You will be happy to know that the poor little tyke above with the “wonky” eye has had that little issue corrected. You didn’t think I set out to make fun of a toddler did you?
Anyway, in a week where we saw a Snapchat IPO, a significant market rally, a market pull back, and the biggest blunder the Oscars has ever seen (see here), I haven’t written about any of them. I was instead somewhere between Atlanta, NYC, and Omaha watching such events unfold. All the while struggling to maintain my sanity through dealing with the seasonal flu and sleep deprivation. The good news is, that week is behind us and I feel much better.
Now for the “wonkiness…” We all know that the money management business, and the field of finance in general is extremely competitive. If you aren’t beating benchmarks, innovating new technology in Fintech, acquiring assets, or trading profitably, you won’t make it very long in this business. For generations this has lead those in this industry to either look for a competitive edge, or in some cases cheat. Cheating can result in your barring from the industry or landing you in prison, so looking for competitive edges is probably a better place to start. Competitive edges can take several forms such as healthy diet and exercise, taking substances either legally or illegally, etc. Somewhat recently I came across an interview with famed hedge fund manager Ray Dalio where he explained a meditation technique he has practiced for decades which he proclaims has been “the single biggest influence on his life.” Digging into the technique a bit more I found other successful people endorsing the technique like Jerry Seinfeld, Martin Scorcese, Dr. Oz, and David Lynch. With that cast of characters I knew it was something I was going to try.
The meditation technique is called Transcendental Meditation or “TM.” It is a simple, yet profoundly powerful technique for recharging the mind and body to create a more vivid. focused, and positive state of mind. Some excerpts from the TM.org website reveal the evidence-based benefits:
“Transcendental meditation is a simple, natural technique… This form of meditation allows your body to settle into a state of profound rest and relaxation and your mind to achieve a state of inner peace, without needing to use concentration or effort.” – Mayo Clinic
“Transcendental Meditation doesn’t focus on breathing or chanting, like other forms of meditation. Instead, it encourages a restful state of mind beyond thinking… A 2009 study found Transcendental Meditation helped alleviate stress in college students, while another found it helped reduce blood pressure, anxiety, depression and anger.” – Cleveland Clinic
“Perhaps its greatest benefit is that it’s relatively quick to learn and easy to master. No waiting weeks or months of practice before you see results: TM cuts right to the chase, taking only days — or for some, minutes — before one feels reprieve from their painful and overwhelming thoughts.” -Forbes
The TM Technique has evidence-based benefits for insomnia, PTSD, autism, addiction, ADHD, depression, among others. Further studies show that regular TM meditation gives deep relief from anxiety and stress, clarity of mind, and even added cardiovascular health.
It has been exactly one month since I learned the TM Technique under the direction of James Brian Smith, a certified TM Teacher in my area. I mediate twice per day for 20 mins, once in the morning before I start work, and once in the late afternoon or early evening. I can say without any hesitation that I have increased mental focus, more energy, a more positive outlook, less “racing” thoughts, and an overall clearer mind that is eager to focus to find solutions to complex tasks.
The confidence you achieve when you know you have the focus and energy to trade successfully, study for the final level of the Chartered Market Technician’s Exam, outperform at work, and do this all while keeping an excited and energetic mindset for what is to come, is priceless. Worth the price of admission times 1000.
Since I began practicing TM, I have read two books on the subject: The Supermind by Norman E. Rosenthal M.D. and Catching The Big Fish by David Lynch. Both are phenomenal reads highlighting multiple benefits TM has on those who meditate regularly.
David Lynch made the most sense to me when he described the effects of TM on on the brain. If you picture yourself and your mind as the Empire State Building with all the floors, offices and papers and files in each office it starts to make some sense. Over time your tower becomes messy – the papers in all the offices get scattered and messy and operating efficiently becomes a chore let alone being creative. In the 20 minute TM sessions twice a day, you are diving down below ground and activating little cleaning robots. These robots start to make their way through your tower, room by room putting papers back where they belong, and tidying up the place. Over time, through regular meditation your tower begins to operate faster and more efficiently.
These two 20 minute sessions twice a day are something I look forward to. My only regrets are not finding the technique sooner.
Back to regularly scheduled programming next week.