< previous page page_145 next page >

Page 145
from the Web for at least a full day. Don't call for automated phone quotes or watch television business programs. Give yourself a one-day withdrawal from the market. Not only does this give you a necessary break from the action, it also shows you that you can live without constant attention to the market and your portfolio without anything terrible happening.
11. Take periodic vacations. Go to a different environment than you are used to. Go to the mountains, desert, seashore, or to another state or country. This is necessary to clear your mind of habitual problems and routines that are easy for us all to get stuck in. See if you can resist the temptation to turn on CNN if you travel to another country.
12. Seek professional help. Take advantage of psychological counseling or psychotherapy when needed. Do not wait until you are miserably depressed or climbing the walls with anxiety before reaching out. If things get bad enough, medication from an M.D. is always available and a psychologist can help determine if you need it.
Remember that psychologists are too good at what they have to offer to be limited to helping disturbed people. They can help you overcome obstacles that block you from higher-level work performance and more intimate love relationships. They can assist you in coping with the pain of loss and adjust to the developmental stages and changes that are part of life. Don't be afraid to seek help when you need it.
Managing the Inner Noise
While the outer noise that overloads us may be largely managed by manipulating the physical environment and altering relationships with others, controlling our own minds is not as easy. It is, in fact, the most difficult thing that anyone can do. If you don't believe this, try it for yourself and see what you discover. In addition to what was presented in the last chapter, here are more ways to work with your thoughts and feelings.
1. Shuttle between inner and outer. Pay attention to your own mental and emotional state while trading and watching the market. Develop a habit of shuttling back and forth between the data on the screen and the ''data" inside your mind. Notice what inner dialogue comes up as you react to watching changes on the monitor or news events on television.

 
< previous page page_145 next page >