When You Only See What You Already Feel, Think and Fear

Am I the only one with that Groundhog Day feeling? 

Maybe it's the chop in the markets; the utter breathlessness as we await the next Tweet to define our view of the future.

It’s moronic. 

And I am sorry if that sounds as though I have no feelings or respect for the difficulties that lie ahead. 

That is not the case at all. 

The future is, of course, full of struggle, stress, angst on many new issues (which will shift from time to time), periods of concern, and then of course, miles and miles and miles of opportunity.

Just keep an ample supply of TUMS in your top desk drawer, and give thanks that the masses have become afraid again, setting the stage for yet another climb up this wealth-building mountain:

Have a look at the sentiment levels above from last week’s AAII report: 

• 70.2% of the audience are not liking stocks, and
• 29.8% feeling ok

We’re nudged right up against historical trend line extremes; a wonderful thing for the long-term investor.

The sell in May process has begun in earnest, filled with more than enough scary and supportive headlines, and shaking out those who pay far too much attention to 90% of what rains down on us through the media airwaves.

Beware the soundbites and headlines, they tend to cause your timeframe to shrink…rapidly.

Think about it: Do you really want a fund manager who thinks timely, long-term investing has anything at all to do with the "Trade War" that we’re told is underway?

Yoda was right all along, I suppose; market action is a mirror of human psychology, you see only what you already feel, think, or fear.

Thank the market gods for the churn; for setting a new base and foundation for growth, better solutions, new tools, advancing technologies and a world that grows more productive every day.

And take tiny steps at a time.