Mr. Spock from Star Trek fame was one of my favorite characters growing up. Little did I know at the time the trading edge I was gaining. For some reason he just resonated with me. He was so different than everyone else. Sound reasoned decision, free from emotional swings and anger, there was just something about him that inspired me to do better.
Amazingly, the detached feeling of emotion one seeks when in the trading Zone is the state Spock endeavored to remain in. From the surface he looked like an uncaring individual. He looked at life from a vantage point far differently than the average mortal. Observing reality unblemished from news, first impressions, and opinions, he presented the ultimate in objective observation only, seeing all things and thoughts as casual observations only, frequently followed by the oft quoted, fascinating.
Trading Untarnished
Those involved in meditation often seek this observational point of view of life. A wonderful review is provided in the excellent trading book The Zen Trader by Peter Castle. It takes mental training and rehearsal to enter this state regularly. Just like anything else it takes effort. I would argue that mental training in trading is at least equivalent to physical training for overall health. And from my point of view it takes more effort to mentally train than going to the gym for a workout.
I observed a trader one time early in my trading profession who seemed like he really didn’t give a sh** about his trades. I finally realized it was his secret sauce. He has made millions using this care free attitude, developed only after years of failure in trading.
Turning to our neurology, clearing your brain’s prefrontal cortex of unneeded actors is perfectly aligned with such an approach. As your PFC is cleared by consciously cleaning house and you focus on your trading objectives, your emotional arousal centers in your reptilian relic, the amygdala are dampened. You maintain control and your focus is untarnished from the rollercoaster of emotional upset. This naturally allows you to sit on your hands at the appropriate time and jump on a trade at other appropriate times.
Moving Ahead
When we able to look at a trade for likely probable outcomes entirely from its price action, regardless of news, opinion, talking points, tariffs, etc. you can objectively enter trades free of bias and see things as they really are, not as you wish or hope or think they will be. Using brain-based trading model in your approach can make a real difference in your bottom line.
Trade Long and Prosper.