My latest piece on how to manage stress as a trader without all the usual jargon or complicated theories has just been published in The Armchair Trader newsletter. I was introduced to the publication through a long-time friend and partner, which is how this little collaboration came about.
Established in 2010, The Armchair Trader is a UK-based financial publication providing independent commentary on global markets, covering stocks, commodities, ETFs, cryptocurrencies and derivatives.
A little different from my usual market commentary, but an important subject nonetheless. Sometimes, keeping things simple is the best approach.
Here is a section:
Think of the mind as an ocean. On the surface, there are waves – thoughts about work, family, money, markets and everything else. When markets get rough, the waves get bigger. One headline breeds a thought, the thought breeds a reaction, and before long, you are “underwater.”
Go deeper and the ocean is quiet. The surface can be chaos while the depths stay still.
During meditation, I do not fight the waves or try to empty the mind. Thoughts come and go. I simply allow the mind to settle inward, past the surface noise, towards something quieter underneath.
A common misconception is that meditation means controlling the mind or forcing yourself to be calm. It does not – well, not in my practice, anyway. If the mind wanders, it wanders. You do not fight it. You just let the process happen. Meditation, in my experience, does not add something new. It clears some of the layers covering something that was already there.