MarketPsych: How to Manage Fear and Build Your Investor Identity

Appendix A. Summary of Meditation Techniques

Meditation is an ancient technique practiced for spiritual, mental, and physical growth. There are many styles of meditation. The general idea behind meditation is that most people are somewhat alienated from a direct experience of their "self," their feelings, and the world. We often live without ever truly stopping to examine our feelings and thoughts, much less the expectations and hopes and fears that underlie them. By observing our mental life, we can gain insights into why we do what we do, and we can begin to feel more authentic and present in daily life. The unity of your sense of self with your experience, achieved by constantly pulling your attention back to the present moment, is the core of most meditation practices.

Many meditation techniques combine awareness of the breath with an erect seated posture. There are many styles of meditation. Osho and transcendental meditation techniques are not discussed here. Following are some common meditation styles with simple instructions.

Introductory Meditation (For Rapid "Letting Go")

I know my body. (inhaling)

I am not my body. (exhaling)

I know my mind. (inhaling)

I am not my mind. (exhaling)

I know my witness. (inhaling)

I am not my witness. (exhaling)

Mindfulness Meditation (Vipassana)

Pay attention to your breathing—the inward and outward motion of the breath. As you are feeling the breath moving in and out evenly, observe and label your thoughts, feelings, and judgments as they arise, ...