Women often joke that a man’s brain is controlled by a much smaller part of his anatomy. Well, that’s actually true. Now before you ladies laugh, yours is too. Get your mind out of the gutter for a moment-my apologies for my double entendre putting it there to begin with. I’m referring to the amygdala, a small almond shaped part(1) of your brain that’s involved with emotions.
The Almond In A Nutshell
Now, I’m not a neuroscientist, nor do I play one on TV—but I have been known to stay at a Holiday Inn Express. With that said, the amygdala is part of the limbic system, the so called “lizard brain.” The lizard brain provides us with immediate response to things, especially when it comes to emotions such as fear. When the caveman was confronted with a Saber Tooth tiger, it triggered his flight or fight defense mechanism. He needed that small part of his brain to make these fast, emotionally charged decisions. There simply isn’t anytime to contemplate your navel.
10000 BC, Warner Brothers
So Easy, Even A Caveman Can Do It?
What worked well in caveman times doesn’t always work so well in modern times, especially when it comes to trading. We can’t just ignore our amygdala. Eliminating emotions wouldn’t help us to make much better trading decisions. Unfortunately Beatrice, that’s not how this works, that’s not how any of this works. You can’t make decisions without the amygdala and the rest of the limbic system. This has been proven by those unfortunate with illness or injury to this part of their brain. They can no longer make decisions, any decision (2). There’s no longer an emotion attached. When asked simple things such as scheduling an appointment they can logically reason through the choices but without feeling the emotional consequence of one choice over the other they arrive at a stalemate.
What Does This Mean?
We must embrace and not eliminate emotions since we cannot make decisions without them.
So How Do We Do That?
Geico Caveman
I think the solution is a little more involved that what can be written in a quick blog, but there are a few simple things that you can do to be well on your way. The first step is to recognize that ALL decisions are emotionally based. Take my word for it or read the writings of Shull, Damasio, and others.
Second, embrace your emotions. Recognize them. Get in touch with them. Note when and how emotions are effecting your everyday decisions-and I mean everyday decisions. As an example, I wanted fried catfish for lunch on Thursday. I recognized that the emotional pleasure of eating crispy fillets would be backed with an afternoon of being lethargic–that plus the stress of knowing that a minute on my lips would be forever on my hips (or, in my case, my boobs!). Further, the doctor told me to lay off the sodium so I know that there would be additional repercussions such as fluid retention. I certainly don’t want to become one of the “people of Wall Mart” by being seen wearing compression socks with shorts (which, admittedly, I do around the house). I’m an old fart but I’m not THAT old-yet, although my AARP card arrived yesterday—arrrg! Sorry, I digress. Third, slow things down a bit before making that next decision and the several million thereafter. Ever snap at your spouse and before the words reach their ears you wish you could take it back? Well, that’s your lizard brain response. Your almond has you ending up like Chesnutt–“too hot to fish, too hot to golf, and too cold at home.” Reminds me of the Confucius saying: “Man who finds himself in doghouse too long finds himself in cathouse”—did I digress again? Sorry. The point is that you need to take some time to let your tiny lizard brain consult with the remaining massive logical part of your brain that’s sloshing around up there. I try to see it as the “Terminator brain” where the responses pop up and you get to take a few seconds to pick the appropriate one. And, in some cases, the inappropriate one when completely applicable.
Plan Before Battle
"The Terminator", MGM
The more the unknown and the more the decisions under fire the more likely you are to make an emotionally charged mistake. So-warning, cliché ahead: Plan your trade and trade your plan. The planning part is done while the market is closed. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow but at this moment all of the past is known and nothing is changing. Decide while there’s not a gun to your head on where you will get in, where you will take partial profits, and where you will place/how you will trail your stop. Then, when faced with a live trading decision. Stop! Physically pick up your printed trading plan and follow along. These few seconds will let your lizard brain consult with the majority of the rest of the brain.
1. Technically, it’s a little more than just the almond shaped part but you get the idea. Neuroscientist Joseph Ledoux, lead singer of “The Amygdaloids.” I’m serious. He has a band that sings songs about the brain. You can’t make this sh*t up!
2. I first learned this at 2013 TSAA-SF conference, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA. Denise Shull was a fellow speaker. In more recent times I have studied this further through the writings of Damasio.