Trading on Target: How to Cultivate a Winner's State of Mind

FANTASIES

Fantasies, however, are not necessarily something we want to experience in reality. While a fantasy might have the same appearance as a dream, its manifestation would not necessarily be something that would please you. For example, you might fantasize about the death of someone at whom you are angry, but, hopefully, you would not really want that fantasy to become a reality. It is common for people to have sexual fantasies that are pleasurable in their non-reality form but not necessarily pleasurable in their actual realization. Many people fantasize about exciting and dangerous careers such as astronauts, firefighters, jet pilots, and spies that they would have no real interest in pursuing in reality.

Frequently, however, people fool themselves into believing that their fantasies are actually dreams or they cannot tell the difference between a particular fantasy and a dream. There are compelling reasons why this self-delusion occurs.

The Fantasy Is a Realizable Goal

When a fantasy is not a realizable goal, there is no confusion: For example, a short, elderly woman who is a hundred pounds over-weight can fantasize about being a supermodel, but she knows that it is simply a fantasy. However, when a tall and slender young woman fantasizes about being a supermodel, she may begin to believe that her fantasy has air under its wings. It is clear that the fantasy of becoming a dragon slayer is a not a realizable goal. But, many fantasies are within the bounds of reason. Thus, ...