We tend to think that taking a loss on a trade is the end of the world when it is not. It is just a trade that did not work out. Period. No need to re-invent the wheel, throw out the baby with the bath water, or cry wolf one too many times. Maybe we should simply have the attitude of Cat.
… if I ever lost my hands
Lose my plough, lose my land
Oh, if I ever lose my hands- Oh, if…
I wont have to work no more
And if I ever lose my eyes
If my colors all run dry
And if I ever lose my eyes – Oh,
I won’t have to cry no more
And if I ever lose my legs
I won’t moan and I won’t beg
Oh if I ever lose my legs- Oh if…
I won’t have to walk no more
And if I ever lose my mouth
All my teeth, north and south
Yes, if I ever lose my mouth- Oh if…
I won’t have to talk…
Let’s add another stanza here for the stock trader…
… if I ever lose a trade
The Market takes the money I could have made
Oh, if I ever lose a trade…
I won’t have to brag no more!
Kind of puts things in their proper perspective doesn’t it?
Archives of “proper perspective” tag
rssIs stock trading difficult? Depends on who you ask.
Is stock trading difficult? Depends on who you ask. A seasoned trader with the discipline to follow well honed principles will say “trading is not difficult. See how I take losses and let my winners run?” A battered and bruised, emotionally unstable trader will say “the market is difficult. I am getting my @ss handed to me on a platter and it hurts!” A breakeven trader will say, “compared to my broker I am not doing so bad.” Our perspective makes all the difference in our success of failure. If we can have the proper perspective then the market cannot hurt us. The proper perspective includes, but is not limited to, the following: The market will do what it wants to do when it wants to do it regardless of the technical games we play. We win some lose some, in no particular order, on any given strategy. The only trading mistake that matters is when future uncertainty is not properly considered an essential element of risk. The long-term process, not short term outcomes, builds the consistency necessary to tackle market uncertainty. Responsibility accepted before the trade becomes the disciple that carries us through the trade. The best money is oftentimes made by being a non-participating, impartial observer.
So the next time someone asks if stock trading is difficult. What will be our answer? Will it be based on the proper perspective or on the last trade we made? On emotions? On our reaction to price action? News? Compared to what? A successful bust or a skinned knee? The answer can make a difference. |