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While it’s impossible to fully understand why you make certain financial choices, you can enhance your judgment by being mindful of what you pay attention to. Instead of getting caught up in the noise of market fluctuations and predictions (which are often unpredictable and irrelevant to long-term goals) you should concentrate on what truly matters for achieving your objectives.

Key takeaways: The incessant flow of fear-inducing financial news is like any other advertising you see. It grabs your attention but offers little value in your investment goals. To counter this, it's helpful to create a clear definition of what deserves your attention based on your individual goals. Often, daily market changes won’t impact your over-arching strategy, so learn to ignore the “noise” and focus on what truly drives your long-term success.