My Heaven.
  10. I LIVE & TRADE In The Zone. The Zone Is In Me; & The Key To Enter Is Within Me Forever!

HOW BELIEFS DRIVE TRADING

What you believe, consciously or unconsciously, propels your trading in its many directions.  It might be so simple a matter as whether you believe a market is going up or down or nowhere.  Traders have biases that distort their perceptions and effect their actions, and they need to guard against these with various protections and bias detectors.

Other beliefs are more veiled and ubiquitous.  For example, you may consciously intend to make money, but you have a counter impulse that thwarts you due to unconscious beliefs that go against that intention.  Perhaps you unconsciously believe that money is the root of all evil, or that rich people are corrupt, or that there isn’t enough to go around and so you shouldn’t be greedy, or that you should be laying up your treasure in heaven, and not on this earth.  Perhaps on some level you believe you shouldn’t make more money than your parents.

When you want something, you have to really want it and not be ambivalent about it.  It has to be your desire, and not some alien value set by your parents or society.  The flower loves the sun, and stretches to receive its rays.  The plant loves water and digs its roots deep seeking the object of its desire.  If you want to make money trading, you really have to admire money and have good purposes for its use.  If you want to be a master trader, you have to be comfortable with that role, and not see trading as wasteful gambling, or an unworthy profession.

Perhaps you believe that you don’t deserve to make money trading, or that you have to work hard for your rewards.  Maybe you believe that only the big boys win, that the market is stacked against the ordinary trader.  Maybe you believe that it’s impossible to make money in the futures markets or, worse, any market.  Maybe you believe it’s possible to make money trading, but it’s not probable that you can keep your winnings.  All such ideas run in opposition to easy and effective trading.

Just as insidiously you may doubt that your system really works, or that it won’t work this time.  Some traders get superstitious: for example, they believe that they always, or tend to, lose money on Fridays, and so, of course, they do.  When any of their superstitious factors occur, somehow they manage to lose.

Strong emotions also get in the way of winning.  Underlying each emotion is some belief about what is happening.  The interpretations you give events color your reality. Underneath each interpretation is a rock core belief.  “That’s just the way it is.” you say. Such a statement flags a belief. Is it really the way it is?  Do you feel guilty, scared, angry, or depressed after a losing trade?  Perhaps you believe that you shouldn’t lose, that one losing trade implies you can’t trade, that one losing trade portends many more losing trades, or that you’ve jinxed yourself for the rest of the day or week.

Equally or possibly even more important are the positive conscious and unconscious beliefs that you hold about trading and investing.

To begin with, to do anything well, you need to believe that it can be done, that you can do it, and that you deserve to do it.  You’re in trouble if you doubt any of these three.  Your trading is at risk if you don’t firmly believe that money can be made trading, that you can make money trading, and that you deserve to make money trading. (more…)

Law suit? Porn addict? Divorcing? Seeking investment ideas? Worried about the world?-Just Spare 5-10 minutes to read this sermon

Jesus of Nazareth was a Jewish carpenter that was born about 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, which is now a Palestinian city located in the central West Bank about 10 kilometers south of Jerusalem.  Over the course of a very short period of time (about a year) Jesus developed a large following as a miracle worker and religious teacher.  He was publicly executed by crucifixion around the year 35, and many millions believe the historical narrative that he was raised from the dead after three days in a tomb, and later ascended into the heavens.

Below is an English translation of one of Jesus’ very famous outdoor lectures, which was widely shared by his disciples that were present, and eventually written down circa 70-90. 

If you take 5-10 minutes to read this sermon, then you will know what being a Christian is actually supposed to mean. 

I like to read this first thing in the morning, immediately followed by a few minutes of meditation where I sit quietly listening.  I would not expect everything in the reading to speak to you, but I believe something will, as is always the case for me.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount

Excerpted the Gospel of Matthew – Chapters 5-7 (more…)

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