Let's take a few moments for a bit of self-indulgent introspection, by answering four questions. 1. Presently, what is your single biggest fear in life? It need not be limited to the trading arena. 2. How, and to what extent, do you think this fear has either helped or hindered you? 3. If you have found that, on balance, your fear has hindered you, what steps do you think you would need to take in order to overcome that fear? 4. If you are not presently taking these steps, what prevents you from doing so? (If, indeed, you have found that your fear serves as a hindrance.)
1. Presently, what is your single biggest fear in life? It need not be limited to the trading arena. My life being taken prematurely. I had a near death experience in college where I was attacked by a 6'6" 275 schizophrenic retard on a stairway. I could've easy broke my neck and could've been paralyzed. 2. How, and to what extent, do you think this fear has either helped or hindered you? I am much more aware, alert as to where, when and who I am with at all times. 3. If you have found that, on balance, your fear has hindered you, what steps do you think you would need to take in order to overcome that fear? I am paranoid. I won't let anybody mess with me. I carry a gun everywhere I go. The next person who would violate my right to live forever in anyway is going to pay with their life. 4. What prevents you from taking these steps? (If, indeed, you have found that your fear serves as a hindrance.) I am a lot more concerned for people I love. I would have a hard time having children, etc due to the fear of losing them... or letting them risk their life cut short by others.
Ripley, You carry a gun? Just curious. How long ago did this college incident occur? Has anything of the sort every happened since that time?
I think I read somewhere that a strong fear of impotence can actually induce that condition. No hard feelings.
This is a nice thread Thunderdog. Made me relive couple of things. I have a concealed carry permit. I have my gun in my car everywhere I go, and next to my bed when I sleep. It was around 4 years ago. Nothing has happened since, but something similar happened to me on a halloween night when I was in 7th grade. Thus, I am extra careful and take every precaution to where and who I am with.
Thanks for answering. The reason I asked is that it is interesting to note how much of our lives can be defined by dramatic, and potentially non-recurring, events from our past. Had that event in college never occurred, you may never have found the need to carry a weapon. But that single event seems to have defined the way you live now and the way you may continue to live in the future. That's a lot of energy incurred for a single event from the distant past. I'm not suggesting that a person should not be careful or that he shouldn't take precautions, but I am wondering if the response is a balanced one. I only raise the question, almost rhetorically, since I think we all do this sort of thing in one way or another for one reason or another. Not a judgment, just an observation. It seems that the human condition can be defined at least in part by the need to overcompensate, in one way or another, for past feelings of real or perceived vulnerability. I appreciate your participation. Since I am only a layman, I would appreciate input from those of you who have had professional training in this regard. With some more good input, we could get a good thread going.
My biggest fear in life is that my paranoia will overtake my decision making proce..... oh shit someone may be recording me.... got to go!