I find that the more rational i become, the more passionate I become. Because I am passionate about the right things, and rational about things which don't deserve passion. I was passionately interested in the quality of play in the world cup, and didn't give a damn shit who won (except to prefer that the team with the better attitude would win it). I feel the event in a much more true sense than the partisan crowds who just care if their tribe gets to "win".
cold blooded about trading, I just wait for the signal, hit market, put in my stop and exit and my eyes glaze over. I am less emotional than in the past. Was going through turnstiles at Victoria station in London a while back and I dropped £20. In the past I would have been pissed off about losing money - but having traded for a living I just said "it's gone it's not coming back" and got on the train.
Good post and good thread. I have always been cold and rational about trading... But it's running a securities business for 10+ years... Seeing what a sleazy business it often is... Being unfairly harassed by regulators... Dealing with partners that don't care if I live or die... Just show me the f*cking profits. That has made me cold-blooded towards most things. Soros had a existential crisis in his mid-40s... Lost the desire to make money for rich, greedy, ungrateful bastards... And began to channel most of his energies into philanthropy. I know how he felt.