What a whirlwind.
Everything.
Yes, I really thought it I could have posted sooner than this. Obviously not.
My expectations were different then the reality I had to live.
But, no, life has been full of surprises.
Sure, I hoped things would be different than they have been.
That doesn’t’ change anything though.
Why? Because I am committed… to many things, but mostly to persevering to the challenges and disappointments, the unfulfilled expectations, the surprises… you know… life.
Or, is that… forex trading?
Forex trading is quite simply a different perspective of “life”.
We build up expectations… and are surprised. We have hopes, but are often disappointed. When these expectations, surprises and hope all intertwine… things get confusing… in life, and in forex trading. And, from what I can tell, the only thing that will pull us through is… commitment… to something… often just to ourselves. Why? Because I am the only one who can CHOOSE to continue… or quit… in the face of surprises… and failed expectations… and confused hope.
And, then… there are those who are BEYOND AN INSPIRATION to me.
I look at my life (or my forex trading, or whatever)… and sometimes it looks “challenging” or “frustrating” or “whatever”)… and I get things confused. Most of what I go through is trivial. Absolutely trivial.
I lose a trade. Not what I expected. I lose another. Certainly not what I expected. I have been surprised, of course. And, if I’m not careful, I’ll lose hope… and quickly follow that by quitting, completely abandoning my commitment… to myself… my goals… my dreams… my KNOWING THAT I CAN DO THIS.
Sound familiar?
Well… let’s re-frame this to Real Life.
My Mom and I are great friends. We talk regularly. In her 70 or so years, she has lived and learned a lot of life. How to live. How to love. How to manage expectations. How to handle surprises. How to keep hope. How to stay committed. How to persevere…
Ring. Ring. “Hello.”
“Hi Greg!”
“Hi Mom!”
We chat for a while. Laugh frequently. About 10 minutes into the phone call, and with a lengthly lead-in…
“I have breast cancer.”
Gulp.
Not expected. Big surprise. Is there hope? How to stay focused? Is this The End? WHAT do I commit to?
Sure, this had an effect on me. That hardly matters though. It my MOM who has to go through those things HEAD ON… and face those “feelings and thoughts”… and all the baggage that comes with it.
Sure, there are emotions to deal with. We’re human, yea know.
And, after a VERY short period of time… she SETTLES everything in her mind and her soul… and MOVES FORWARD… committed to herself… to “win”… and to keep her hope in line with reality, but still a lively hope… and even through the surprise, to keep her expectations real. And, then, to put it all together into a day-by-day… moment-by-moment… in-the-flow life.
If you talked to her… when this first started several weeks ago… or today… YOU WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA THERE IS ANYTHING “WRONG”. She just continues to step through every day, every moment, and exude love and commitment to everybody. Consistently. No matter what is going on.
Yes, she is doing quite well… still “on the mend” and has a ways to go with her continued treatment. But, she is COMMITTED TO HERSELF… even though there are times when hope may look bleak, expectations are unfulfilled, and surprises abound.
My Mom is my hero.
Now… I wanna gripe about my forex trading? Nope. Perspective is king.
I know many of us have faced similar “life challenges”. Things just rarely seem to go like we expect them to, or hope they will. Many of you have shared some of the most personal details of your life with me… cancer of the larynx, parents and children ill, financial problems, and more. And, it seems that those of us who go through these things DO have a different perspective… being able to realize that not every “life moment” (or forex trade) will be like we expect… but we still handle the surprises… keep on hoping… and stay committed. You know who you are. 
I won’t tie all of this together for you any more than I already have. I’m sure you can do that. The bottom line is what I have said all along in my postings on the blog, and in the Premium Videos. You know what these things are.
Yes, it has been a busy time. Yes, I have still been trading, and for those who opened support tickets, you know that I have been around and responsive. I have also been working on several other things related to Logical Forex, and others related to some of the other businesses I run. What does this mean? Well, I want to get some of these things “wrapped up”. I hope and expect that this will take just a few more weeks… but even if there are surprises and things don’t work as easily as I expect or hope, I will STAY COMMITTED… to me AND to you.
I want you to be the best forex trader… not that you believe that you can be… but what I *know* you can be. But, it’s up to you to manage your expectations… handle the surprises… continue with an overall hope (NOT “Hope and Pray TRADING”)… and staying committed to yourself to see it all through.
