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Tag: Paper-Handed Rabbit

  • The Cost of Listening to the Noise: A Lesson in “Paper-Handed” Stops

    The Cost of Listening to the Noise: A Lesson in “Paper-Handed” Stops

    There’s a particular pain in realizing you’re completely right about a direction, yet walking away empty-handed. That’s how I felt. I was strongly convinced about three stocks: Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), Alcoa (AA), and Cameco (CCJ). My intuition, sector research, and online sentiment all pointed toward a positive outcome. I invested $10,000 in each, expecting results within a month.

    And I was right. But I didn’t get to see the gains.

    The Trap

    Despite my instincts, I followed some “expert” advice and set my stop-losses too tight. I thought they knew better than me. I let the Paper-Handed Rabbit take control, creating a cage so small the trades couldn’t breathe.

    • Alcoa (AA): Hit the tight stop early, exiting with a loss before the trend even began.
    • Cameco (CCJ): This one hurt the most — it dipped sharply, triggered my stop, then rebounded quickly. I watched from the sidelines as it soared without me.
    • Freeport (FCX): The only winner, showing a profit. But frustration with the others led me to sell just to break even.

    Minutes later, Freeport rose 3–4%.

    The Math of Frustration

    Had I not let those “experts” convince me to keep stops narrow, I’d be up $3,500 now. Instead, I’m even. Initially, that $3,500 would have been a huge boost, especially during slow work periods.

    It’s ironic. I started trading Amaroq Minerals (AMLI)—a junior gold miner in Greenland—without knowing much, through a local bank. I simply held on, invested $10,000, and earned $3,000 in a month. Back then, I didn’t “know too much.” Now, I thought I did, and the FOMO Monkey and external advice clouded my judgment.

    The Path Forward

    It’s disappointing and heavy. But instead of revenge trading or battling the market, I’m choosing the only path a Zen Bull takes: stepping away for a day or two. I’ll sit with my emotions, let them wash over me, stay with them, and release them when I’m ready. The market will still be here. Right now, I need to regain my conviction and quiet the outside noise.

    Stay Zen.

  • Riding the Waves and Finding Stillness in the Dips

    Riding the Waves and Finding Stillness in the Dips

    The market must breathe before it can run. Don’t let a micro-movement steal your macro-conviction.

    I was looking at two charts yesterday that I’d traded the day before. I’d walked away with a modest profit from day trading, but seeing them rise again—mimicking the previous day’s gains—hit me with a flicker of regret. I’d missed the second wave. It’s clear these assets are in a “wavy” cycle right now.

    Then, I turned my attention to gold. My mentor’s thesis is clear: gold is headed up, and when it moves, it will pull the mining companies with it. But in the moment, gold dipped. Even though I believe in the long-term play and the global tensions supporting it, that small downward swing sparked a moment of unease. I found myself questioning: Is it going lower? Did I miss something?

    Gold eventually recovered and moved back up, but the experience was a reminder of how easily micro-movements can affect your psychology. This is where awareness becomes the ultimate tool. Even when you have skin in the game and a firm belief in the asset, those small swings can still reach you. The challenge isn’t just predicting the market; it’s defending your peace of mind against the noise.

    The Zen Bull’s Lesson: How to Defend Your Peace

    If you find yourself feeling that “uneasiness” during a minor dip, here is how to stay grounded:

    • Zoom Out: Micro-movements are just the market breathing. If your long-term thesis (the global tension) hasn’t changed, the price wiggle shouldn’t change your mood.
    • Identify the Characters: Is the FOMO Monkey telling you that you’re losing out? Is the Paper-Handed Rabbit trying to make you jump too early? Recognizing these internal voices takes away their power.
    • The Cost of Admission: Volatility is the price we pay for the eventual “shoot up.” You cannot have the peak without sitting through the valley.
    • Label the Feeling: Instead of saying “I am worried,” say “I am observing a feeling of worry.” This small shift in awareness keeps you from acting impulsively.