The minute we start to feel like life is mundane is the minute we start to feel old. Ahhh… the enthusiasm and vigour of youth. Makes you envious doesn’t it! Or does it? Is it that you still feel like bouncing out of bed, eager for the day’s challenges? Or, are you feeling stale, tired and jaded?
If you’re more in the latter camp, I have a major suggestion. You see – I’ve been there. I’ve had a couple of spectacular times in my life where I was ‘burnt out’, and I managed to claw my way out of that hole. Now, I can recognise the lure of the abyss. I can stand on the edge, peer over into its inky blackness, and I know what to do to back away and not let it claim me.
The first step is to acknowledge you are low. Sure, you could replay and replay all of the pain, misdemeanours and bad luck you’ve had, but that won’t help you. You’ll be reinforcing your funk.
Step two involves making a list. Make a list of all of the things you are grateful for. This may be people, events, things… anything that tickles your fancy. This is where the seeds to your recovery lie.
As a trader, put down on paper all of the reasons you’re grateful that you’ve chosen this profession. Make the reasons vivid. Put them in a place you’ll see often.
Any form of negative emotion is self pity. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but it’s accurate. Start getting ‘grateful’ for the things that are going right in your life, or you’ll be destined to repeat your lack of inspiration with life into the future.
Working on your trading psychology is essential. Without constantly working on yourself, your results won’t reflect your abilities.
I love this piece Louise,
So true about gratitude.
Gotta do it on a regular, daily basis.
I find that gratitude in the morning puts a positive spin on my day
and making a tally of my successes at the end of the day
encourages me, it lets me know, in many little ways and some big,
that I’m moving in the right direction … thanks for that Louise.
Cheers
Bruce