"Wealth is a Head-Trip. It begins in the mind." L. Michael Hall

When you think about wealth, what do you think? Pause right here, and notice what ideas first come to your mind.

When you think about wealth, what do you feel? Take a moment and get in touch with your feelings regarding wealth.

Each of us has different associations and different connotations to wealth. Some feel obligation when they think of wealth; the responsibility to grow it and protect it, or to pass it on to their children. Some feel the responsibility to do something "worthwhile" with it. It might be to create a significant collection, participate meaningfully in philanthropy, or use it to help people they know. Others think of money as freedom and independence. Still others think of security. Some think of fancy cars and large houses and social status. Some feel it proves they personally have value. Others feel that wealth implies a shallow and materialistic preoccupation and hence impedes "true spirituality". At the extreme ends some perceive wealth as the highest good and others see it as venality or even evil.

Since the purpose of trading; or investing is to create wealth, or at least money, it is critically important how you, a trader or investor, interpret the accumulation of financial wealth. If you feel on some level that there's something inherently wrong or selfish or evil about amassing large financial fortune, you and the market will find a way to work together to diminish or demolish your winnings. Trading is not the arena for those who are conflicted about the value of money accumulation.