http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/http://www.fxstreet.com/education/http://mediaserver.fxstreet.com/images/fxstreet-provider-logo1-en.gif7http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-02-08.htmlHave you ever emerged from a trading session in a fog and found yourself looking over the trading carnage of violated rule after violated rule and heard yourself say, "Who made those trades?" And, as the fog lifted, it became clear that you had been trading like a crazy person? It was like someone or something had control of your mouse and you felt as if you were in a trance; a negative trading trance to be exact? Well, if this or something similar has happened to you, then listen up...you areWed, 08 Feb 2012 05:54:14 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-02-08.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-02-01.htmlIt had happened before, actually many times before. Jim looked on with a feeling that swung like a pendulum between helplessness and anger. He felt helpless because he had violated his rule despite the fact that he had so often said that he wouldn't. He felt angry because he had let himself down. What happened is that he had moved his stop. He had moved it four times in this trade to be exact and the price action had still moved against him. To make matters worse, what would have been a smallWed, 01 Feb 2012 06:49:16 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-02-01.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-01-25.htmlTrading can be a very challenging endeavor indeed; and one of the variables that makes trading so difficult are the emotions that become activated in the process. The reason why emotions become so involved is because with every tick of the market while you are in a trade, you are either gaining or losing "money." It is the only business venture where this takes place. Additionally, money or capital is a sociopolitical and economic driving force in our society. Power and influence are directWed, 25 Jan 2012 05:36:50 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-01-25.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-01-18.htmlRalph looked on feeling anxious and tense as the price action inched toward his stop. He had drawn a supply zone on the ES E-mini 60 minute chart and had placed his stop 2 ticks above the top line of the zone. He told himself, "Oh, crap, it's going to take me out." He didn't like being stopped out as he admitted to himself that, "Nobody does." But he also reminded himself that, "I have the stop in to protect me and it is doing what it is designed to do...and that's OK." Just then he saw thatWed, 18 Jan 2012 06:45:50 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-01-18.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-01-11.htmlMerriam-Webster's Dictionary defines greed as simply, "... a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed." Greed is often referenced as one of the main contributors to trading loss. Greed mangles the mind by distracting the trader from what matters most in the trade, which is quite frankly, to protect your capital by prudent planning and following rules. It also distorts your judgment regarding high probability strategies and effective follow-through.Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:51:04 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-01-11.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-01-04.htmlBefore you know it, we will be celebrating a new year. It is traditionally a time for reflection and resolutions. This makes it a great opportunity to initiate real change in what you are doing in order to go to the next level in your trading and your life. Change is ubiquitous. As we look at change it becomes apparent that we must identify what kind of change we're talking about. Change comes in all forms as in, a change in residence, a change in relationships, a change in body size, changesWed, 04 Jan 2012 05:16:52 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2012-01-04.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-12-28.htmlChange is a common theme of my Lessons From the Pros articles. That's because too many traders are not getting the results that they want, and they need to "change" something (thoughts, emotions, behaviors) in order to get different results. We have talked about tools, techniques and concepts that are designed to help you to think, feel and do differently. In today's article, we will take a closer look at the thought process and the importance of not only "what" you say, but "how" you say it.Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:30:04 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-12-28.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-12-21.htmlLester looked sheepishly at his P & L statement. He had a series of drawdowns that had culminated in one recent loss that put a rather significant hole in his portfolio. The reason for the loss is what concerned him; he had moved his stop on a big trade – a clear violation – and he had moved it multiple times. When he finally closed the trade, he had lost a substantial amount of money. He felt sick, disheartened, and angry. He heard himself say, "... you're so stupid. What were youWed, 21 Dec 2011 06:00:54 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-12-21.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-12-14.htmlMy students will often comment on the difficulty they are having with chasing after illusions that appear in the charts about which they "make up" scenarios and trade upon, ending up with distasteful consequences. More times than not, these illusions are connected to a bias, either one that initiated the illusion, or came on the heels of it. About a year or so ago, I wrote about biases. Let's update the conversation by first revisiting Derek. Then we will include some additional biases thatWed, 14 Dec 2011 05:36:21 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-12-14.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-12-07.htmlIt seems straight-forward enough, doesn't it? Well, how you answer this question depends on your perspective. Actually, it could be argued both ways; that is, trading is both hard and easy, depending on your trading process and your approach. Let's take a look at both. I've often said that trading is arguably the single most challenging business venture on the planet. The reason for this statement is quite simply because it is the only business venture where with every tick of the market priceWed, 07 Dec 2011 06:13:45 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-12-07.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-11-30.htmlYou may not remember but about a year ago, I wrote about Jackie (a fictitious character) who was having a very stressful time with her trades. It went something like this: Jackie couldn't believe what was happening. Actually, the trade began on a positive note...so she thought. She had seen what she surmised was a price pattern; an ascending triangle, which looked to hit the top of the resistance line several times and the bottom trend line was about to touch. She heard herself say, "... thisWed, 30 Nov 2011 06:50:24 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-11-30.