NexusFi: Find Your Edge


Home Menu

 





Mindful and Day Trading


Discussion in Trading Journals

Updated
      Top Posters
    1. looks_one zmaj with 70 posts (90 thanks)
    2. looks_two Grantx with 6 posts (13 thanks)
    3. looks_3 Linds with 4 posts (3 thanks)
    4. looks_4 Rrrracer with 3 posts (7 thanks)
      Best Posters
    1. looks_one bobarian with 5 thanks per post
    2. looks_two Rrrracer with 2.3 thanks per post
    3. looks_3 Grantx with 2.2 thanks per post
    4. looks_4 zmaj with 1.3 thanks per post
    1. trending_up 19,481 views
    2. thumb_up 147 thanks given
    3. group 22 followers
    1. forum 97 posts
    2. attach_file 92 attachments




 
Search this Thread

Mindful and Day Trading

  #21 (permalink)
 mastercraft29 
central florida
 
Posts: 192 since Jul 2014


zmaj View Post
ok, thank you!

Hey man - I have been through most of what you are going through. And i can tell you are a Mark Douglas fan, so am I. If you havent read it already, check out Trade Mindfully by Gary Dayton. It builds on Douglas and is a good read and helpful to trading mindfully. Way of the Warrior Trader is also a good read in the psychology area.

I have not looked at your setups or entries so maybe he is right, but i have to disagree with farmer55. Trading is entirely a mental game. I do agree with the "see trade, take trade" but it is very hard to get there without understanding yourself first. Not to mention the other variables (stop, target, exit?, hold?). To say "all this other stuff is garbage" shows he must not understand it himself, or he would praise the idea of trading mindfully.


But based on what i have read in your thread, i think these few things might help you.

*decrease your position and trade the "i dont care" size. if you are SIM trading, switch to real money in a forex market with a small position (or if you have deep pockets maybe ETF's like SPY / SDS).

*focus on one market, one time frame

*determine your trading style (always in, swing, or scalper) (Or if you are like me, whatever the market is currently offering in terms of opportunity, but i suggest sticking with one. Atleast try each one for a few weeks at a time until you have a good understanding of which you are good at / not so good at and go from there).

*Most important of all..... Get off these forums. You will not find what you are missing here and you are wasting your time. No one can tell you the "secret". You must discover it inside of yourself. All you are doing here is feeding, inflating, and deflating your ego which contradicts the goal of trading mindfully. I know this from personal experience (see my post history). Now i rarely post unless i see something interesting which i can relate to (like this thread). Sorry to those who disagree, but I feel it is the truth.


And remember, there is a reason why most people fail at trading. It is very hard, and you have to overcome yourself and evolutionary "flaws" which prevent good trading. It takes a long time, so dont be so hard on yourself. Acknowledge your mistakes and move on. Never look back. Just look forward to the next trade (mental parking).

BTW, I am also a price action trader (Al brooks).

Good luck on your journey,
Josh

Reply With Quote

Can you help answer these questions
from other members on NexusFi?
New Micros: Ultra 10-Year & Ultra T-Bond -- Live Now
Treasury Notes and Bonds
My NT8 Volume Profile Split by Asian/Euro/Open
NinjaTrader
NT7 Indicator Script Troubleshooting - Camarilla Pivots
NinjaTrader
Exit Strategy
NinjaTrader
Futures True Range Report
The Elite Circle
 
Best Threads (Most Thanked)
in the last 7 days on NexusFi
Get funded firms 2023/2024 - Any recommendations or word …
61 thanks
Funded Trader platforms
39 thanks
NexusFi site changelog and issues/problem reporting
26 thanks
GFIs1 1 DAX trade per day journal
18 thanks
The Program
18 thanks
  #22 (permalink)
 Mightynorsman 
Albany, New York, USA & sometimes Central Florida
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: Tradovate+Jigsaw, TOS
Broker: Tradovate/CQG, TOS/Pony Express
Trading: Energies, Indexes, Grains
Posts: 160 since Mar 2016
Thanks Given: 547
Thanks Received: 361

It's funny to me that there's a debate about what's more important Psychology or Trade mechanics. They are two sides of the same coin. I agree with farmer that you have to have a profitable way of trading to achieve success but you also have to have a grasp on your own thoughts so that you don't mess that profitable way up with fear or greed.

Understanding your own psychology and why you do what you do IMHO is just as important to trade execution as have a good plan. If you have a good plan and are executing it well . . . Bravo! Don't fix what aint broken. If you believe you have a good plan but can't consistently execute it . . . understanding your psychology and then building good habits to correct it, is the way to success.

Wishing you good success in your journey towards profitable trading.
Mighty

Reply With Quote
Thanked by:
  #23 (permalink)
 Grantx 
Reading UK
Legendary no drama Llama
 
Experience: None
Posts: 1,787 since Oct 2016
Thanks Given: 2,826
Thanks Received: 5,058


Some people are fortunate in that the mental aspect of trading is a little speed bump to get over. For me the technical is easy peasy but the mental side is absolutely brutal. One thing I found difficult to deal with was knowing that I was just the same as every other wannaby trader. When I started I thought I was unique and different and a little bit special from the rest of the herd but soon realised the harsh bright truth of that little illusion.

