When my system presents me an opportunity I almost always don't want it. As the price starts moving in the system's favor my belief in the signal grows and ultimately I end up in the trade at MUCH more complicated and risky prices. Seems like I want the obvious but the obvious almost never works. Ideally I should be doing one of 2 things: Either take the signal immediately or if missed, WAIT for the next.
Could be because you don't have confidence in your system and your fear of losing takes over. Once price moves in the system's favor, then of course you don't want to miss out so you quickly chase it.
Do you use a set stop loss or free lance it like instynct? i take a lot of trades especially in these volatile times from a set tight SL of 1.5. i like it gives me about 3 trades to one to get it right.
You are right. I have something plastered on my table: Look for the best losses.. In a nutshell, where would I rather take losses that inevitably WILL come? Where there is high profit potential or just anywhere? Apparently I haven't internalized it enough as once that thing starts dancing, so do I.. Deep down struggling traders want guaranteed trades and chase trades LOOK like sure things to the emotional mind. Last 2 weeks I have had 3 losing days and profitable by the week so things could be worse but need to avoid that.
I use a fixed 3.5 pt loss that I move to 5 sometimes. This happens mostly because my entries are not ideal a lot of the time. I have looked at a 1 min chart and I see how your stop frequently survives and you do well.
Also these market during regular hours a quite quick so easy to be late taking the trade. Pre-market on the other hand I have much less trouble with..
A turning point day I think. Being able to dig out of a near $700 negative to close up $180 after commissions something I've never been able to do. Usually the day spirals and gets worse.. Now to learn not to dig hole in the first place.. Missing a key trade just as NQ touched and reversed 2154 early morning remained in my mind for too long. Even then had I executed as I would later do I could have properly gotten into the trade.. Mid-day I discovered that actually trading the swings of the 1min chart off price levels once general trend is known is very useful.. Sorry Instynct .. lots of trades.. Journal-keeping hell. Light (not a train hopefully) is at the end of this tunnel. +14.75 pts for the day..