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-11-22.htmlIn Part I , we left Harvey fragmented, frustrated and frazzled, stewing in his confusion and conflict because his thinking and emotions were not in line with what he wanted to do, which for many of you, is the same situation that you are experiencing. You have been working against yourself and have become your own worst enemy. This happens when you are out-of-alignment; and when you are out-of-alignment, it is nearly impossible to trade your best and bring your "A" Game to the platform. WeTue, 22 Nov 2011 12:15:23 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-11-22.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-11-15.htmlHarvey hated when he was indecisive. He called it "wishy-washy." At that moment, he was looking at a very strong high probability setup. It was a 240 minute chart on the YM E-mini. The price action was approaching a significant supply zone that had not been tested for some time. "I know this is a setup that I should take," he heard himself say. But, he was feeling anxious and worried about taking the trade. He even had a trade plan worked out with a 2 contract entry where the 1st target was aTue, 15 Nov 2011 12:21:03 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-11-15.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-11-08.htmlThe anger Clara felt focused in her temples like a stake being driven into her skull. She was truly disgusted with the fact that she had allowed fear to rule her behavior in the trade...again. She had identified a demand zone on the 60 minute YM E-mini chart that had not been revisited. She went to the 5-minute chart and placed a limit order to enter the trade just as the price action pierced the zone. She simultaneously placed her stop loss one tick below the lower line of the zone...and sheTue, 08 Nov 2011 12:32:31 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-11-08.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-11-01.htmlThe screen looked like it was veiled in a pale blue light,like a dreamscape, and Judy was disheartened to discover that it was all too real. She couldn't believe it. For weeks now she had been doing so well. But there it was in front of her eyes; one of her largest losses ever. In fact, she really couldn't remember when she had lost so much money in a trade. She felt sick to her stomach, her head ached, and she was shaking. It began well, like many mornings before. She went through her morningTue, 01 Nov 2011 11:19:42 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-11-01.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-10-25.html"Wow," she heard herself shout. "This price pattern is poised right in the demand zone that I've drawn." Carla was looking greedily at a 60 minute chart on the Euro Futures. The intermediate trend was up, but the intra-day price action was trending downward in the open as a significant pullback from the overnight highs was forming. She had not been expecting this as she had hastily looked at the ES E-mini which she traded more often than the Euro. "This market is going to go up like a hot-airTue, 25 Oct 2011 12:54:11 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-10-25.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-10-18.htmlHumans, you and I, have been programmed. This programming began in infancy and continues throughout life. However, the most powerful programming takes place in those early years between 0 and 5. This programming equates to beliefs, values, and stories you tell yourself about how life is and came to be. These stories have been constructed much like a script to a play and that play is your life and the scripts to that play are your stories. These stories or scripts can also be termed rules thatTue, 18 Oct 2011 11:30:34 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-10-18.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-10-11.htmlResults...you only want positive ones, especially when trading. But, what if you are not getting the results that you want? What can you do to change those results? Well, the first thing you must do is make changes in your thinking. You see, nothing happens behaviorally on the outside without first being initiated or created on the inside. This is how you begin to create new habits and control the errant emotions that cause the bad behavior. You see, results follow a sequential model. In fact,Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:30:32 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-10-11.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-10-04.htmlJackie had done everything correctly...but something was still wrong. The story was told by her tense neck, queasy stomach and rising anxiety. She had been down this road before, and due to documenting her "internal data" (the thoughts, emotions and behaviors that created her trading results), she had identified that what she was feeling fit into a pattern associated with pulling the trigger on a trade. It seemed that every time she began her trading session and especially as she was about toTue, 04 Oct 2011 12:05:58 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-10-04.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-09-27.htmlOkay, I'm going to go out on a limb here and make an assumption about you...you want to win; right? Yes, I thought so, but what are you doing to ensure that you in fact do, well, win? So many traders say that they want to win, but so few are willing to invest the effort by either finding out what is required, or once they know, then following through. And, before going any further, we must define what it means to be a winning trader because a large number of you are laboring under a falseTue, 27 Sep 2011 11:22:51 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-09-27.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-09-20.htmlAllen looked quizzically at the charts on his monitors. For the fourth time today, he had been stopped out and he had only taken five trades. But he smiled to himself despite the four losses because he knew that he had traded this entire session "as" a winner (meaning that he had planned every trade, had traded every plan and he had followed all of his rules – explicitly). He knew that he had achieved a private victory today as he also realized that it was critically important to approach hisTue, 20 Sep 2011 11:27:35 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-09-20.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-09-13.htmlTrading, like other factions of life where you are putting forth an effort and a focus, is about "results." What kind of results are you getting in your trading? Are you frustrated, frazzled and fragmented by consistently doing what you have told yourself to stop doing – like inappropriately moving stops, chasing trades or prematurely exiting trades? Or, are you failing to follow-through on those things that you've said you should do – for example, not having a business (macro) trade plan,Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:18:34 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-09-13.