Chapter 13 - Managing Mental Energy (catch up) W - “All our lives would become a lot easier to live and potentially more satisfying if we operated out of the belief that we are in a state of imperfect knowledge, evolving toward something that we haven't become yet. Everything is evolving into something that it isn't yet. It may not seem like it at times, but each moment of each day, we change into someone who was not the person we were a moment ago. At the physical level new cells are born and old cells die. At the mental level each moment that passes we experience something. Each experience adds to the inner environment in the form of a memory or belief. Each memory and belief builds a self-concept that acts as a force on how we interact with the environment. Then as we interact with the environment, we change it in some way, creating a new environment for us to discover and experience. Everything that exists is evolving, because everything that exists is in motion, and motion creates change. Even the grandest mountain will eventually wear away into small rocks, which will themselves turn into sand and then dust.” (pp. 159-160) A - Such a great expression about the nature of life and affirming that we are on a journey to become more than who we are at this moment. A - No matter how horrible of a trading day I had before, I wake up every day with excitement and hope for the opportunities that the market has to offer me because I know that yesterday will never define who I am as a trader today.

Chapter 14 W- Some issues in trading are cyclical especially when the root cause isn’t addressed. Affirmations can help traders move on in their trading career beyond the barriers that come from recurring issues. A- The affirmation from Mark that stuck out was “I believe I am free to change the way I feel about any past experience” A- I’m finding being a trader does not have a linear path. Sometimes you need to experience a problem with the right mindset to move on in your trading career. Applying this affirmation hasn’t help directly with trading but has helped me when I applied it to my daily life. This I feel has helped with maintaining my stress.

IMPORTANT INFO ON NEXT MEETING: WE ARE OFF THIS WEEK FOR SPRING BREAK (LOL) WE RESUME CHAPTER 14 ON 3/30 AT 1PM...... I HAVE A PCT MEETING SO I HAD TO MOVE THIS TO 1PM. SORRY AND HOPE EVERYONE CAN ATTEND!!!

Chapter 14 - Techniques for Effecting Change ****** Discuss the exercises - did anyone take and what did you learn? W - Change comes from what we are willing to think... A - Mark discusses that if we want to direct our conscious thought process toward a specific intent; this is what effects change. A - We Become what we think about....I think this is very true. If we think about good or bad things, same with what we watch/listen to; what we allow in our mind and thinking about it over & over again (whether good things we want or bad things we do not want) only reinforces the POWER that thought now has to take root in our mind. Our thoughts turn into our words; words turn into actions, and actions become our life.... Think good thoughts. Be willing to monitor your thoughts in trading & in life.... It starts with self-awareness and honesty:)