|
|
|
|
|
|
|
anger that they think empowers them. For example, they may say, "I know that anger is bad, but at times I am justified, and it gives me the strength to get my viewpoint across." To change such a belief, they will have to ask questions that create doubt about its validity. Then they must link a new belief to anger that actually empowers them. Some questions they could ask are: "What about this situation makes me think that I am justified about getting angry? What about this situation might be misrepresented? How could I be perceiving this situation incorrectly? What beliefs am I using to come to this decision? Am I representing the references accurately? Am I perceiving this situation accurately?" A new empowering belief could be that anytime they experience anger they are losing the ability to perceive the situation rationally, and by doing so they are the ultimate loser. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The primary way to control anger is by adopting better beliefs about anger, about accepting the risk that is inherent in the marketplace, and about the true nature of the markets. As noted earlier, the physiology of anger is unique, and transcends all cultures. Your physiology affects the quality of the beliefs that you are currently experiencing, and your current beliefs affect your physiologyit becomes a vicious circle. As you begin to increase your virtues and the quality of your beliefs, you will have the ability to get out of the state of anger and to avoid it by deciding either to change the beliefs you are focusing upon or to change your physiology. How angry do you think you could remain if you took a deep breath, smiled (not grimaced), and slowly stretched your muscles? Might you be stretching your mental abilities as well? Would the intensity level remain the same or decrease? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Just as with fear, anger is very difficult to experience when we are focused in the present moment. This is because in order to experience anger we have to think about how our beliefs, values, or expectations are not being met. The act of thinking about how our beliefs were "violated" requires us to remove ourselves from the present moment and reflect on our beliefs. When we are trading, we must exist in the present moment; consequently any feelings of anger that might be experienced will be felt only when we are done trading. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What this means is that to experience anger with less frequency and intensity, we must control our beliefs about the justification and value of anger. As we strengthen our virtues and our empowering beliefs, the anger we experience will begin to diminish. The best virtue that we can use to combat anger is forgiveness. When we have the ability to truly forgive, we |
|
|
|
|
|