5 Hindrances to Self-Mastery | Life & Trading | Shi Heng YI

Could be life changing for personal, business, and trading. Tedx Talks

This is one of the most powerful TedxTalks I have ever listened to, and I think I have listened to it 200+ times since 2020. I would like to gift it to you if you have never seen it. The recent stories I reposted last weekend and the tragic incidents in Silicon Valley brought me right back to this video.

Without getting too personal I will share the highlights of the 5 hindrances and examples in Trading and Life. But Please PLEASE do yourself a favor and watch it on your own. It is 18 min 36 seconds you will find value in. I promise!

Financial Freedom is not free but the treasure is worth the pursuit.

Summary

Along your personal journey, you will encounter many challenges. Challenges that slow you down or prevent you from moving forward on your journey to climb that mountain. Also noted as The 5 Hindrances.

I. Sensual Desire

On your journey, after just 1 mile, you see a beautiful restaurant stocked with your favorite foods and drink. When this temptation is so strong you don’t want to leave anymore, it has become a seduction.

Personal: I used to waste money on expensive cars and watches in my early 30s.

Trading: chasing momentum or listening to sexy narratives.

II. Ill Will / Aversion

State of mind from negative emotions that prevents progress

Personal: So many people around me talk about politics and there seems to be no middle anymore. I used to become very frustrated speaking to my friends and family members who push their views so hard on me and others. But now I have accepted the narrative as the wind or rain. Whether I was alive or not, they would still feel this way and say the things they do. It is not happening to me. It is simply happening.

Trading: META. While I hate this company I made a 3x trade early on when it was $FB. But afterwards I shunned the stock, potentially missing other profitable trades

III. Dullness / Heaviness

Heaviness of body or dullness of the mind. Non motivation. Lack of energy. Can lead to depression and self imprisonment. Hard to make physical or mental action.

Personal: I have built a long successful career. I am very comfortable. Do I really want to unplug from the W2 workforce? Can I succeed on my own? Should I stay and be safe?

Trading: Sometimes I become clouded in thinking and forget to disconnect and take a break. There are now times where I can go weeks without looking at the markets and not have anxiety.

IV. Restlessness

Your mind cannot settle in the present moment. Worrying about the future. Traveling into the past. Also known as the Monkey Mind.

The problem is there is no more time to see clearly anymore

Personal: I know this is happening when I cannot fall asleep well. I have found that my mind can become hyper active. But thankfully my yoga practice and fitness are great tools to re-center me into the present. Breathing the right now. Exhaling the right now.

Trading: Consuming too much narrative, too much content regarding stocks and economy can cause restlessness and lack of clarity for me. I try not to consume too much content on the week days. The fact I have no time to consume content, as I create content daily and trade helps tremendously.

V. Skeptical Doubt

What if this. What if that. When there is too much doubt most people will stop from moving on.

Personal: I don’t have a Substack logo. What if I begin a Substack and no one reads it? I don’t have a podcast logo. I have never created a podcast. I don’t have intro music. What if no one values my work?

Trading: That trade didn’t work. I was wrong. I am horrible at this. I should stop. The next trade won’t work again

Overcoming the 5 Hindrances

Just Let it R.A.I.N

How do you prevent those hindrances from arising?

Each of these hindrances are placing a dark cloud on your mind.

Recognize: What state of mind are you in?

Accept: Learn to Accept this without judgement.

Investigate: your emotional and mental state and ask yourself questions. Why did this come up? Often you will find it is simply happening. Not happening to you.

Non Identification: I am not the body. I am not the mind. I am not my emotions. It’s just that I can see all these three aspects about me.

All of our lives are too unique to copy the paths of someone else. To bring meaning and value to your life, you must go on the journey to master yourself.