Trust The Process. Reflect, Strategize, Execute Today marks the first day of February. I had a pretty interesting trading day yesterday. I was taking a few heavy positions and happened to end up on the profitable side of those positions. I realized very quickly that my perception of the market is flawed. My optimism or ideal performance for the market I choose is always based off a monthly time frame. Yet and still, when I take positions, it's with the monthly time Frame in mind. So, no matter what the market is currently doing I always try to follow the Monthly trend.
I can no longer trust this belief. I was humbled. The profit I had produced from multiple trades were wiped out almost instantly. I realized I was going against the current trend and that price had not taken out market structure. Instead of doing a top down analysis from 12M, I think it's best if I start on the daily time frame. I also think it would be a good idea to use the path tool to draw out how price has been moving until my eyes can naturally adjust. Whatever the previous MSH (Major Swing High) is, make sure price CLOSES above it on at least a 1HR time frame and comes back to re-test that previous high before even thinking about buying. Otherwise, keep the continuation of the current trend.
I am motivated by loss. I have $58 left in my account. With this new found understanding, I'll give my best to get those profits back. I won't revenge trade, but if, and only if I see the positions, I'M ALL IN.
I should also realize that although taking big positions are exciting because you watch your money fluctuate very quickly, the excitement should be in the process.
Questions I should be asking myself every time before I place a trade:
- Am I on the right side of the trend?
- How do I know it's the right side?
- Is price currently near a major key level?
- How is price reacting?
- Has a trend line been broken?
- Has price taken out market structure
- Has price re-tested the previous high after creating a new high?
- Entry & Exit?
- Based upon the trend where would the best entry be?
- Based upon previous support, where would the best exit be?
- What time frame am I basing this information on?
- Have I thought about every possible outcome?
- What are the chances prices doesn't hit my take profit?
- Have I accounted for each possibility (Up, Down, Sideways)
I can feel my mind adjusting to what I need to believe instead of what I think. the market is a game, and the best way to be the best at any game is to keep playing. You'll lose over and over again until you become so frustrated that you're forced to try something completely different. Now most of us still don't fully get it when we make that change because implementing a new strategy is just one very small portion of it. Since fear controls most of our decisions, you can't be scared to keep starting over or making changes to a broken system. Falling in love with losing will ignite the fire to victory. The more you chase victory, the faster it runs away from you. Victory shouldn't be chased, it should be rewarded for strategy, discipline, and execution.
