You learn to fight, by fighting.
Reading books, practicing kata/patterns... yes some theory works.
But if you want to learn how to fight, you need to fight.
You need to feel the fear of getting punched. To move even when you're afraid. To trust the muscle memory of what you have trained.
No, just reading and practicing on a punching bag is not enough.
How do you learn how to speak French?
You learn how to speak French by speaking French.
I tried studying, reading, understanding the grammar.
But the body doesn't work that way. The brain doesn't work that way.
The mouth cannot make the correct sounds without practicing.
The ears cannot hear and understand without listening.
The mind and mouth cannot formulate a response in a conversation without actually doing it.
Our current knowledge, our fluency in whatever language is our first language, is all cultivated by doing it over and over again. We never noticed it, cos it was just part of our lives.
We are good at walking, cos we walk.
How did you learn to swim? By reading a book? Eventually you'll need to get in the water and learn muscle memory.
How about driving? Same same.
So... how do you invest?
How do you invest in tough times?
What is the muscle memory during this time?
Do you feel the fear? How do you overcome this fear? First time feeling this fear?
Self doubt?
Are you the last man standing?
Are you the last man still holding stocks when the market is falling?
Or are you the last man standing on the pier and you've missed the boat, and the market has taken off without you?
What you read in the books is one thing, what you watch people do is also one thing.
But when it's time to get your hands dirty and swim with the sharks. Suddenly things don't seem the same anymore.
I liked what 15HWW said...
This is like watching a football match and cursing the player when he makes a poor decision. It’s not easy performing good decisions live, in the thick of the action. We are mere mortals.
https://www.my15hourworkweek.com/2020/03/19/reflections-and-lessons-from-this-bear-market/
I myself suffer from all these thoughts, fears, self doubt.
I was there in 2008, and no, it doesn't get any easier. Ok, it does get a bit easier. But not by much.
Which is why I find it fun and important to write down things in this blog or in my other investment spreadsheet. The ideas I had BEFORE all these problems came about, my expected portfolio allocation, my plans and steps, when to do what, etc.
There, I have my data, analysis, logic, why this, why that, cos... I need all those reminders.
When my mind and mental state are in a better condition to make rational decisions.
Now, maybe all those analyses are wrong. But at least they aren't clouded by the noise I am receiving these days.
It's like operational SOP. When it's time to do it, adjust a bit and follow it. For me, at this point, I don't want to be thinking anymore. Cos the human mind is weak. It's easily affected and clouded by emotions, fear, doubt, etc...
I wish you all the best during this opportunity.
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