| Like traders, top athletes compete and practice their | | | | The Observer notices how poorly one may feel, but |
| sport day after day. Like traders, top athletes have | | | | also knows that the goal of winning the match is |
| good days and not so good days. Here's an insightful | | | | important. Rather than placing attention on the |
| comment by an elite tennis player after winning an | | | | discomforts, the Observer accepts the discomfort and |
| important match in which she didn't feel 100% | | | | chooses to play anyway. Attentional focus is |
| (emphasis added in bold): | | | | redirected to the task-at-hand. |
| Actually, mentally I've been going well from every | | | | For traders, embracing the Observer will help improve |
| match, I've been unbelievable. Probably stronger and | | | | your trading. As the Observer, you can stand apart |
| stronger considering I didn't play my best and didn't feel | | | | from your internal processes such as negative |
| great really, but kept on going with my head. So that's | | | | thoughts, unwanted feelings, and uncomfortable |
| what pulled me through today. | | | | physical sensations. You notice these things as they |
| Even though she "didn't feel great" she was able to | | | | occur but choose not to center your attention on them. |
| play well and win the match. One of the hallmarks of a | | | | The alternative of engaging your negative thoughts |
| champion is playing well enough to win despite feeling | | | | and feelings only serves to magnify them and cause |
| poorly. How do they do this? Note that this tennis | | | | distractions. Then, you become vulnerable to trading |
| player attributes her success to her mental skills - as | | | | your emotions. Adopting the role of the Observer can |
| she said, she "kept on going with my head." | | | | help you make the choice to refocus back to what's |
| Recent research shows that how we feel inside has | | | | most important to you - managing the trade at hand. |
| little bearing on our performance. We can feel nervous, | | | | Learning the role of the Observer takes practice. Like |
| tense, and even scared, yet still perform well. Athletes | | | | building muscle, the more you consistently do it, the |
| and their sport psychologists know this and incorporate | | | | better you will be at it. And, you can do it anywhere. |
| specific mental skills in their training. One way they do | | | | For example, after a meal, wash your dishes. Be |
| this is to adopt the role of the Observer. | | | | attentive to actually washing the dish. As the |
| Anyone can observe what their mind is saying to them | | | | Observer, notice when your mind wanders. Then |
| and how they feel. As you read this article, you can--in | | | | reorient to the task-at-hand. Look for other |
| your mind's eye--observe yourself reading and thinking | | | | opportunities in your daily life to practice noticing, |
| about this article. Try it for a moment. You've just | | | | observing, and refocusing your attention. |
| taken on the role of the Observer! | | | | |
