The integrative perspective in psychology is that the various approaches to change, such as cognitive therapy and psychoanalysis, are different ways of tapping into a common change process. Research tells us that, by directly tapping into this process, we can accelerate change and make our change efforts more effective. In these posts, I will highlight what we need to do to make meaningful changes, whether it's in our personal lives or in our trading.
The first element in the change process is emotional arousal. We cannot sustain change if we stay in our usual states of mind and body. It is when we are experiencing our lives most deeply and powerfully that we're open to the deepest and most powerful changes. Very often, the emotional catalyst for change is emotional pain. We have repeated a problem pattern so often and to such an extent that we feel despair. We feel that we can't go on this way. In AA, this is known as "hitting bottom". Our pain becomes our greatest motivator to do things differently.
Sometimes there is a positive source of the emotional arousal. We have such a powerful experience that it completely changes our perspective and our priorities. Examples of this would be falling in love and committing to a life together; deep religious experiences; and unusual success in one of our pursuits. Change occurs through inspiration: by shaking up our priorities.
In both cases, emotion is a gateway to change. The enemy of change is routine--and routine states of mind. A simple example would be trading reviews at the end of a day, week, or month that are conducted quickly and in a rote fashion. We write down some goals and observations and move on to other life activities. There is nothing in the process that moves us. It's not the lack of work or effort that prevents traders from succeeding; it's the absence of emotional arousal. We either have to be so disgusted with our bad trading or so inspired by our successes that change becomes a must, not something to check on a list.
If we're not passionate about change, nothing ultimately changes.
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