“You will have to start intellectually, but do not cling to it. When I say, ‘Do,’ try doing. [...] We can go on talking for years and years, your mind can be stuffed with many things, but that is not going to help. Rather, it may harm you because you will begin to know many things. It is good to know a little and to practice it. A single technique can be helpful; something done is always helpful. What is the difficulty in doing it?
“Deep down somewhere there is fear. The fear is that if you do it, it may be that something stops happening–that is the fear. It may look paradoxical, but I have been meeting so many, so many persons who think they want to change. [...] They go on asking about what to do, never doing it. Why then do they go on asking? Just to deceive themselves that they are really interested in transforming themselves. That is why they are asking.
“This gives a facade, an appearance that they are really, sincerely interested in changing themselves. That is why they are asking, going to this guru and that, finding, trying, but they never do anything. Deep down they are afraid.”
– Osho, from The Book of Secrets
Osho goes on to talk about his view that humans are afraid of freedom, which I think is very relevant to psychological problems with trading. People prefer to be trapped complainers, rather than have the responsibility that goes with freedom. So, despite how much they say they want to succeed, deep down they are more comfortable sharing in the misery of their struggling trading buddies.
Any kind of change is scary. It takes action despite the fear to accomplish anything worthwhile. Think about it…
Very nice post Richard, it describes my first several months going into trading perfectly, and even now fear STILL holds me back. I could say I’m “trying” to conquer my fears. but is that really the truth, or am I just making excuses like so many other people?