What Does Happiness Have To Do With Trading?
Are you as happy as you’d like to be? Do you have moments of happiness every day?
The answers you give to those questions are very important, and please be honest with yourself, because it has been scientifically proven that if you are not happy today you will not be happy tomorrow, unless you take steps to change today. Happiness in not something that just comes to us today because of some external event. Happiness is something we create. Waiting for something to change in order for you to be happy is nothing more than waiting around to live your life.
What does happiness have to do with trading? – A lot more than you might think. Have you ever witnessed people buying an enormous amount of lottery tickets, or visiting a casino and have you witnessed the enormous number of people playing games in a very serious manner? Or buying large amounts of stock because a friend said it was going to the moon; it is going to make them rich?
What you are really witnessing are people chasing a dream, chasing a dream that really does not exist, except in really rare and often under unusual conditions. Many people think that if they only had lots of money they would be happy, that is why they spend so much money at casino’s or the racetrack, or very recklessly in the markets. They are chasing that elusive dream of money that will make them happy.
In fact as Jim Rohn states: “Money does not change anyone, money simply makes one more of what they already are!” If you are unhappy you will, with money, become an unhappy person with money. If you are miserable, you will become a miserable person with money. That is all! Oh, for sure, if you were to win the lottery, you will have new friends, and you will think the lottery indeed made you happy with your new friends. However, it will not be very long before you find out the truth, that these new friends are after only one thing, and it’s not your friendship. Once the money is gone they will be too. It’s all too sad, but it’s all to true. If money is to make you happy, you must be happy first.
Making sure you are happy and enjoying life may seem self-centered, but the simple fact is that happy people have better relationships, reach more of their goals, are better parents and leaders, and are usually healthier. Creating happiness is a great gift you can give your family and everyone around you. When you are in good spirits, life becomes a rewarding adventure and not just something to get through.
Being happy will give you a different perspective on life and on trading. You will be working towards your goals without the pressure of thinking that attaining your goals will finally make you happy. You will have a much better chance of attaining those goals if you are happy already. Be happy with what you have while you are working towards whatever it is that you want!
