The stock market has been on a roll since it's bottom in March 2009. Most people have forgotten what a bear market feels like. But, if a this chart is any indication, the possibility of experiencing one in the near future is a clear possibility.
The red line is a the ratio of the S&P500 to the VIX volatility index. Basically, the higher the red line is above the yellow band, the more complacent investors are. A decline in the red line means investors are more risk averse, or fearful. What's troubling, is that with the market's most recent new high in September, investors have actually become less complacent (and more fearful or risk-averse). A decline in complacency tends to bring the market down because investors are willing to take less risk. This can be seen on the chart as the red line has shown a lower high, while the market (blue line) made a higher high. In other words -- divergence. With less complacency to fuel the markets higher, it's only a matter of time before it begins to fall, just like in 2007.
From henceforth, under the theory that broadening my vocabulary correlates with an expanded perception of reality, I will work on replacing my "low-IQ" words with "high-IQ" words. At the same time, I will remain conscious to avoid drifting into the realm of pretension common of many big-word-users. I can't imagine this being a problem, but maybe after ten years, I might forget. So, as a general rule, a sense of humor will always subvert pretension.
This month's word to be dropped is "effective". In it's place I will begin using "efficacious".
From henceforth, I will concentrate my energy on understanding people from the inside, rather than evaluating them from a superficial skin-deep level. I will attempt to understand people's motivations and agenda, whether good or bad, generous or selfish and respond with goodwill no matter what the case.
A long time ago I took a personality test which told me I was an INFP. After much pondering and reflection, I've re-diagnosed myself as a SCNC. That is, a non conformist but too self conscious to fully express my nonconformity.
From henceforth, I plan to be more conscious of my awareness. When is my mind on autopilot? When am I most perceptive? Hopefully by recognizing my level of detachment or attachment, I can learn to control them more voluntarily. I am thinking that by mentally detaching myself from daily physical abstractions, it will lead to more of a broad understanding of everything. Kind of like seeing the forest through the trees.
The wanderer was becoming more conscious as he crept ahead in years and began to discern two roads before him...
The first was an interstate highway where mobs of like-minded travelers were swept along in a ceaseless cycle of struggle and survival in order to reach a vague destination purported to lie just around the next bend. He noticed that the road's obstacles helped produced confidently opinionated individuals who seemed to have all the answers but, only to unimportant and trivial questions. They reminded him of automatons as they offered unsolicited stories and advice regarding their experience along the way. But, to him, the stories they told rang hollow. Candy-coated in embellishments and superficiality, he found them void of hope and sustenance.
The second road was unpaved. Narrow sections of unkempt grass and ancient trees casting dark shadows offered little solace for companionship. Nevertheless, he could hear the lonely beauty of this path speak to his heart. He noticed the sporadic flow of individuals appeared weathered and weary on the outside, but had eyes that smiled revealing a quiet wisdom and contentedness. These travelers had stories too, but a disconnect with society destined most of them to take their experience to their graves. Perhaps a lack of interest in exploring their depth or they were just unready to embrace the truth.
Life is rife with those lacking kindness and compassion. When someone of this nature, crosses your path, it is important to maintain composure. In doing so, you may discover they unwittingly leave behind compelling opportunities for strategic recourse. And it may seem like this vindictive reciprocation screams out as the most valid and destined solution. This is but a test. No matter how tempting the opportunity to retaliate may seem, it is nonetheless best to trust Karma to do the job for you.
When I was younger, I'd envision God as an wise, old magician-like guy with a long white beard. Now that I'm older, I sense anthropomorphizing God still prevails as the pre-eminent method of trying to understand and relate to "Him".
Even today there is a lot of debate on how best to describe God. Most of this debate presumes some visual depiction or literal description. But this academic approach of using facts or an appeal to common knowledge is the wrong vehicle to bring true understanding. Labeling him with words or images and amassing an enviable factual knowledge only promotes a limited understanding -- it's akin to erecting a roadblock; not opening a doorway.
