Just logged back in, after stepping away from this journal, for l guess well over a year.
First, let me say how grateful I am to all who helped me in 2014 and 2015... you know who you are, but the two who I must highlight are
@Handle123 and
@Redneck . Lastly, there was a person who took the time to send me a very detailed pm (which I just got today), and I will keep them anonymous, but publicly thank them.
I have learned a lot, a ton about myself.
I realize now, that I needed to love myself independent of trading! For some reason, I was allowing my trading success to define who I was as a person... profitable trades, and man I was a success... unprofitable trades, and shesh I am such a loser. I know now, none of that matters... all I can do as a good trader is execute my plan and rely on my edge over time to make me profitable. And regardless of my trading account balance or history, I am a great person.
I have also learned that you need to be
emotionally stable to trade successfully. In my case, I was still suffering the lose of my wife leaving me... for others I see some trading as a way to pay off debt, or fix their retirement challenges. That isn't the place to trade from...your mindset is coming from a place of scarcity, which then makes it really hard to put your blood, sweat, and tears at risk.
I have learned that those who are truly successful in this game will be humble. It is like a requirement. The market teaches you that long term. You are forced to learn, that if you do get cocky, it is just a matter of time until you will be humbled.... so you learn to stay humble.
Today, I would describe myself as a breakeven trader. I also have learned that I am a discretionary trader. I do have an edge. Many days/weeks I can pull off consistent profitability. Where I stumble now, is that every so often I have a lousy day, could be market state, could be me... and when I do, I give back way too much. I know I can make it again, but my next journey is learning the optimal point to call it quits for the day because it just isn't my day.
Grateful. Sincerely grateful. I love what trading does to me as a person.
I now love my opponent, accept him, and we are friends...we work for the common good... we are a team.
Good Trades,
YK