It may be another several days (maybe a couple of weeks) before I can post again. Keep practicing. Keep enjoying EVERY DAY of life… AND your forex trading. MAKE IT FUN WHILE YOU CAN.
I’ll leave you with a trade I took earlier this morning…
*** TRADE #1
EUR/USD Scalping Forex Fast
Exit #1
EUR/USD Scalping Forex Fast
Now, stay committed. Realize not all your expectations are what will happen. Handle the surprises. Keep hope based in reality. Keep moving forward. No fantasy. Just reality. Keep going. And, stay committed. Did I already say that?
-Greg
Greg,
I’m sorry to hear about your mom. My mother has beat cancer 3 times, but it has returned again for the 4th time and this time it’s in her liver and she is terminal. It’s been almost 2 years now and she’s still fighting what she knows will be a “losing” battle and every moment we still have with her is precious.
PS – nice trade. I’ve been trading the EUR/USD futures (globex 6E) and been developing my own system, it’s coming along nicely
Hey Scott H! It’s good to see you again.
When I was a teenager, my Mom lived and taught me to live… one moment at a time. This has become more real to me every day. You can see this reflected in everything I write, the way I trade, and the way I live today.
Each moment, even the ones I don’t understand, the ones I label “good” AND “bad”, and the ones that I would prefer did not happen… and the ones that I prefer do happen (but maybe don’t)… well, I still figure out a way to cherish the PEOPLE in my life, especially my family… AND my Logical Forex Family.
I know your Mom is a blessing to you, and you to her, in every moment. Our “reach” to each other is astounding… meaning your Mom… and you… my Mom and me… we are all somehow together in many ways. Keeping that in focus helps me make it through both bad times AND good… and to cherish the things that matter, and toss the things that don’t. And, yes, it gets much clearer as I live longer.
PS — Try Keltner Bands in your system. They’ll take a little tuning, but the work VERY well with the style I see you researching.
-Greg
Thanks for the compelling and inspirational blog.
I remain committed, focussed and persistent.
Sincere and kind thoughts to you and your Mom.
Thank you, Robert.
I have noticed your commitment and enthusiasm… the way you have quickly started and studied the Premium Videos… your review of the blog… the Market Replay training… and more.
You have truly impressed me, Robert. And, your commitment, focus and persistence will continue to bring good things to you… in your forex trading, and in your life.
-Greg
Hello Greg
I extend my best wishes and will say a few prayers for your mother’s recovery. Breast cancer is one thing I am familiar with and your support for her at this time is very important.
Alan, we appreciate your prayers and best wishes. Even through these challenging times, I continue to be blessed by my family… and that includes my Logical Forex Family.
-Greg
Greg, I just wanted to say that I know where you are coming from. Keep positive and it’s good to hear your Mom staying focused and living life, loving everyday. My Mom passed away from breast cancer in Aug. 2007..it was already too far spread when they found it, but till the end she lived life her way, never giving up or complaining and you would never know what was going on with her. She still loved and was loved and totally admired by everyone around her. My only advice for you is to treasure each day and be thankful for the blessings you receive. It’s so important. I hope everything works out well for you all. You know, my Mom is my hero till this day and to her, I will always be her goldenboy. God Bless..David.
Thanks for sharing this with me, David. I am always amazed how important our dedication to our efforts and our commitment to ourselves plays such a critical role in all that we do. Never giving up is perhaps one of the most subtle but critical aspects of our decisions, and our ability to move forward… through good times and difficult times. Your Mom’s love is still alive through you, and I feel it and appreciate you and her influence on you. You are not just GoldenBoy… but pure gold.
-Greg
Greg,
You continue to be an inspiration with your positive attitude. Thanks for ‘being’ there for us.
-Scott
You know, Scott O, my inspiration comes from many places. My Mom. You. My other Logical Forex Family.
There is no other way to say it… I am blessed to be in the midst of such wonderful people.
-Greg
Greg, my thoughts are with you, your family and of course, your mother.
Your mom had a lifetime of experience knowing just how to handle unexpected events. She’ll instinctively handle this the best way she knows how. I’m glad you are as close to your mother as I was to mine.
What you have shared with me, Christiger is exactly what I have seen in my Mom… not just now, but all of my life. She has that instinct on what to do, how to do it, and when to do it… including when to cry, when to gather strength, when to rest, when to slow down, when to press on, and when celebrate.
Everything… and I mean EVERYTHING “goes down those paths”, and I have been blessed to learn a great deal of these things fairly early in life… and seen my Mom apply them in her own life a number of times… keeping her amazing, love-filled attitude all along, no matter the circumstances.
