Brain and Our Nature
The Hidden Decision Factory
Let me ask you something. How many decisions did you make this morning before having your first cup of tea?
You might say, "Maybe 5 or 10?"
Think again. Your alarm rang. You chose to wake up or snooze. You picked up your phone. Did you check WhatsApp or Instagram first? You walked to the bathroom. Which foot stepped out of bed first? How much pressure did you apply to the toothpaste? How long did you brush? Which side of your mouth did you start with?
I could go on, but you get the point. Your brain makes about 35,000 decisions every single day.
And here's what's fascinating yet concerning: more than 90% of these decisions happen automatically, without your conscious awareness.
The Automatic Pilot
These automatic decisions are controlled by:
- Your habits (45%)
- Your nature and instincts (20%)
- Social conditioning (25%)
- Your current emotional state (10%)
This means that out of 35,000 decisions, only about 1,750 to 3,500 are truly conscious choices where you actively think and decide.
The remaining 31,500 decisions run on autopilot, shaped by years of habits, conditioning, and patterns.
Now, here's where it gets interesting for us as aspiring traders and investors.
The Energy Problem
Our brain operates with limited decision-making energy. Researchers call this "decision fatigue."
Think of it like a phone battery that starts at 100% in the morning. Each conscious decision drains this battery. By evening, you might be down to 10%, making poor choices about food, money, and relationships.
You might think, "So I should reduce my automatic decisions and make more conscious choices?"
That's like saying you should consciously control your breathing all day. Try it for five minutes. You'll see why that's not the solution.
Reducing automatic decisions isn't just complicated. It's nearly impossible and exhausting.
The Real Solution
Here's the insight that completely changed my perspective: instead of fighting against our automatic decision-making, what if we could reprogram it?
What if those 31,500 automatic decisions came from logical thinking instead of emotional reactions?
What if your habits supported your success instead of sabotaging it?
What if your conditioned responses aligned with probability thinking rather than certainty seeking?
Think about a professional driver versus a new learner. Both make thousands of micro-decisions while driving. The professional's decisions are automatic yet superior. Not because they think more, but because their automatic responses have been shaped through proper training.
The Stock Market Connection
When you enter a trade, you might think you're making just one decision. But in reality, your brain is processing hundreds of micro-decisions:
- How you interpret the chart pattern (shaped by your pattern recognition habits)
- Your risk tolerance (influenced by your upbringing about money)
- Your position sizing (affected by your emotional state)
- Your exit strategy (determined by your fear and greed conditioning)
If 90% of these micro-decisions happen automatically based on 18 plus years of conditioning for a job-oriented life, what do you think will happen?
You act like an employee in a market that rewards entrepreneurial thought.
Working on the Foundation
This is why we can't jump straight to trading strategies and technical analysis.
It's like teaching someone to run before fixing their broken leg. We need to improve our overall wellness first. Our behavior patterns, habits, and emotional responses all need attention.
When a builder constructs a skyscraper, they spend months on a foundation that no one will ever see. The taller the building, the deeper the foundation.
We're not building a small house here. We're constructing a skyscraper of financial success.
Consider this: every successful trader or investor you admire didn't just learn to read charts. They developed a unique way of thinking. A specific behavior pattern. A special relationship with money and risk.
They reprogrammed their automatic responses to fit market realities instead of social conditioning.
The Wellness Approach
This is not some feel-good philosophy. This is practical neuroscience.
When you improve your physical wellness, your brain receives better oxygen and nutrients, leading to improved decision quality.
When you strengthen your emotional wellness, you respond to losses logically rather than emotionally.
When you develop better mental habits, you notice patterns that others might miss.
When you refine your behavioral patterns, you act on probability, not hope.
Every improvement helps not just in trading. It enhances your entire life. The brain that trades is the same brain that manages relationships, businesses, and life choices.
Understanding Success Holistically
An interesting example is Mukesh Ambani, a successful businessman. He made many good decisions that helped him build a vast business empire.
Now think about his other life choices. When does he wake up? How does he communicate? How does he handle media? The point is clear. Success isn't a simple equation like 2+2=4. It involves overall development and consistent performance across all areas.
