Trading the Market Journal

Where Philosophy Begins

"An important place to begin in philosophy is this: a clear perception of one's own ruling principle."— Epictetus, DiscoursesWell I can't believe we are into the third month of these daily meditatio

02 March

Accurate Self-Assessment

"Above all, it is necessary for a person to have a true self-estimate, for we commonly think we can do more than we really can."— Seneca, On Tranquility of MindToday's meditation is something that a

03 March

(Dis)Integration

"These things don't go together. You must be a unified human being, either good or bad. You must diligently work either on your own reasoning or on things out of your control — take great care with

04 March

Awareness Is Freedom

"The person is free who lives as they wish, neither compelled, nor hindered, nor limited — whose choices aren't hampered, whose desires succeed, and who don't fall into what repels them. Who wishes

05 March

Cutting Back On The Costly

"So, concerning the things we pursue, and for which we vigorously exert ourselves, we owe this consideration — either there is nothing useful in them, or most aren't useful. Some of them are superfl

06 March

Don't Tell Yourself Stories

"In public avoid talking often and excessively about your accomplishments and dangers, for however much you enjoy recounting your dangers, it's not so pleasant for others to hear about your affairs."�

07 March

Don't Trust The Senses

"Heraclitus called self-deception an awful disease and eyesight a lying sense."— Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent PhilosophersToday's meditation is something that we can definitely compare to

08 March

Don't Unintentionally Hand Over Your Freedom

"If a person gave away your body to some passerby, you'd be furious. Yet you hand over your mind to anyone who comes along, so they may abuse you, leaving it disturbed and troubled — have you no sha

09 March

Find The Right Scene

"Above all, keep a close watch on this — that you are never so tied to your former acquaintances and friends that you are pulled down to their level. If you don't, you'll be ruined. . . . You must c

10 March

Find Yourself A Cato

"We can remove most sins if we have a witness standing by as we are about to go wrong. The soul should have someone it can respect, by whose example it can make its inner sanctum more inviolable. Happ

11 March

Living Without Restriction

"The unrestricted person, who has in hand what they will in all events, is free. But anyone who can be restricted, coerced, or pushed into something against what they will is a slave."— Epictetus, D

12 March

Seeing Things As The Person At Fault Does

"Whenever someone has done wrong by you, immediately consider what notion of good or evil they had in doing it. For when you see that, you'll feel compassion, instead of astonishment or rage. For you

13 March

One Day It Will All Make Sense

"Whenever you find yourself blaming providence, turn it around in your mind and you will see that what has happened is in keeping with reason."— Epictetus, DiscoursesBack to trading again when compa

14 March

Self-Deception Is Our Enemy

"Zeno would also say that nothing is more hostile to a firm grasp on knowledge than self-deception."— Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent PhilosophersToday's meditation is so true for us as trad

15 March

The Present Is All We Possess

"Were you to live three thousand years, or even a countless multiple of that, keep in mind that no one ever loses a life other than the one they are living, and no one ever lives a life other than the

16 March

That Sacred Part Of You

"Hold sacred your capacity for understanding. For in it is all, that our ruling principle won't allow anything to enter that is either inconsistent with nature or with the constitution of a logical cr

17 March

The Beauty Of Choice

"You are not your body and hair-style, but your capacity for choosing well. If your choices are beautiful, so too will you be."— Epictetus, DiscoursesToday's meditation is all about making the right

18 March

Impossible Without Your Consent

"Today I escaped from the crush of circumstances, or better put, I threw them out, for the crush wasn't from outside me but in my own assumptions."— Marcus Aurelius, MeditationsWhen we compare today

19 March

Timeless Wisdom

"For there are two rules to keep at the ready — that there is nothing good or bad outside my own reasoned choice, and that we shouldn't try to lead events but to follow them."— Epictetus, Discours

20 March

Ready And At Home

"I may wish to be free from torture, but if the time comes for me to endure it, I'll wish to bear it courageously with bravery and honor. Wouldn't I prefer not to fall into war? But if war does befall

21 March

The Best Retreat Is In Here, Not Out There

"People seek retreats for themselves in the country, by the sea, or in the mountains. You are very much in the habit of yearning for those same things. But this is entirely the trait of a base person,

22 March

The Sign Of True Education

"What is it then to be properly educated? It is learning to apply our natural preconceptions to the right things according to Nature, and beyond that to separate the things that lie within our power f

23 March

The Straitjacketed Soul

"The diseases of the rational soul are long-standing and hardened vices, such as greed and ambition — they have put the soul in a straitjacket and have begun to be permanent evils inside it. To put

24 March

There Is Philosophy In Everything

"Eat like a human being, drink like a human being, dress up, marry, have children, get politically active — suffer abuse, bear with a headstrong brother, father, son, neighbor, or companion. Show us

25 March

Wealth And Freedom Are Free

". . . freedom isn't secured by filling up on your heart's desire but by removing your desire."— Epictetus, DiscoursesToday's meditation is quite short and straight to the point. If you can be happy

26 March

What Rules Your Ruling Reason?

"How does your ruling reason manage itself? For in that is the key to everything. Whatever else remains, be it in the power of your choice or not, is but a corpse and smoke."— Marcus Aurelius, Medit

27 March

Pay What Things Are Worth

"Diogenes of Sinope said we sell things of great value for things of very little, and vice versa."— Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent PhilosophersI really like a statement in today's meditatio

28 March

Cowardice As A Design Problem

"Life without a design is erratic. As soon as one is in place, principles become necessary. I think you'll concede that nothing is more shameful than uncertain and wavering conduct, and beating a cowa

29 March

Why Do You Need To Impress These People Again?

"If you should ever turn your will to things outside your control in order to impress someone, be sure that you have wrecked your whole purpose in life. Be content, then, to be a philosopher in all th

30 March

Reason In All Things

"Hurry to your own ruling reason, to the reason of the Whole, and to your neighbor's. To your own mind to make it just; to the mind of the Whole to remember your place in it; and to your neighbor's mi

31 March

You're a Product of Your Training

"Chasing what can't be done is madness. But the base person is unable to do anything else."— Marcus Aurelius, MeditationsToday's meditation states that "an investor without discipline is not an inve

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