“We are born with what the Taoists call the Mind of Tao, but the conditioning of society distorts it and replaces it with the Human Mind. Taoists believe that before we can resurrect this hidden Mind of Tao, we need to go into a process of Thawing, a de-conditioning of the ideas we already consciously and unconsciously hold” (The Tao: Finding the Way of Balance and Harmony by Mark Forstater, p.60).
Following the Tao can teach a trader to be more comfortable with less control. The market can’t be controlled by an individual trading his or her account. But the culturally conditioned American mind believes that any person can accomplish anything that person undertakes with a strong enough will. This opinion presupposes that an individual has God-like powers.
Why can’t an alcoholic quit drinking by willpower alone? Because the alcoholic needs the help of a higher power. Hence the success of Alcoholics Anonymous. An alcoholic has no choice but to thaw his or her conditioned mind . . . if he or she wants to stop drinking. A marketolic has no choice but to thaw his or her conditioned mind . . . if he or she wants to stop losing.
Melt the Ice
Allowing the Tao to break through the ice of conditioning is an important step to better trading and better living. You cannot separate quality trading from quality living. Any positive changes to your personality will positively affect your trading. Melt the ice and become free.