There comes a point though when you have to pull your socks up and get out of the victim mentality because in a perverse way, focusing on overcoming the mental hardship only reinforces its strength and power.

Everyone here has good comments. From my side I just want to say that I know what youre going through and how difficult it is.

Good luck zmaj.

Visit my NexusFi Trade Journal Reply With Quote
Thanked by:
  #24 (permalink)
 
zmaj's Avatar
 zmaj 
Ojai, USA
 
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Abdominal Plank
Trading: Energy
Posts: 770 since Jan 2016
Thanks Given: 472
Thanks Received: 1,083

@farmer55 @mastercraft29 @Mightynorsman @Grantx


Thank you all for your comments.
Yes i'm am absolutely Mark Douglas fan. His work on the subject has changed and is changing my perspective.
My trading set ups are good, i just need to learn to make the commitment. I must create a "trading the set up" habit.
This little trading journal on this forum is simply about my transition. From an analyst to a trader.

Visit my NexusFi Trade Journal Started this thread Reply With Quote
  #25 (permalink)
 
cory's Avatar
 cory 
virginia
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: ninja
Trading: NQ
Posts: 6,098 since Jun 2009
Thanks Given: 877
Thanks Received: 8,090


zmaj View Post
..

I really must follow my rules...

I don't think you can follow the rules all at once. Train yourself to master one rule at a time then move on to the next one. That is why it take such a long time to master all the rules.

Reply With Quote
Thanked by:
  #26 (permalink)
 
Linds's Avatar
 Linds 
Victoria, Australia
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: NT, MT4
Broker: NT
Trading: Bund , ASX 200
Posts: 417 since Jul 2010
Thanks Given: 982
Thanks Received: 533

You seem confident that you have a proven technical edge.
How do you know you have an actual edge?
Is this objectively proven or could there be various confirmation biases in there?
Prior to actually having a technical edge the goal of sorting out the psychological side of trading is a bit like chasing a black cat in a dark room.

Visit my NexusFi Trade Journal Reply With Quote
Thanked by:
  #27 (permalink)
 
zmaj's Avatar
 zmaj 
Ojai, USA
 
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Abdominal Plank
Trading: Energy
Posts: 770 since Jan 2016
Thanks Given: 472
Thanks Received: 1,083


Linds View Post
You seem confident that you have a proven technical edge.
How do you know you have an actual edge?
Is this objectively proven or could there be various confirmation biases in there?
Prior to actually having a technical edge the goal of sorting out the psychological side of trading is a bit like chasing a black cat in a dark room.

Mark Douglas talked about finding and understanding the set up by tracking it for 20 times or more.
And finding out how the set up performs over that period.
I have objectively done that already multiple times. On multiple instruments.
The set up performs very well over the period of 20 times or more.
The reason i'm having a problem is because i expect an individual trade to work. As oppose to a series of trades.


Visit my NexusFi Trade Journal Started this thread Reply With Quote
Thanked by:
  #28 (permalink)
 
Linds's Avatar
 Linds 
Victoria, Australia
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: NT, MT4
Broker: NT
Trading: Bund , ASX 200
Posts: 417 since Jul 2010
Thanks Given: 982
Thanks Received: 533

Ok if the edge is certainly there...and 20 visually based back tests is not sufficient...but 100 might be IF there is no hidden cognitive biases in there.......

.....then you are in the realm of taming the monkey within....

Can take awhile.

I like many of your affirmations. Might apply some to my monkey.

Visit my NexusFi Trade Journal Reply With Quote
Thanked by:
  #29 (permalink)
 
Linds's Avatar
 Linds 
Victoria, Australia
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: NT, MT4
Broker: NT
Trading: Bund , ASX 200
Posts: 417 since Jul 2010
Thanks Given: 982
Thanks Received: 533

Just a question
If the edge is mathematically there
Why is it there?
It is very helpful to not only know it exists but to know why it does .....this can help the confidence a lot.

Visit my NexusFi Trade Journal Reply With Quote
Thanked by:
  #30 (permalink)
 LukePoga 
Sydney Australia
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: Rithmic API
Trading: ES CL
Posts: 63 since Jan 2014
Thanks Given: 11
Thanks Received: 24


how is your comfort level?

imagine that you were trading your setup at 50c at a time.
imagine you are trading 1 lot at a time with $1,000,000,000 billion in your account.
imagine you are at a casino betting your home on a coin flip.

you want to sit somewhere in the middle where your risk of ruin is comfortable.

traders sometimes think its their emotions that are the problem, when really you should listen to your emotions. instincts are right. if you have fear you are not trading sustainably.

Reply With Quote
Thanked by:




Last Updated on January 10, 2022


© 2024 NexusFi™, s.a., All Rights Reserved.
Av Ricardo J. Alfaro, Century Tower, Panama City, Panama, Ph: +507 833-9432 (Panama and Intl), +1 888-312-3001 (USA and Canada)
All information is for educational use only and is not investment advice. There is a substantial risk of loss in trading commodity futures, stocks, options and foreign exchange products. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
About Us - Contact Us - Site Rules, Acceptable Use, and Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy - Downloads - Top
no new posts