BLACK. . .

I watched a Bollywood movie today, while I was feeling under the weather and frankly feeling sorry for myself. A film that was released over 5 years ago – a film I saw back then, that I never forgot.

I decided to watch this movie again as an article I read previously, triggered some thought on the subject.

A story about Michelle McNally, the eldest child of an Anglo Indian family who lived in Shimla, India.

The story is about Michelle and her teacher – a story about two people left incomplete by God, who fought a battle with fate and made the impossible, possible.

The world in her story is different...where sound transcends into silence...and light into darkness. In her world, where nothing can be seen nor heard – there is only one name for her world. . . BLACK!

It was directed by Sanjay Leela Bansali and the first half of the film is an adaptation of Helen Keller’s autobiography, The story of my life.
Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968), was an American Author, Political Activist and a lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The story of how Keller’s teacher, Anne Sullivan, broke through the isolation imposed by a near complete lack of language, allowing the girl to blossom as she learned to communicate.

I have read a tiny part of Helen Keller’s autobiography during University and I would really like to read it all one day.

The film Black was absolutely amazing. In fact, there are no words to describe how well the actress Rani Mukerji played the role of Michelle. A true inspiration.

The film just got me thinking – even though I know that it is just a film, it is based on a true story and there are people out there who are just like Michelle and Helen. Although, technology and medicine itself are much more advanced now then it was...it just goes to show you that if so much could be achieved back then...impossible is nothing!!

The true story of Helen for example, she was successful because she had determination. If you believe in yourself, nothing can stop you from achieving what you wish to achieve. Right?

“Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts” ~ Winston Churchill.

Anything is possible if you put your heart and soul into it. I think we all need a bit of inspiration at some point, it helps push us in the right direction.

While there are times where one can have too much optimism, or too much self efficacy, we often also experience the reverse. We talk ourselves out of opportunities we could have taken and we convince ourselves we aren’t good enough to take big challenges, and we stop short rather than launching ourselves forward risking failure.

Developing a habit of expecting the best and pushing yourself towards it, almost guarantees that you will experience more spectacular failures. But, it also guarantees some spectacular success.

I read a Psychology article on the train the other day on the awesome power of belief:

Four Things You Can Do 

Here are four constructive steps you can take: 

• Be mindful and stay present. Know that you have worked hard to this point and are willing to work even harder. Mindfulness helps you avoid the downward spiral. 
• Believe in yourself. Even if you don't fully believe, act as if you do. Actions 'speak louder than words.' They speak louder than thoughts, too. 
• Above all else, refrain from struggling with those self-critical thoughts - just let them occur. Trying to suppress or eliminate them only adds to their power. 
• Then, refocus your attention on the trading task-at-hand and do what matters most for your trade and for yourself as a trader.

This can be easier said than done – most definitely! However, like everything worthwhile in your life, you have to work at it – it will be hard but it is not impossible.

‘A trading psychology edge occurs when we start to shift from our old patterns of thinking to constructive ones.’

Believe you can do it – and YOU WILL!

Remember one more thing – BE YOURSELF, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, AND BE HAPPY. . .

Much love,

Anokhi