Keeping this focus sure makes “everything else” seem… well… easy.
-Greg
Thanks Greg Surprizes like the one you mention are no fun but it puts every thing else in its place.Good luck with that . A thought is colloidal silver attracts cancer cells and flushes them out of the body.Prares for you and your mom. Wondering why you stayed away from the 9;39 down ward move.
Yep, Phil… these “life events” do put everything in its place. And, strange as this may sound, I’m thankful for this… “putting things in its place”. It’s easy to lose perspective, and make things more (or less) important than they truly are. And, it’s easy to get all hung up on thinking that “every trade must (and will) work in my favor”… and when it doesn’t… “I’ll get mad and quit because ‘it’ doesn’t work”. Forex trading and life… partners in keeping us with the right perspective.
Why not the 9:39 move? I didn’t have a Logical Forex Magnet Line to guide me.
-Greg
Greg, Suprizes like the one you mentioned, many times are accompanied by surprizes of total cure. I have seen this happen many times. Keep up the hope and most important keep up with prayers.
Amin
Yes, Amin, I appreciate your kind reminder. All has progressed well, and we move on moment by moment, going with the flow, adjusting, adapting, responding… occasionally having “human moments” of emotion, but quickly re-establishing our perspective, renewing our determination, “experiencing the experience”… while never predicting, never over-analyzing and never hesitating. What works for Logical Forex trading works well for “Life Stuff”, too. I’m convinced there is little difference, except that “Life Stuff” and relationships are all that really matter.
-Greg
Hi Greg, I knew I had been praying for you for a reason and I will continue to pray for you…and your Mom. I have thought so many times since I’ve known you how well you relate to life and how incredible it is that you model your whole Logical Forex Trading System on the dynamics of life. I KNOW by connecting with you and learning from you, I have a mentor who can teach me not only to be a successful trader but also to be a winner in the bigger game of LIFE. And in knowing you in all this, from what you’ve shared about your Mom…. I feel I know her too. She is a winner.
I am back in Australia and have been out of my routine for several weeks, choosing suitable internet connection, computer problems, etc. so I started back with some losing trades, but this week after some revision and “settling down” psychologically, I have been seeing some profits.
An affirmation that I repeat often, from Mark Douglas’ “Trading in the Zone” helps also to keeps me on track… “My winning attitude is a positive expectation of my efforts, with an acceptance that whatever results I get are a perfect reflection of my level of development and what I need to learn to de better”.
God bless you and your Mom,
Rod
Wow, Rod, it’s not easy for me to express to you how much I appreciate your post and your prayers. For a long time now, you have been an important part of my Logical Forex Family… a very important person to me… and it has been exciting seeing how you have stayed so committed, even in times when I know you have struggled. (Was I talking about forex or life?)
Yes, my Mom, and you, and many others are winners… and we all are connected in some fabulous and remarkable ways… and somehow that keeps us all on a winning path.
Yes, it will probably take a bit for you to completely get back into “full force” with your Logical Forex trading if it has been a while since you’ve last traded. It’s great that you won’t have to “learn or re-learn” anything. It’s just a matter of you “reconnecting” with your spouse, I mean your currency pairs, and getting in the flow of the moment.
And, it sounds like you’re reconnecting just fine.
I suppose for me, my winning attitude is knowing that my Happiness is NOT determined by HappenINGS. I am constantly filled with joy, even during the rough times, knowing that I have friends and family all over the world, each of us going through the same basic “challenges” in different configurations… all of us holding each other up when necessary, cheering each other on, praying for each other… and helping each other keep committed with a proper perspective.
You all help ME keep a proper perspective, and I thank you for that… and more.
-Greg
Greg, thanks for sharing this experience with us. Your blog is inspirational for me and for many other people too, I think. I just want to express my understanding for this sad situation. Try to keep positive and follow the wonderful courage of your Mom.
Hi Paola. Everything gets “less gloomy” every day. Mom has been through her surgery (what we jokingly refer to as “The Carving”) and the results from what they removed are quite positive and encouraging. She will begin radiation treatment in the next few weeks. (We jokingly call that “Microwaving her”). Through it all, she walks THROUGH the mountain… with a smile and courage… living through the fears and uncertainty as though they hardly exist. The fears and uncertainties of forex trading are rather small, it seems, aren’t they?
-Greg