|
|
|
|
|
|
|
returns to its original position. Don't force your breathing in any way, just let it come and go on its own. If you can stay with this for a few minutes, it will have a calming effect. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This form of breathing is too good to be confined just to controlling emotional states and thoughts during trading. You can use it any time you begin to feel flustered as a chance to literally "catch your breath" and to get back a sense of control. I should mention that sustained meditation practice actually habituates us to this form of breathing as our common mode, so that any other form (thoracic or chest breathing) seems uncomfortable. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Like the thought-watching meditation offered in Chapter 5, the mental scan helps us focus attention on what thoughts we are using to feel out of control. Using diaphragmatic breathing as an anchor, we close our eyes and pay attention to any thoughts or subtle feeling states that may arise. We don't try to push any unpleasant thoughts away or change any feelings. We simply pay attention to what is there. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Are you having a reaction to the market that is not quite clear? Try and stay with it long enough to identify it. If you notice an obsessive thought that is market related, ask yourself: What function is this repetitive thought serving by not going away? What might it be trying to tell you? Is it giving you a warning about some action you are thinking about taking? Is it related to a past action? Is it related to a feeling about a stock you are watching? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sometimes our previous trades with a specific stock will come to mind to scare us as we are watching its movement or thinking about trading it. See if you can determine the message of any obsessive thought so that you can let go of it. Obsessive thoughts are your mind's way of telling you to pay attention! Something needs to be attended to before it will go away. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This mental scan is not only useful to help us disengage from the monitor but also helps us pinpoint what we may be telling ourselves to feel out of control. The breathing method will then help calm us from any obsessive thinking and help us notice how jumping into the future with our thoughts creates anxiety. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Any time we can come back into the present, we can feel more control, as we give up rumination for the bad trade 20 minutes ago or |
|
|
|
|
|