I recently had the privilege of speaking via Zoom with a number of people directly affected by the conflict in the Middle East. It was a dramatic reminder of how strong people can be, even when they feel exhausted and broken. Most of us have experienced a life event that had a traumatic impact, whether it be the loss of a loved one or an episode of threats and violence. One of the real challenges of trading in the financial markets is that if we do not practice proper risk management, we can suffer losses so huge that they overwhelm us – on a personal level, as well as financially. When a negative event threatens what we value, the result can be stress and even trauma.
As the group on Zoom reminded me, the above situations are different from what is happening now in the Middle East. A traumatic event usually has a beginning and an end. Once we pass it, we can focus on adapting. What do we do during a violent and frightening war with no expected end? How can we cope when we have absolutely no control over what will happen today, tomorrow and next week?
The amazing truth is that the people I talk to are actually coping! Yes, they cry, and yes, they feel helpless at times, but they do what they can to be there for family, friends, and those they work with. Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking that being strong means being unemotional. This is not the case at all. To be strong is to be empathetic: Standing far enough from your personal concerns at times to feel with others, for others, and to share our experience with them.
The inspiring people on the Zoom call helped me realize that moving beyond trauma involves three elements: care, connection, and creativity.. Caring means feeling for others; Communication means communicating with others; To create means to do for others. It can be as simple as thinking of someone who is struggling, reaching out to them, and preparing a meal for them. The Three C's take us time out of our struggles and help us truly act from the spirit.
Amid the loss of control we feel during war, caring, connection, and creativity provide us with the experiences of doing things that matter. The most powerful thing we can do to get through trauma is to gather the resolve to not let events control us and to do things that make a difference.. Trauma is ultimately about helplessness. Getting over trauma is about finding islands of strength in the midst of uncertainty.
I mentioned in a previous post that Margie and I recently visited the World War II concentration camp at Terezin in the Czech Republic. There we heard and saw the horrific conditions for the prisoners: overcrowding, brutal punishment, lack of health care, the death of friends and loved ones, and of course the constant fear of what comes next. What's amazing is how the prisoners transformed a small living area into a place of worship where they could gather; how they were able to find materials to draw, write and create works of art; And how they were able to support each other. Caring, communication and creativity. Even in an environment surrounded by death, they were able to affirm life.
I came away from Terezin — and from my Zoom meetings — not confident that trauma won't happen, but reassured that if it does, I will have role models and inspiration for navigating challenge and uncertainty. We are all likely to experience painful loss – in markets, in relationships, and in our health. As long as we are able to hold on to our humanity as caring and creative beings, we will be able to transcend—and ultimately become role models for others.
Almost forty years ago, I caught myself on the wrong side of the fluctuations and destroyed my trading account, resulting in much more than just losing money. Today it has reached the high water mark amidst increasing volatility.
We can transcend.
In-depth reading:
.
