I traded today after 4 days of abstaining. There was a safe trade to take, and I took it live with real money. I made $2,600 this morning on that trade and closed it.
I did NOT feel any type of buzz when I made the trade. It felt purely rational, a small trade using a strategy I had planned last night while the market was closed. I feel no urge to take another trade.
I’m a bit disappointed that I took the trade live, but also pleased that there is no compulsiveness, cravings, or greed surrounding it. I just feel serene and detached. No urge to repeat this trade a hundred times. It’s come and gone.
The key is the mindset. I let go of the loss, or at least I’m trying to. I’m not trying to “make it back” (at least not right now). The trade was planned calmly while the market was closed, and I just executed my plan using a small amount of money.
Am I falling back into gambling, or is this a sign that I can return to normal, at some point, if I stay detached and avoid greed?
It will take a long time to figure all of this out.
Life would have been so simple if I had just stayed in the Navy. That’s my regret for the day.