Trading Psychology  |  SEP 2005

Letting Go Of Resentment by Adrienne Laris Toghraie

Stocks & Commodities V. 23:9 (68-70): Letting Go Of Resentment by Adrienne Laris Toghraie Each trading day brings with it an array of emotions, both positive and negative. Here’s how you can get a grip on your negative emotions. If there is one thing that all traders share, it is the need to handle negative emotions so they do not sabotage our lives. In an average workday, a trader often has to deal with the roller-coaster ride of emotions as a trade goes wild. Greed, fear, shame, regret, anger, and anticipation … all these emotions come on without warning. Great traders experience those emotions right along with struggling traders. The difference is in how they are managed. HANDLING TOXIC EMOTIONS Resentment is one of the most toxic of emotions, and often occurs as a result of a loss. If a trader feels responsible for the loss, he will not feel resentment. But if he feels he is not responsible, resentment will often follow. For traders, losses can occur for reasons beyond their control; they may be the result of others’ actions, actions that are unethical, irresponsible, predatory, careless, thoughtless, or purely accidental. For example, a trader may have: • Lost a great deal of money in the market because his trading was interrupted at a crucial time by someone who demanded his attention for a trivial reason...

by Adrienne Laris Toghraie