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Contrary to Common Beliefs - Winning Trades vs Losing Trades
There’s a common misconception in the world of forex trading - that all profitable trades are good, and all losing trades are bad. But the reality of trading is more nuanced. Simply being profitable does not define a trade as 'good', just as losing doesn't necessarily make a trade 'bad'. You might be surprised to learn that you can have a good trade that loses, or a bad trade that wins. Confused? Allow us to elucidate.
The Guideline: A 'Good' Trade Defined
A trade is considered 'good', not when it turns a profit, but when it aligns with your trading plan. Even when such trades result in losses, they demonstrate your discipline and adherence to your trading rules.
An Example of a Good Losing Trade
Imagine you've just received the go-ahead from your system to go long. Initially, the trade plays out favorably. Unfortunately, the tides turn, and you end up getting stopped out, for a loss.
No need for despair! Your loss is merely financial - from a trading perspective, you've executed a good, albeit losing, trade. Why? Because you demonstrated discipline and stuck to your trading rules - a victory in itself.
An Example of a Bad Winning Trade
Consider this scenario: your trading rules state that you shouldn't risk more than 5% on a single trade. However, you spot a seemingly irresistible setup on USD/JPY. Overwhelmed by the potential, you throw caution to the wind, and risk 20% of your account balance on it. The trade pays off, and you find yourself with a significant profit.
But hold off the confetti - you've just had a 'bad' winning trade. Although profitable, you violated your own trading rules and got lucky. Remember, in forex trading, luck is a fleeting companion.
What To Do With Good Trades?
If you displayed discipline and stuck to your trading rules, congratulate yourself! Striving for consistency in trade execution is crucial. Even if you didn't wind up with a profit, you can use it as a lesson to better your trading.
Analyze what went wrong, consider the need for making adjustments and use the experience to improve future performance.
What To Do With Bad Trades?
Did you bypass a rule and your position is still open? Exit the trade, because truthfully, you shouldn't have been in it. As an example, if you forgot to trail your stop as per your rules, restore the balance by implementing it now.
If you indeed closed a bad trade, cut yourself some slack - everyone missteps. The goal is to learn from these errors and ensure they aren't repeated in the future.
The Key Takeaway is to focus not on immediate profits, but on the larger goal of becoming a consistent, disciplined trader. It's easy to fall into the trap of equating 'winning' with 'good', and 'losing' with 'bad', but the reality in forex trading is much more complex.
