1. My better trades come when I have found a place to quietly think about the trade idea, before I take the trade. I lay down for a few minutes and let my mind roam. This settles me down at an otherwise tense moment. It also allows me to clearly consider what I like or don’t like about the trade.

2. It’s important to me to ignore outside influences when I am planning a trade. I’d rather pay attention to my own reasons for the trade, instead of someone else’s views of the currency pair that have nothing to do with the indicators and other things that I look at when wanting to buy or sell.

3. It’s one thing to have a rule- or principle-based trading methodology. It’s another thing to actually trade that system with a clear and rational mind.

4. Sometimes I realize that I have become very anxious about a trade idea, or a trade plan. These are good times to find a quiet place and get away from the computer, until I’ve sorted out the reason for the anxiety. I take plenty of trades when I’m anxious, of course, but I’ve at least thought about the reasons behind the anxiety first.

5. How many losses I’ve taken recently is the last thing on my mind.