Trading the Market Journal

A Strong Soul Is Better Than Good Luck

"The rational soul is stronger than any kind of fortune — from its own share it guides its affairs here or there, and is itself the cause of a happy or miserable life."— Seneca, Moral LettersAn in

02 September

The Philosopher's School Is A Hospital

"Men, the philosopher's lecture-hall is a hospital — you shouldn't walk out of it feeling pleasure, but pain, for you aren't well when you enter it."— Epictetus, DiscoursesAnother interesting medi

03 September

First, A Hard Winter Training

"We must undergo a hard winter training and not rush into things for which we haven't prepared."— Epictetus, DiscoursesToday's meditation is a very interesting read and it can be compared to trading

04 September

How Can You Know Whether You've Never Been Tested?

"I judge you unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune. You have passed through life without an opponent — no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you."— Seneca, O

05 September

Focus On What Is Yours Alone

"Remember, then, if you deem what is by nature slavish to be free, and what is not your own to be yours, you will be shackled and miserable, blaming both gods and other people. But if you deem as your

06 September

They Can Throw You In Chains, But . . .

"You can bind up my leg, but not even Zeus has the power to break my freedom of choice."— Epictetus, DiscoursesToday's meditation is quite deep and powerful and we should hopefully never have to go

07 September

Our Hidden Power

"Consider who you are. Above all, a human being, carrying no greater power than your own reasoned choice, which oversees all other things, and is free from any other master."— Epictetus, DiscoursesA

08 September

Do Not Be Deceived By Fortune

"No one is crushed by Fortune, unless they are first deceived by her . . . those who aren't pompous in good times, don't have their bubbles burst with change. Against either circumstance, the stable p

09 September

Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself

"But there is no reason to live and no limit to our miseries if we let our fears predominate."— Seneca, Moral LettersAn interesting meditation today and something that we can compare to trading too

10 September

Preparing On The Sunny Day

"Here's a lesson to test your mind's mettle: take part of a week in which you have only the most meager and cheap food, dress scantly in shabby clothes, and ask yourself if this is really the worst th

11 September

What Would Less Look Like?

"Let us get used to dining out without the crowds, to being a slave to fewer slaves, to getting clothes only for their real purpose, and to living in more modest quarters."— Seneca, On Tranquility o

12 September

Be Down To Earth, Or Be Brought Down

"Zeno always said that nothing was more unbecoming than putting on airs, especially with the young."— Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent PhilosophersThis is an interesting meditation today and

13 September

Protecting Our Inner Fortress From Fear

"No, it is events that give rise to fear — when another has power over them or can prevent them, that person becomes able to inspire fear. How is the fortress destroyed? Not by iron or fire, but by

14 September

A Different Way To Pray

"Try praying differently, and see what happens: Instead of asking for 'a way to sleep with her,' try asking for 'a way to stop desiring to sleep with her.' Instead of 'a way to get rid of him,' try as

15 September

A Garden Is Not For Show

"First practice not letting people know who you are — keep your philosophy to yourself for a bit. In just the manner that fruit is produced — the seed buried for a season, hidden, growing graduall

16 September

Anyone Can Get Lucky, Not Everyone Can Persevere

"Success comes to the lowly and to the poorly talented, but the special characteristic of a great person is to triumph over the disasters and panics of human life."— Seneca, On ProvidenceHow very tr

17 September

Dealing With Haters

"What if someone despises me? Let them see to it. But I will see to it that I won't be found doing or saying anything contemptible. What if someone hates me? Let them see to that. But I will see to it

18 September

Dealing With Pain

"Whenever you suffer pain, keep in mind that it's nothing to be ashamed of and that it can't degrade your guiding intelligence, nor keep it from acting rationally and for the common good. And in most

19 September

Flexibility Of The Will

"Remember that to change your mind and to follow someone's correction are consistent with a free will. For the action is yours alone — to fulfill its purpose in keeping with your impulse and judgmen

20 September

Life Isn't A Dance

"The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing, because an artful life requires being prepared to meet and withstand sudden and unexpected attacks."— Marcus Aurelius, MeditationsAnother very

21 September

Maintain Composure, Maintain Control

"When forced, as it seems, by circumstances into utter confusion, get a hold of yourself quickly. Don't be locked out of the rhythm any longer than necessary. You'll be able to keep the beat if you ar

22 September

No Pain, No Gain

"Difficulties show a person's character. So when a challenge confronts you, remember that God is matching you with a younger sparring partner, as would a physical trainer. Why? Becoming an Olympian ta

23 September

The Most Secure Fortress

"Remember that your ruling reason becomes unconquerable when it rallies and relies on itself, so that it won't do anything contrary to its own will, even if its position is irrational. How much more u

24 September

It Could Happen To You

"Being unexpected adds to the weight of a disaster, and being a surprise has never failed to increase a person's pain. For that reason, nothing should ever be unexpected by us. Our minds should be sen

25 September

The Vulnerability Of Dependence

"Show me someone who isn't a slave! One is a slave to lust, another to greed, another to power, and all are slaves to fear. I could name a former Consul who is a slave to a little old woman, a million

26 September

What Time Off Is For

"Leisure without study is death — a tomb for the living person."— Seneca, Moral LettersI read today's meditation with interest and I must admit that I do enjoy a nice relaxing break on holiday. I

27 September

What Will Prosperity Reveal?

"For even peace itself will supply more reason for worry. Not even safe circumstances will bring you confidence once your mind has been shocked — once it gets in the habit of blind panic, it can't p

28 September

You Hold The Trump Card

"How appropriate that the gods put under our control only the most powerful ability that governs all the rest — the ability to make the right use of external appearances — and that they didn't put

29 September

Your Actual Needs Are Small

"Nothing can satisfy greed, but even a small measure satisfies nature. So it is that the poverty of an exile brings no misfortune, for no place of exile is so barren as not to produce ample support fo

30 September

You Can't Touch Me

"If you lay violent hands on me, you'll have my body, but my mind will remain with Stilpo."— Zeno Quoted in Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent PhilosophersToday's meditation is a reminder of ho

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