The Most Overlooked Setup in Trading: Your Own Decision ProcessTrading psychology at its finest — where the real edge begins.
Over time, I’ve realized that most traders obsess over systems, setups, and signals... but very few ever stop to ask: “How do I actually make decisions?”🧩
The truth is — every trade I take is a result of an internal process. Not just some rule from a strategy, but a sequence of thoughts, comparisons, and feelings I go through (sometimes without even realizing it). And when I mapped it out, it changed the way I approached the market. 🔄
Here’s what I found:
1.There’s always a trigger.
Sometimes it’s a chart pattern. Other times, it’s a shift in sentiment or an alert I’ve set. But that moment when I *start* to consider entering — that’s the spark. Recognizing that moment is the first step. ⚡
2.Then comes the operation phase.
That’s when I begin scanning. I look for setups, patterns, confluences — not just at face value, but through the lens of my experience. I start running mental “what-if” simulations, visualizing what the trade could become. 🔍
3.The test phase is critical.
This is where I mentally compare the current opportunity with past winners or losers. Does it “look right”? Does it “feel like” a good trade? That moment where a setup clicks isn’t just about indicators — it’s about internal alignment. 🧠
4.Exit isn’t just a price level — it’s a decision threshold.
Knowing when to act (or not) often comes down to a shift in internal state. For me, it’s usually a combination of visual confirmation + a gut signal. When both align, I act. 🎯
📌 Why does this matter?
Because most failed trades aren’t just “bad signals” — they’re *poorly made decisions*. If I don’t understand my internal process, I’m flying blind. But when I do, I can refine it, track it, and improve it.
If you’ve never mapped out your decision-making strategy, do it. You’ll learn more about your trading than any indicator could ever teach you. 💡
👉 Keep following me for decision-making insights and real trading psychology facts — the stuff that actually moves the needle.
Decisionmaking
Trading Success Through Journaling: Reflect, Learn & GrowHello traders, today we will talk about how journaling can be a really helpful tool for you in your trading journey. Journaling is a simple yet powerful tool that can help you gain insight into your mental and emotional state, identify patterns and triggers, and make more informed decisions. In this post, we'll explore how you can use journaling to improve your trading performance.
1. Reflect on your emotions: After each trade, take a moment to journal about your emotions during and after the trade. This can help you identify patterns in your emotional responses and provide insight into how certain emotions may affect your trading decisions.
2. Identify triggers: By journaling about specific events that preceded a trade, you can identify the triggers that lead to your emotional responses. This can help you take steps to manage your emotions before they affect your trading decisions.
3. Evaluate your decision-making: After each trade, take a moment to journal about the decision-making process you used. This can help you identify any biases or patterns in your decision-making that may be affecting your trading results.
4. Set goals and track progress: Use journaling to set goals for your trading and track your progress over time. This can help you stay motivated and focused on your long-term goals.
5. Increase self-awareness: Journaling can help you become more self-aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This can help you identify any negative thought patterns and work to change them, which can lead to improved trading performance.
To make the most of journaling, you should be honest with yourself and write down what you truly feel and think. Journaling is a powerful tool for reflection, learning and making adjustments for the future.
It's important to note that journaling is not a standalone strategy, but rather it's a tool that can be used in conjunction with other analysis and indicators to inform trading decisions. Also, you don't need any specific equipment, just a pen and a notebook, and you can journal at any time.
In conclusion, journaling can be a powerful tool for traders looking to improve their performance and manage stress. By gaining insight into their mental and emotional state, traders can make more informed decisions and improve their overall trading results. Give it a try and see how it can help you in your trading journey.
I would love to hear about your own experiences with journaling in trading. Please feel free to share your thoughts, feedback, and tips in the comments section below. Your input and feedback is valuable to me and to the trading community!
Psych Hack #0006 - Dissonance TheoryIn this screencast I explore dissonance theory. Some don't know that trading is very little to do with charts and indicators - and terribly more to do with psychological matters that affect our decision-making. Seems a bit strange as my charts are usually covered in indicators.
I share lessons learned. I explore what the mind does when an alternative perspective or evidence emerges.
Disclaimer (required by Tradingview): This content is for educational purposes only. There is shared experience here based on exploration and study of psychological phenomena affecting decision-making and risk management. No guarantees are made that my knowledge or experience is right - and therefore should not be relied upon in real trading environments.