In the Geeta, Shri Krishna says, "Do not think about results, just do your best." A profound interpretation is that almost all results are side effects of our work.
Chasing success or expecting to get rich overnight is like actively pursuing happiness. It's like saying, "I will be happy in the future." But happiness is a byproduct of certain events and your brain's conditioning. Similarly, success in trading is a byproduct of developing the right mental framework.
If you see yourself as someone chasing money, don't think negatively. Instead, recognize this: "I didn't have the chance to learn before, but now I am learning, and I will make the most of it."
Training Your Professional Brain
Your task now is to train your brain over time to behave, act, and respond like someone who has earned a thousand crores from the stock market.
Yes, many might immediately think about buying big cars, building large homes, or having many partners. Those thoughts are normal. You've been living in a social media bubble that promotes instant gratification.
It will take time to develop yourself into a professional. Think about it this way: how can you expect three of your decisions to be excellent when 97 are still emotional and logically weak?
As we move forward, we'll maintain realistic expectations and proceed with clarity. Instead of chasing success, we will develop ourselves into professionals with ultimate knowledge of the stock market. Success will then come to you naturally.
Your Unique Nature
Now, it's equally important to understand our nature, as it plays a crucial role in our journey. If we want our best self to emerge, we need to work with our nature, not against it.
You might wonder how nature differs from the brain and how it affects our journey.
Think of it this way. Pick any field you enjoy, whether sports, arts, or music. Now analyze five stars in that same field. Take five bowlers in cricket or five goalkeepers in soccer.
There are rules for bowlers. They all throw the ball by following those rules. They improve each day through continuous practice. But can you explain why some are slow bowlers while others are fast? Why do they all have different bowling styles? Why do some fast bowlers bowl differently? Why do some have a short run-up while others have a long one?
These questions apply to all professionals, businesspeople, and each of us. We all have unique natures.
Aligning With Your Nature
When our efforts align with our nature, we see better results.
By now, you should understand why I'm not dictating anything. Instead, we are analyzing together so that you learn better and achieve your best self.
Consider this question: If Virat Kohli had followed everything that Sachin did, would he have reached his current level? Or was it only possible because he followed his unique path according to his nature?
During this journey, we will discuss and analyze many aspects. Strategies, patterns, time frames, charts, numbers, logic, calculations, technicals, fundamentals, and algorithms.
Your nature will naturally gravitate towards certain time frames, chart patterns, calculations, and strategies. You will discover which path you need to take to achieve success.
The Path Less Traveled
Most study material available on social media tells you how to become a successful trader, investor, or rich person. Millions engage with such content.
But I haven't seen many examples of people saying they became successful by following generic advice.
Why? Because they're trying to fit everyone into the same mold. They ignore individual nature, personal conditioning, and unique strengths.
Our approach is different. We're not giving you a fish. We're not even teaching you to fish in a specific way. We're helping you discover your own fishing style that aligns with your nature and strengths.
What's Next?
In the next article, we'll explore something that affects every decision you make but rarely gets discussed openly: your relationship with money.
Remember, we're building something lasting here. Not a quick trading setup that might work today and fail tomorrow. We're developing a comprehensive understanding that will serve you for decades.
Key Takeaways
- Your brain makes 35,000 decisions daily, with 90% happening automatically
- Decision fatigue is real and affects your trading performance throughout the day
- Reprogramming automatic responses is more effective than trying to control everything consciously
- Success requires holistic development, not just learning trading strategies
- Your unique nature determines your optimal trading style and approach
- Generic advice rarely works because it ignores individual differences
Reflection Exercise
Take 10 minutes to observe your automatic patterns:
- Morning routine: Write down every small decision you make tomorrow morning
- Trading behavior: Notice your first emotional response when you see a loss
- Pattern recognition: Identify three habits that might be sabotaging your success
- Nature assessment: What activities make you lose track of time? These hint at your natural strengths
Your Development Checkpoint
Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10:
- Physical wellness and energy levels
- Emotional stability during uncertainty
- Ability to think in probabilities
- Patience with long-term processes
- Openness to changing old patterns
We'll revisit these scores after Article 32 to measure your growth.