This week – week 2 July
Finishing this week on a small win and a smaller loss.
$SHLO I bought because they are tangentially related to the hot EV sector. It failed green to red, so I got out. I was right on my thesis, but I didn’t give it enough room.
I won on $FRSX for the same reason – EV setup. I saw it was a bullflag on the daily chart. It was uptrending. I got in at premarket highs, like a noob. Added on the dip because bids were so thick. Sold half near the top. Sold the other half when it failed to break and was coming down.
Here’s what’s going on
I know my description is not as in depth as I usually like to go. I haven’t reviewed and reflected on my trades as thoroughly this week. I’m a little ashamed of that. It’s not who I want to be.
So, who do I want to be?
I want to be the trader that does a full write up like this of every trade.
So that I have a record for myself.
So that when I am a big time trader (lol) people can look back at my trades and see what I was thinking – what I went through.
The importance of a trading journal can’t be overstated.
This week was full of discipline problems for me.
Not so much trading discipline problems. I only had two trades that weren’t my patterns – which is actually an improvement!
Okay, I had two more trades that also weren’t my patterns.
They weren’t undisciplined, rampant trading problems. They were within the bounds of logic and they were trades that had brought me gains in the past. And one of them was a winning trade.
I don’t want to defend them because of the nature of the behavior – but when something works, it works. I’m not going to call them undisciplined trades. They were grey area trades.
Not something I condone, but also not something I’m going to punish myself for.
My discipline problems were mostly in other areas of my life.
I couldn’t or didn’t sleep.
I skipped a workout day.
I watched more TV than I should have.
I skipped studying more often than not.
I go through these phases.
This seems to be a thing with me.
I’m on fire, gung ho, shoulder to the wheel for months.
Then I lose focus. Everything starts slipping.
Now, some alpha males and Type A’s will maybe say I’m being a bitch.
That I just need to keep at it – whatever I’m feeling.
I don’t know if that’s true.
It seems like the harder I push, the harder I fall.
I think this pullback is natural. As natural as a pullback at high of day.
As natural as consolidation.
Tao.
Well, now that I’ve said it, it can’t be it, right?
I want to be like Tom Bilyeu, Tim Bohen, Tim Sykes – but I’m not those people.
When there is too much yang, it becomes yin.
When there is too much yin, it becomes yang.
Summer leads to winter leads to summer leads to winter.
Day leads to night leads to day leads to night.
Someone will say that I’m justifying my laziness.
That I’m defending my lack of discipline.
I would say that.
I would say that by making these arguments, I’m allowing myself to avoid work.
I would say that in my more aggressive, gung ho, shoulder to the wheel moments.
What I need is a healthier form of rest.
Instead of “resting” by reading a book -
Instead of “taking it easy” by watching hours and hours of trading videos -
let’s be honest
Instead of “resting” with TV and video games -
I should be resting with meditation.
Tai Chi.
Yoga.
An actual relaxing walk, instead of a driven, bullish, let’s fucking get this walk over with so I can watch stocks walk.
I say I want to focus on my patterns – and I do; I do focus on my patterns -
But once they’ve played out, what’s wrong with a break?
I’m still at the desk. Staring at candles.
Screen time is important.
I love that I can’t open my laptop without popping open Active Trader Pro or StockstoTrade –
Just for a quick glance! -
But what about How to Make Millions?
Trading Tickers?
Am I wasting time, staring at the screen?
Headache screaming at me, unrested, books unread…
One more cup of coffee ought to do it
I’m still passionate about trading and learning.
That much is clear. Otherwise, why would I torture myself?
But what I need is a better way to recover.
A healthier way to recover.
And I think I’ve said it here already.
But if I force it
If I decide I’m going to do it no matter what
Then, I’m bringing yang to my yin.
Burning my backup candle.
Making rest and recovery into work.
You can’t force yourself to rest.
You have to allow yourself to rest.
If you don’t, your self will force you to rest.
And it won’t be restful.
At least, that’s how it is for me.
And that’s how this week has been.
As profits go, this was my best week ever.
I’m pretty sure this was my best week ever.
I made more this week than I did last month.
I am inches from being profitable.
One good (and profitable – they’re not the same thing) trade will do it.
Then I’ll start sizing up on my A+ setups.
Money isn’t the only thing that matters.
Thanks for sharing! I'm glad it was inspiring or helpful - or whatever made you want to share c:
Join now or log in to leave a comment