Trading Psychology:
The Anchoring Technique
A simple psychology hack that links
physical gestures to your trading mindset.
Ever heard of anchoring?
(Not the kind you do with your yacht off some private island…
)
It’s the idea that you can take a specific physical gesture, like clenching your fist, tapping your chest, or gripping the steering wheel… and link it to a mental state.
It’s just Pavlov’s dog, but make it… performance psychology.
(You remember that one… the bell rings, dog salivates.)
Same concept.
Except you’re the dog.
And the bell? That’s whatever trigger you choose.
Tony Robbins bangs on about this a lot.
He’ll get someone into a peak emotional state first. Think, power, focus, confidence and then get them to anchor it to a motion.
Touch your heart. Click your fingers. Clench your fist.
Do it enough times, and the body remembers.
The trigger fires > state kicks in.
Now let’s bring that to trading…Once, I watched a guy try to square up to a bouncer.
6’5”, arms like tree trunks, just waiting for an excuse to flatten someone.
The other guy?
Maybe 5’7”, scrawny dude… but full of attitude and delusion.
Thought he could win. Thought this was his moment.
It ended exactly how you’d expect. 
This was the late 90s, and he wanted into that club soooo badly, but the bouncer wasn’t having it.
Rather than walk away, say nothing, maybe try again later…
He picked a fight he couldn’t win.
Booze played a part. But that moment?
It was the definition of self-destruction.
And honestly?
Some traders do the same thing every day.
You want more discipline? Anchor it.
Before you hit buy/sell…
Before you even sit down at the desk…
Tap your chest Take a sharp breath Repeat a phrase (“calm, sharp, focused”)
But here’s the trick:
You have to build the association first.
Anchor the state when you’re feeling it:
After a great trade.After a solid dayAfter reviewing a journal entry where you stuck to the plan.
That’s when you lock it in.
You’re not just feeling good, you’re teaching your system what that feels like.
So, next time you’re in that zone, calm, clear, dialled in.
Pick a cue.
Tap. Breathe. Press your fingers. Something simple and repeatable.
Then, before each trade:
Trigger it.
Let it bring you back into that mental gear.
Do this consistently, and it becomes automatic.
The body leads. The mind follows.
Soon enough, like Pavlov’s dog at the sound of a bell…
You’ll find yourself stepping into discipline with a single cue.
(Not drooling… )
Give it a go. You might be surprised how well it works.