So, at the risk of dissenting with 95% of the human population, I have begun to think that perhaps the best way to understand God is to stop thinking of God. Instead, try to start sensing and feeling Him as one with yourself.
From henceforth I resolve to abstain from foods containing:
1. Added Fructose (except perhaps during periods of post-exercise muscle replenishment).
2. Hydrogenated oils (anything with "hydrogenated" on the label)
3. Mono-sodium glutamate (aka MSG)
4. Refined flours and foods, especially those with gratuitous levels of added sugar
Recognizing and reflecting on our imperfections helps advance us down the road toward perfection. It is a painstaking never-ending road by design, but the alternative of ignoring imperfection leads you down the path of delusion.
Humans are rational, ego-driven creatures and it is natural for us to rationalize our actions and behaviors. But, unfortunately, our egos often sneak in and surreptitiously taint this process by disguising wrong as right or surreptitiously swapping truth for lies. I think a lifetime of habitually deluding oneself, is what causes so many old folks to cling to some wildly crazy, obsessive and irrational beliefs.
Therefore, from henceforth (before I too succumb), I vow to consciously increase my awareness of when I enter this "rationalization-mode". Through insightful and conscious intervention, I can then attempt to thwart the attempts of my mind to compromise the rationalization process.
Hopefully this will develop into a habit and the thoughts circulating my mind will remain free of such self-induced ignorance.
The scientist purported that there aint no purpose And the theologian told me that its all been designed And Im trying to maintain objectivity The world wont illuminate what really matters And Im an imperfect moral meaning extractor Processing the complexity Born of the earth (are we blind? ) We werent given a choice (theres no way) What about free will? (what we have) Do we have a voice? (is shattered faith) See them run in place (here and now) In the human rat race (no reward) So much dead weight (no debate) to our disgrace (accept your fate) Life begins when you accept your fate Paralysis from forces raging out of control until My confidence and will are at an all-time low Just directionless wandering Eternal life, eternal truth, eternal secrets Isolated hopes and hypotheses just Leave me feeling so hungry Born of the earth (are we blind? ) We werent given a choice (theres no way) What about free will? (what we have) Do we have a voice? (is shattered faith) See them run in place (here and now) In the human rat race (no reward) So much dead weight (no debate) to our disgrace (accept your fate) Life begins when you accept your fate Right or wrong, The main criterion is what you do and not what you say The roads you take, the friends you make and those you throw away The method is a simple synthesis of the past and present state You never lose if the path you choose is one you can easily navigate I had a dream, light and carefree But now theres doubt and gravity But I wont run in place (are we blind? ) in the human rat race (theres no way) I can set the pace (what we have) and accept my fate (is shattered faith) Shattered faith (here and now) Shattered faith (no reward) The part of me (no debate) I cant erase (accept your fate)
Decades from now, history books will define the period of 2006-2014 as a crisis period where severe economic problems and perilous global geopolitical tension permeated with unbounded ferocity.
From henceforth, I resolve to never let others' irrationally accusatory behavior spark a defensive or retaliatory response. I will respond to such acrimony with calm and indifferent apathy -- and a smile.
From henceforth, I will make a continuous effort to refine all thoughts and thinking to terms of undefined possibility. Worry and doubt will shrivel and starve and I will begin to see paths where none were unapparent before.
"Every problem, dilemma and dead end we find ourselves facing in life, only appears insolvable inside a particular frame of mind or point of view. We must learn to break through the barriers of our assumptions."
I can't escape the sense that our nation's economic foundation is rotting beneath us. I find it hard to deny the feeling of impending crisis that is beginning to resonate with undeniable clarity. The message is gradually organizing itself in my brain like pieces to a puzzle. Its all fitting together reinforcing a sense of impending catastrophe.
I feel like a minority, but I'd rather be a realistic pessimist than an ignorant optimist.
