The Power of Visualization

"When an object or purpose is clearly held in thought, its precipitation, in tangible and visible form, is merely a question of time. The vision always precedes the realization." Lillian Whiting

Sounds like magic, doesn't it? Picture something in your mind, and magic presto! There it is! A lot of our thought processes do work like magic. We're somehow not aware that we are the ones creating the magic. We think it just happened.

As you think about your trading, do you picture success? Or do you picture disaster? Or something in between?

We all of us make pictures in our minds of things and events. We may do it so quickly we're not aware of it. Remember a picture is worth a thousand words. If we're making pictures of success, we move towards it.

To succeed at any activity, whether it be athletics or trading, you need to have a clear mental picture of what you want. Through visualization, you imagine yourself successfully having or doing what you want even though it hasn't happened yet. Often unwittingly we do just the opposite-imagine ourselves having or doing what we don't want. This too works like a magnet.

Whenever I work with a client who has trouble pulling the trigger, I ask two questions. What are you saying to yourself when you see the signal? What are you imagining (imaging/picturing)? If they're having trouble pulling the trigger, you can be sure they are imagining the trade taking out their protective stop and giving them a loss.

Whenever I work with a client who overtrades in terms of size or frequency, or a client who continually jumps into the market before his signal matures, I ask the same two questions. You can be sure they are imagining the trade going the way they think it will. They want to get there early or fully. They do not entertain the possibility of loss, and therefore fail to take precaution.

Once again, what we need to picture is ourselves doing the right thing, following our methods and maintaining clarity about price action. Since we do not know and cannot know what will happen, it's best to maintain an attitude of not knowing with an openness to probabilities.

Imagine yourself replicating your methods in the markets. Imagine yourself being consistent and successful. Make a picture of it. Enter the picture so you're looking out of your own eyes. Adjust the qualities of the picture so that it is most impactful. Try making it larger, brighter, more focused.

Take time each day to visualize yourself trading the way you want to trade. Relax. Imagine yourself doing it right now. Make it real in your mind. Make it rich with vivid detail. Enter the role of successful trader and become it in your thoughts.

Do it repeatedly. Visualize your goal at least once a day, every day. The power is in the repetition. Any thought placed in your mind and nourished repeatedly will manifest results in your life. The magic is yours.