Trading on Target: How to Cultivate a Winner's State of Mind

REFLECTIONS—YOURS AND OTHERS

Because our perception of who we are and what we possess shapes our actions, it is especially helpful to understand our perceptions before we can begin to change them. One way to understand who we really are versus our self-perception is by seeing our reflection in the perceptions that others have of us.

For example, some traders may see themselves as lacking success and happiness because they have been experiencing a difficult period in their trading. This may be in contrast to the perception of others who observe their wonderful home lives, loving families, and comfortable lives. This would lead them to conclude that these same traders are highly successful, happy, and fortunate people. Which perception is the more accurate one? If we take the picture of our lives and look at it from an even greater distance of, say, the sub-Saharan African continent, we suddenly see our lives from a completely different perspective. Now, we can see the big picture and our lives look completely different.

One way to gain perspective on your life is to take the following exercise:

Step 1. Ask yourself what you think of your life: Are you happy? Successful? Does your life have meaning to you? What are your personal strengths and weaknesses and what are the strengths and weaknesses of your situation in life? What are your resources and what do you lack? What do you want and need to make you happier, more successful, more secure?

Step 2. Now, how would your friends, ...