Mind Games: Controlling Investors

The way a card player hypnotizes his opponent with card tricks, so also can one hypnotize and configure his mind to work to his advantage. 

If joy, excitement and success are all in the mind, will playing mind games trigger investment success? The way a card player hypnotizes his opponent with card tricks, so also can one hypnotize and configure his mind to work to his advantage. Since my childhood days, I have always played mind tricks on myself to give me that positive vibe and a possible confidence to overcome challenges. This has worked in most instances.

For example, when I got my first job, it was a hectic process waking up early, showering and rushing to the bus stop to board the next available bus to work. I would get to work 30 minutes earlier than the start time and would begin working immediately. This gave me a competitive edge over colleagues as I would meet a lot more goals. Soon, I became the boss’ favourite. I had to condition my mind to getting up early to pray, shower, and then dash out of the house and although the first few days were hard, perfection comes with consistency. I had to play that mind card on myself to ensure I met my goals.

Denise Shull, an American decision coach and author stated in her book ‘’Market Mind Games’’ that when it comes to investing, we are usually taught to ‘’conquer’’ our emotions but in truth, the reverse is the case. We will need to use our emotions to sail through.

She has had to combine her expertise in neuroscience with her extensive trading experience as she seeks to help investors improve their decision-making skills to navigate shifting relationships between reason, analysis, emotion, and intuition. She claims that this is an investor’s psychological capital and key to making decisions calmly and rationally during the heat of trading.

When an investor conditions their mind to think that their investments would excel, is that truly an indicator that it would excel? Goal setting is a mind game that anyone can play and how you frame your goal is critical. The process begins with how you see your goal, the challenges you may encounter, and how you would overcome and conquer them.

So, here’s a challenge for you this year: if your desire is to make more money from your investments, set a goal to meet and possibly exceed those goals. Goals that motivate, which are the only true goals, require a certain mind-set. They must be both significant and have a heart and soul commitment for you to achieve them.

You will need to activate your motivational forces and all that is necessary to achieve set goals. The ones that are challenging and specific would trigger your mental stamina and would possibly be a primary indicator of your future growth. They will also sharpen your inner will and capacity. 

Pull out that mind card today, set your goals, and use carefully planned out strategies to propel yourself to greater heights.