Why Can't I Trade with the Trend

Just when I decide to take a few days off I get my favorite setup at 9:55 this morning in ES...

A true test would have been to see if I would have hung on for the further drop or cashed out after 3 - 4 points.

 

I have struggled with this in the past as part of my learning curve - for a long time it was costing me big money as I would get stopped out of the same trade over and over, refusing to reverse my position in spite of what in later examination was an obvious trend against my position direction.

What helped me stop doing it? The first thing is that before trading, I look at the 60 min trend across the last few days, and resolve to only trade in harmony with it until I see definite signs of a reversal.

This brings me to the other thing - I had to define and trade with discipline my own personal criteria of a reversal (needs to have a divergence in it) and stop trying to pick the exact top/bottom - I have learned that any trend worth trading does not require me to be the first one in or out.

Hope this helps.

Paul

 

That's because you can't find "The Trend".

 

I would say the first issue is with the way you phrased your question
"Why can't I trade with the trend" as Steve already said it implies lack.
"How can I learn to trade the trend even better" would be more appropriate.

You need to "listen" to the conversation that’s going on in your mind, when you are trading and thinking about trading and anything thing to do with trading and for that matter just about everything in your life.

If I may be so presumptuous I would say you live in a "mentality of lack" in more areas of your life than just trading, most of us do.

It usually takes painful experiences (trading sure can give us plenty of those) to get us to a point where we begin to look inward, to ask questions. Now it is important to ask the properly phrased questions in a positive twist. Instead of saying “why can’t I this or that” say it from a positive viewpoint “how can I do this or that even better”.

I think even more important than trading capital is self-esteem/self worth capital.
(I have more to share but right at the moment I have to go make biscuits for my 2 boys)

………

 

It is very simple, (someone said simple not same as easy)

1. definition of the trend
2. definition of reversal
3. definition of a pull back

And you can't have target of a 60min chart with a stop on 5 min chart.

Now we go back to DBPhoenix I mean basics.

How can someone trade without definition?

DBPhoenix said many times You need to define trend before you can trade with it or something like that.

 

Good 'ol db, lol. Is he still around at all?

 

You can't but most traders do not know how to define "trend" in their intraday or position environment.

 

This might help you to determine the trend. Draw trendlines connecting price bottoms and price tops. Everything inside is a part of the trend.
If you know where to find turning points then just buy or sell minor bottoms and tops outside of trendlines.
If you do not know how to find turning points yet , start working on it.

 

How many candles should I use 1,2,3,...15 ?
If you draw a trend line after the move how is that going to help you?

Can you draw a trend line on a qqqq at the moment and tell me where to enter?

 

which trend line should I use?
Or is it too late?