1) Think in Cycles - This has been one of the two greatest changes I've made in my trading. I stopped thinking about trends and ranges entirely, I don't focus on chart patterns, and I don't pretend to know what the "big players" are doing apart from noting volume patterns. Instead, I am identifying dominant cycles in the market at short, medium, and longer time frame and focusing on how those cycles interact with one another. I am focusing on cycles of volatility in the market, as well as cyclical price action. This has been a much more effective way to participate in directional market behavior, especially when implemented in event time. The cycle framework has naturally made me more flexible as a trader: at certain junctures in a cycle, I am a "trend" trader, following the momentum that occurs when cycles line up. At other cycle junctures, I am a "mean reversion" trader, adjusting to the "choppiness" that occurs when cycles are not aligned. Most of all, I've become better at focusing on dominant cycles and the ways in which volatility regimes shift the cycles that dominate.
2) Focus on Execution - A side benefit of the cycle framework is that it allows for simultaneous tracking of short term and longer term cycles. The short term cycles become extremely useful in entry and exit execution, allowing the trader to extract more from each trade. I find that the difference between good entries and exits and poor ones in low volatility markets is an important component of making and losing money. I might be trading a longer term cycle, but I will use a short term cycle to get in near a trough and exit near a peak. This is a bit counterintuitive, as you're buying when things look worst and selling when they've been recently strong. By giving execution a short volatility bias, it's helped me participate in directional moves that do occur.
3) Focus on Trading Spirituality, Not Just Trading Psychology - This is subtle and is a topic not everyone is comfortable with. Trading just doesn't work when it is *me* focused. Me making money, me losing, me becoming successful, me working on my state of mind, etc. Once the ego is the focus, we lose flexibility and perspective. I of all people should know that: as a psychologist, if therapy ever becomes about me, I lose my effectiveness. The skill of a therapist is in listening, understanding, and responding to another person. If I'm concerned about my income, my reputation, or my feelings about the other person, I lose my focus and my impact. In the past months, I've regrounded myself in my religion and made spiritual readings a daily part of my morning routine. The change in perspective has been dramatic. A turning point occurred when my research yielded a very good trade opportunity. I didn't feel excitement, conviction, greed, or any of those things. I felt grateful. It's a big change.
I'll be doing a free online workshop this week and will be happy to amplify these ideas. Setbacks occur for a reason; they point the way to new directions we need to take. I hope you always have setbacks in your trading and I hope they always make you a better trader--and a better person.
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