[thetradingdoctor]

Pyenner-

The government will not take care of us. This is a delusion perpetrated on the gullible masses who believe that all they have to do is work their butts off for most of their adult lives and social security will provide. Ugh! You are good to go in this aspect since you see it and are attempting to do something about it.

There is still a child inside of you who loves to play. This is part of the conflict you are expressing right now---the playful, innocent, stubborn child who doesn't have to grow up. Yet you must. This is where the difficult questions come in--each question leading to another and another.

When on is truly committed to trading, something magical happens. The universe moves. You feel it all around you and know that you are truly called to this siren.

But what of the other siren that calls you? Do you remember the story of Odysseus?

In Greek mythology, Odysseus had to sail within earshot of the Sirens. No sailor could resist their seductive call. The penalty for giving in to this irresistible temptation was death by drowning - the fate experienced by all who had come before. Appreciating the danger, Odysseus filled his men's ears with wax so they would not be able to hear the Sirens. Odysseus wanted to hear what the Sirens sounded like. However, he knew that if he heard the Sirens he would be unable to resist, and so he pre-committed his future behavior by having himself tied with rope to the mast of the ship.

The plan was successful. When Odysseus and his men sailed past the island the Sirens called, but the men could not hear so they kept rowing. Odysseus heard the Sirens, but he could not give in to the temptation, because he was tied to the mast.

The Lessons of Odysseus and the Sirens:
1. Odysseus made his plans in advance. If he had waited until he heard the Sirens to try to figure out what to do, it would have been too late.

2. The men did not give in to temptation because they did not experience it. Likewise, you can engineer your environment to minimize your exposure to temptation - at least until the healthy habits have become well established - i.e., avoid high risk situations.

3. Because no sailor had previously survived, some might take a defeatist attitude and passively accept the inevitable defeat. But Odysseus was a hero, and approached the challenge as a problem to be solved. He devised a well conceived plan, and executed it as intended.

4. Finally, and most importantly, Odysseus experienced the temptation, but did not give in to it. How did he accomplish what had previously been impossible? Odysseus understood that the sirens had the power to make him act contrary to his current wishes. So while he was still in his right mind he predetermined his future behavior by having himself bound to the mast of the ship. It would be the rope, not the siren's call that determined Odysseus's behavior when they sailed past the Island of Circe. As Odysseus was bound by strong rope, so you can be bound by your committment to yourslef.

Thanks for you always stimulating posts, YPenner!

Doctor Janice

Originally Posted by thetradingdoctor »

The government will not take care of us. This is a delusion perpetrated on the gullible masses who believe that all they have to do is work their butts off for most of their adult lives and social security will provide. Ugh!

Exactly. For those who needed a real world example, just look at what happened when Katrina hit a couple of years ago.

[PYenner]

Thank you Doctor Janice

As far as I can tell the child/fun thing is the bottom of the iceberg, the least visible bit and the part that was most reluctant to be questioned. It surprised me that a most trivial aspect seemed to have the most compulsive kneejerks.

The old me has been a durable model, have a lot to thank it for.
Not sure I trust the notion of rebirth, yet there has also been obvious reason to aim at one, extensive reshaping that addresses the future rather than the past.

My overview comes but slips away again.
I need to revisit the scene a few more times.

It is about entraining constructive habits as you say.
In business, once you see the need and see the means, it really takes care of itself, just happens and it is pleasing to see functional stuff happening on auto pilot.

In my family I see people identifying themselves with a rat phobia, its as if they cling to a lead weight believing it to be a life belt, believing it to be "me". You should have disposed of that in infancy, what do you gain from carrying pointless baggage? It denies you freedom to act and think.

Not so easy to see it in yourself.
Thing is if I can genuinely see the need, it should largely fix itself.
Thats how it used to work anyway.

Regards

[PYenner]

Originally Posted by cooter »

Exactly. For those who needed a real world example, just look at what happened when Katrina hit a couple of years ago.

I'm going right off topic here, but governments around the world have acted quickly to prop up the banking system. It seems to me that the only thing that governments do by reflex is deception and PR, same thing really. It is making me uncomfortable. False confidence is not what I want.

[Soultrader]

One of my own personal complex I hold is my lack of book smart due to my limited educational background. Many traders on this board have the academic knowledge and the wisdom through years of life and trading experience ahead of me. Although I have been told that I am extremely street smart, this is something I have been working hard to grow. It has been a life of academic catch up for me the past few years..... thank you very much for sharing your posts PYenner and the responses Dr. Janice. It is through these readings that my knowledge grows in creative ways and allows me to originate thoughts and ideas on my own.

[PYenner]

Originally Posted by thetradingdoctor »

That inability to eat or sleep, the obsession with the beloved trades (especially those with high beta), the strange feeling of ennui which creeps in when the markets are not open, the search for excitement and something to do, going a little bit nutso or doing something wild and crazy just for “kicks� second, sneaking a peak at the markets while working at another job, trading in the car at lunch hour, constant preoccupation with the markets and trading to the exclusion of family and friends, etc. might be more than just normal curiosity about the beloved.

Is this true love? Is it addiction?

I rate it as addiction. Got all the above and going nutso about it.
It aint my idea of businesslike. Nor my idea of love despite the parallels.

Fwiw you can add physical and mental fatigue to the list of triggers for cupids arrow but while it is potent it is resistable. Workplaces are actually the most dangerous, when you see someone daily it wears down your resistance and leaves you with no options. First you notice them, progressively you need to see them or your day is meaningless frustration. Addiction.

[Jakew]

And someone said it's very well to approach trading like dancing, allowing the market to lead you. No wonder majority of men are poor traders

[PYenner]

So she is distinctly kinky and he is the only one taking damage...