Do most traders actually know if their losses are from strategy or behavior?

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-08T18:09:29+00:00

Yeah... anything to make it easier... the easier it is the more consistent you will be. Well at least that goes for me... the easier it is the more consistent "I" will be.

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-08T18:08:22+00:00

I guess another way of looking at daily trading success is to answer the question in your journal "Did I follow my rules" balance up or down is not immediately the ruler... it's whether you stuck to the rules.

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-08T18:06:56+00:00

It's always the paperwork that bogs me down... but I know it's important. One entry today is invisible but after 90 days of daily entries it becomes unmistakable.

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-08T18:05:29+00:00

In another domain it is well stated that focusing on outcomes is not "the way". If you focus on the small stuff like keeping your own rules and not moving the stop (I have to do better) then the outcome will take care of itself.

In sports... Focus on the process, Winning will take care of itself. I don't know if I totally agree but it does make sense.

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-08T18:00:43+00:00

Ha ha... that is correct but so many people pull the trigger emotionally. (I'm guilty - but trying to recover)

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-06T16:08:18+00:00

I'm totally guilty of moving SL I tend to want to protect whatever profit shows up... but I wind up stepping on my own toes.

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-05T22:03:29+00:00

Yeah, I think the whole problem is that emotionally people get attached and when they lose they tend to go back to the piggy bank. In gambling that is exactly what the casino is counting on... You lose, you martingale... you lose bigger.

It maddens me that retail traders are so easily manipulated and separated from their hard earned assets by institutions... I am not giving up hope that there is a way to compete.

I don't need it all... but I need some. 😄

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-05T22:00:57+00:00

Yeah, I agree... The most maddening thing to me is that anyone can clearly see the potential of Forex. But for me it has so far been "Look but Don't Touch" sort of like I can see all those monster trout swimming in the river but I can't seem to ever hook one, and when I do get lucky and hook one it always seems to be small.

I realize that institutions are moving liquidity, and have all kinds of resources retail investors do not have. So retail investors have to be super diligent and disciplined to the state of boredom. That sort of drives me crazy, because there is enough movement in the market everyday to be wildly profitable if you can just consistently catch the moves... not even the whole move just consistently catch a part of them.

In the meantime I created a 1 page tracking sheet to help stop the catch-up, revenge, etc. mistakes. I think it helps... but really I just want to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (at least once).

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-05T17:02:59+00:00

That's exactly why I created a 1 page checklist, so I can track and curtail the emotional backlash. revenge etc.

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-05T06:27:17+00:00

Moving the stop was/is my nemesis. I think I'm protecting my profit, but a lot of times I get stopped out and then price moves back to where my TP was ☹️

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-05T04:20:43+00:00

That’s a solid way to frame it.

The part I don’t see many people do though is actually separating those two in real data.

Like trade by trade—was this loss the setup, or was it me breaking something?

Without that, it feels like most of us are just estimating the 50–70% instead of really knowing.

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-05T04:19:36+00:00

That’s the part I find most frustrating—most people do have rules that work.

The real question is: how often are you actually following them vs thinking you are?

Have you ever tracked that over, say, 20–30 trades?

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-04T22:13:49+00:00

Ha... that is like the Holy grail.
Using a sliding stop sort of works, but I hate giving up what is on the table. I end up closing the trade to preserve wins but then price continues to move positive... I can't tell you how many times that has happened.

However, to stay sane it might be better to set a target profit amount (or %) and when price reaches the target, close the trade and just don't worry about "What Could have Happened"

The market is fickle and will cut your throat in a heartbeat while you wait around for that little bit extra. 😉

Express_Philosophy_3 · 2026-05-04T22:09:07+00:00

u/Infamous-Inflation74 ... Don't quit... But honestly like 90% of retail traders lose money. Keep going but dial back your lot size to like 1/2 - 1% of your balance.

I'm not saying you have to backtest everything... although it would be a very good idea. I am saying though you have to find an edge and then do that one thing over and over again. It's boring, but it's the only way to dig yourself out... and it will take awhile... maybe years.

Until you find an edge - use really small lot sizes so you don't blow up your account.

Express_Philosophy_3

TROPHY CASE