Embracing Responsibility and Uncertainty: Navigating the Challenges of Transitioning to Real Trading

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Everything seemed to be going well. My numbers were good, no, scratch that, they were spectacular! My mentor advised me to switch to live trading, and I did so with a smile on my face because I thought I had everything under control. However, the transition to live trading revealed the complexities of this profession. I was losing a lot and gaining very little, the complete opposite of what I experienced in simulation, and I couldn't understand why, considering I was following the same strategies.
I can relate to the experience described in the paragraph above. After completing my theoretical and practical training period, my performance started to falter once I began trading in the real market. Insecurities and doubts crept in, and my initial reaction was to search for someone or something to blame. The usual suspects were the market and my trading system. How could it be that everything that seemed to work flawlessly in simulation was now crumbling in real-time trading?
The market, for many of us, often becomes the primary culprit for our initial struggles. From unexpected volatility to the feeling of being targeted by invisible forces, we tend to hold the market responsible for our difficulties. However, I came to realize that the market doesn't even know I exist. We are merely a drop in a constantly changing financial ocean. Moreover, volatility is an inherent part of this environment and should have been factored into my trading plan from the outset.
After ruling out the market, my focus shifted to my trading system. What had changed when I made the switch from simulation to real trading? Why did something that seemed infallible before suddenly stop working? However, upon serious reflection, I realized that the true culprit was myself. Taking responsibility and acknowledging my own mistakes became a path of learning and personal growth.
My biggest enemy in the market turned out to be my own mind. The pressure, uncertainty, and the need for control clashed directly with the unpredictable nature of financial markets. My brain longed for certainty, but trading is based on probabilities and risks. Embracing this reality became a crucial turning point in my development as a trader.
Taking responsibility was not easy. It required recognizing my errors, confronting my emotions, and working on my own emotional management. Accepting that trading decisions are based on probabilities rather than certainties allowed me to develop a more solid and disciplined mindset. I set aside excuses and committed to learning from my mistakes in an honest and humble manner, thus guiding my steps toward gradual improvement in my performance in the market.