Buy low, sell high. That is the ideal of every day-trader. But for many, that is one of the hardest things to do. When the stocks are at their lowest and seemingly in a freefall, the one with limited resources will have a difficult time pouring money into it. And when the stocks are at their peak, who is to say what tomorrow will bring. How much potential profit could be left on the table?
The best times to get in is during the times of FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt). It is also the most dangerous time. Whether one gets in or not all depends on the outlook. Is this an opportunity or a potential disaster?
The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist see opportunity in every difficulty.
Winston Churchill
Seasons come and they go. War, depression, and plagues come upon us and go away, only to be replaced by the next critical event. All of it could precede the end, or it could become the catalyst for a new beginning. It is all a matter of viewpoint, all a matter for hope or despair.
Winston Churchill found himself in a war to end all wars. It was one of the darkest times in memory. He survived and went on to enjoy a time of peace, a time when the world could rebuild and repair itself. Yet, that was short-lived. A couple of decades later, he was once again thrust into another war to end all wars. He could have sat on the sidelines and allowed others to fight. Instead, he maintained his belief in a brighter future. He was the optimist that saw opportunity in one of history’s greatest difficulties. A worthy example for all of us to follow.
In the days leading up to the Great Flood, the people of the world were living a good and happy life. There was little worry about the future. They ate, drank, and made merry. If they continued to sacrifice to the local gods, nothing could go wrong.
Then one day, someone started building a large boat. This was strange as there were no large bodies of water nearby. They asked him what he was doing and did not like his answer.
To them, this was the Golden Age. They did not look well upon those that held contrary beliefs. They did not tolerate anyone who would spread fear, uncertainty, and doubt. And that is what Noah was doing. Their response was ridicule, derision, and mockery. Who did Noah think he was to ruin their good times? Thus, they continued in the disbelief until the rain began to fall.
In the early 1990’s, I had a teacher that believed the end was near. For us students, this was hard to believe. We were young and full of optimism. The world was changing before our eyes and thoughts of the end times were ridiculous. We were on the brink of a new Golden Age and this man was intent on cracking our good spirits. Today, we would consider this teacher an early “doomsday prepper.” He even advised us High School students to buy gold as a hedge against inflation. Back then, I had a hard time taking him seriously.
In my recent studies on cryptocurrencies, I have come across the acronym FUD. FUD is fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Spreading FUD will get you removed from online forums. Investors expect their returns to take them to the moon, and they do not appreciate those who would think differently. As an investor myself, I want to believe the best is yet to come. But at the same time, I don’t want to be so foolish to turn a blind eye to the spreaders of FUD. Doing so would be perilous if the storm really is on the horizon.
The world we live in is bound to have a little FUD. Last year, a health crisis began its devastating effects on the world. There are powerful people that are opposed to individual freedom. Our food and water supplies are being threatened. It seems that everywhere you turn, in every sector that impacts our lives, our existence is in peril. The FUD is real. I don’t want to be the one spreading the FUD. But It is out there, and I, for my own sanity, need to learn how to manage it.
Fear
F-E-A-R has two meanings. Forget Everything and Run. Or, Face Everything and Rise. The choice is yours.
Zig Ziglar
Essentially, we are talking about one of the most basic survival mechanisms we have as humans: fight or flight. In the face of real danger, to run makes sense. But to run from the challenge when no real threat exists is self-defeating. Instead, you should rise to the challenge.
When I think about fear, I think of the unknown. That can be scary. What if there are monsters hiding in the shadows? Even worse, what if the monsters are hiding in plain sight. A wolf at a distance in the daylight might not be that scary. One in the dark brings fear. Even worse, is the wolf dressed as a sheep. You don’t even know to be scared until it is too late.
Zig Ziglar has another acronym for fear: False Evidence Appearing Real. This acronym describes most of our fears. We have anxiety for a future that has not yet come to pass. We are in fear of something that we cannot control. And this leads to…
Uncertainty
Robert Greene put it well when he stated, “The need for certainty is the greatest disease the mind faces.” We are not gods, yet we want the omniscient power. We want the security that comes in certainty. Maybe this condition has evolved with the evolution of our modern world. Instead of living lives of adventure and exploration, we have become accustomed to routine. We have adapted to a work, eat, sleep pattern with only manufactured adventures experienced through television and video games. Are we really choosing to go passively into the Matrix? When our routine is challenged, we become uncertain. And with uncertainty comes…
Doubt
How do you know how to proceed if you don’t know how what will happen in the future? In truth, you don’t. But we can’t resort to inaction. Instead, you must take a step. You must travel the path the best you can. And if you are wrong? Well, at least you tried. And with the knowledge of being wrong, you can correct your course and take your next step in the right direction. The key is taking the steps. If you don’t take the steps, if you remain in place, you will never go anywhere. The only thing that will hold you back is yourself.
Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.
Peter McIntyre
We must learn how to navigate the FUD in our lives. Yes, it can be difficult, but it can be done. Search for the truth wherever it can be found. Make it your personal mission and gravitate toward it. Become who you were meant to be and remember…
Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself.
TonyFine.blog 