Curious about what self-compassionate trading really means?
Let’s do a little thought experiment together. Imagine you just closed a losing trade. You’re feeling disappointed and unmotivated. You invite two friends over to your home and tell them what happened. Which friend would you rather talk to?
🙋🏽♀️ Friend 1 says:
"What a failure you are. Why were you even stressed out? That’s so silly. Couldn’t you see this trade was going to be a loss? You should just give up—what’s the point of trying? I don’t understand how you could mess up the way you did. Let’s spend the afternoon going through everything you did wrong."
...Or would you prefer:
🙋🏽♀️ Friend 2 who says:
"I can see you’re feeling sad and disappointed about that last trade. I’m really sorry it didn’t go your way. But you know what? Losses are a part of trading—we all go through them. You’ll have another chance tomorrow. I can tell you’re doing your best. Let’s do something kind for ourselves today, and tomorrow you’ll get back to it. Don’t give up—I’m proud of you for chasing your dreams."
🤔 So, who would you choose?
I know this little experiment might sound a bit dramatic—but be honest, wouldn’t we all prefer Friend 2? And isn’t Friend 1 sounding suspiciously like that inner critic of yours?
For the longest time, trading advice has told us to "get rid of emotions" and stay completely “stress-free.” I wish it were that simple…
The truth is, trying to trade without emotions is like talking to yourself like Friend 1. Not only is it impossible—it also builds a harsh, critical inner dialogue that damages both your confidence and motivation.
The reality is: we don’t have full control over our thoughts and emotions. They show up whether we want them to or not. If we could choose our emotional state, we’d all stay calm and focused every time we trade. But that’s not how the human mind works.
Instead of fighting our emotions, we can learn to open up to them—without judgment.
Self-compassionate trading means treating yourself like Friend 2. It’s about acknowledging when things are tough, and being kind to yourself when stress or anxiety shows up. It’s about replacing harsh self-talk with encouragement, warmth and understanding.
👩🏽🔬 Some people think self-compassion is soft, ”girly”, or even “too emotional.” But guess what? It’s backed by tons of solid research. Studies show that self-compassion helps reduce self-criticism and improve motivation. It’s also an effective tool for managing tough emotions and reducing stress and anxiety.
Self-compassionate trading is a win-win approach—it helps you stay grounded and resilient while building a meaningful trading journey. So why not give it a try? 👇
💡 Pro Tip:
Next time you close a losing trade, find yourself in a losing streak, or just feel anxious about your performance—ask yourself:
“What would I say to a good friend who’s going through the same thing?”
Then offer that same kindness and support to yourself.
Happy (self-compassionate) trading! 💙
/ Tina the Trading Psychologist
Let’s do a little thought experiment together. Imagine you just closed a losing trade. You’re feeling disappointed and unmotivated. You invite two friends over to your home and tell them what happened. Which friend would you rather talk to?
🙋🏽♀️ Friend 1 says:
"What a failure you are. Why were you even stressed out? That’s so silly. Couldn’t you see this trade was going to be a loss? You should just give up—what’s the point of trying? I don’t understand how you could mess up the way you did. Let’s spend the afternoon going through everything you did wrong."
...Or would you prefer:
🙋🏽♀️ Friend 2 who says:
"I can see you’re feeling sad and disappointed about that last trade. I’m really sorry it didn’t go your way. But you know what? Losses are a part of trading—we all go through them. You’ll have another chance tomorrow. I can tell you’re doing your best. Let’s do something kind for ourselves today, and tomorrow you’ll get back to it. Don’t give up—I’m proud of you for chasing your dreams."
🤔 So, who would you choose?
I know this little experiment might sound a bit dramatic—but be honest, wouldn’t we all prefer Friend 2? And isn’t Friend 1 sounding suspiciously like that inner critic of yours?
For the longest time, trading advice has told us to "get rid of emotions" and stay completely “stress-free.” I wish it were that simple…
The truth is, trying to trade without emotions is like talking to yourself like Friend 1. Not only is it impossible—it also builds a harsh, critical inner dialogue that damages both your confidence and motivation.
The reality is: we don’t have full control over our thoughts and emotions. They show up whether we want them to or not. If we could choose our emotional state, we’d all stay calm and focused every time we trade. But that’s not how the human mind works.
Instead of fighting our emotions, we can learn to open up to them—without judgment.
Self-compassionate trading means treating yourself like Friend 2. It’s about acknowledging when things are tough, and being kind to yourself when stress or anxiety shows up. It’s about replacing harsh self-talk with encouragement, warmth and understanding.
👩🏽🔬 Some people think self-compassion is soft, ”girly”, or even “too emotional.” But guess what? It’s backed by tons of solid research. Studies show that self-compassion helps reduce self-criticism and improve motivation. It’s also an effective tool for managing tough emotions and reducing stress and anxiety.
Self-compassionate trading is a win-win approach—it helps you stay grounded and resilient while building a meaningful trading journey. So why not give it a try? 👇
💡 Pro Tip:
Next time you close a losing trade, find yourself in a losing streak, or just feel anxious about your performance—ask yourself:
“What would I say to a good friend who’s going through the same thing?”
Then offer that same kindness and support to yourself.
Happy (self-compassionate) trading! 💙
/ Tina the Trading Psychologist
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.