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-09-07.htmlIt was a cause for celebration even though to the casual unaware observer, there didn't seem to be much to be happy about. But Saundra knew better. Yes, the trade was stopped out for a small loss and there had been a number of them. In the past, Saundra would have all but freaked out while telling herself that she wasn't very good at trading as her confidence would drop like a barrel over Niagara Falls. That was before when she was overly consumed by thoughts of making profit on each tradeWed, 07 Sep 2011 12:01:42 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-09-07.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-08-30.htmlWhat kind of results are you getting in your trading? Are you violating your rules because you have been unable to keep your commitments, which have led to disastrous draw downs and massive losses? Well, one of the things that is important in changing this scenario is to recalibrate what you are aiming for by targeting your thoughts to outcome thinking and results orientations. Results orientation is about envisioning what you really want as if you stepped into the future and got it. This isTue, 30 Aug 2011 12:03:31 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-08-30.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-08-23.htmlSometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night." - Charles Schultz, Charlie Brown in Peanuts Have you ever felt like Charlie Brown in the quote above? What I mean is have you ever taken stock of where you are in your trading and/or your life and thought, " ... This is not working out as I expected." Yeah, I have done that, too. It's really quite simple; trading results and the results of your life allTue, 23 Aug 2011 11:45:56 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-08-23.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-08-16.htmlHis heart pounded like a too-tight base drum as he looked at the setup. He could feel the grip of anxiety that circled his neck like a pair of sinful hands pressing on his throat. The YM E-mini 60-minute chart stared blankly back at him from his screen as Roland considered his options. He had diligently documented the significant drop-base-rally as the price action was coming back into a strong supply zone. His plan was to execute a short on the 5-minute time frame as the price action movedTue, 16 Aug 2011 11:52:01 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-08-16.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-08-09.htmlAs the green candles were rising faster than Space Shuttle Endeavor toward his stop, Jim's eyes were no less impressively wide while he fought a compelling urge to move his stop-loss. The price action belonged to the YM E-mini 5 minute chart, which had been trending downward, however, in a highly volatile manner. Jim knew better than to tinker with his stop in violation of his trade plan, but no matter what he told himself, he really wanted to avoid getting stopped out. He had identified whatTue, 09 Aug 2011 11:26:04 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-08-09.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-08-02.htmlThe dark bluish glow gently fell into the room and onto Jill's bed. "Yes," she thought, "it's time to get up." She pulled her right leg over the side and onto the floor while the other followed, and she reached down and raised the one liter bottle of water to her mouth and drank deeply, thereby, starting her morning routine. She then planted her feet and braced herself to stand. At that moment, she shuffled off to the bathroom. When she emerged, Jill headed straight for her meditation pillow.Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:34:09 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-08-02.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-07-26.html"It's not supposed to do that!" Carl growled through clenched teeth. He couldn't believe it..."And after I had done all that preparation," he thought. You see, the frustration he felt stemmed from the part of him that actually assumed that the trade would work. He was trying out a new strategy that he had learned on the internet. "Hadn't he seen the video, and hadn't they showed him example after example of how it was 'flawless?'" he heard his inner voice grumble. But, even though he wanted toTue, 26 Jul 2011 11:13:23 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-07-26.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-07-19.htmlAmber is a well-adjusted, successful businesswoman and trader; however, she had considerable difficulties when she first began to trade. She earned a PhD in college and her nose-to-the-grindstone attitude helped her excel in business, but this attitude worked to her detriment in trading. She experienced herself wanting to trade the way she worked - endlessly, putting many deliverables on her plate at once, and barreling through her workday. She said she liked her day this way because it gaveTue, 19 Jul 2011 12:19:04 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-07-19.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-07-12.htmlStatements are powerful. They hold intentions, biases and meanings to name a few. Statements are the physical and auditory manifestations of thoughts as in a statement of fact, declaration or financial report. Statements can be used to focus your attention in order to remain on task and on purpose. Another word for a powerful and positive statement is "affirmation," as in a statement of truth or assertion that you would like to be true. However, did you know that as powerful as statements orTue, 12 Jul 2011 11:48:31 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-07-12.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-07-06.htmlJason felt like a deer caught in headlights. The unnerving thing about it was that he had been down this road before. He would identify a demand zone on the 60 minute chart where the price action was pulling back to retest this zone. A 5 minute time frame would be used to execute an order to buy 2 contracts of the NQ E-mini. But just like before, as soon as the price action entered the zone, he would freeze in the face of the entry; or, if he actually mustered enough courage to "pull theWed, 06 Jul 2011 12:07:40 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-07-06.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-06-28.htmlAre you plagued by out-of-control behaviors, meaning that you have said over and over that you won't move a stop, or trade without a plan, or chase a trade only to do that very thing again and again? Have you made promises to yourself to do that important thing for your trading like create a business plan, or learn and follow a strategy or keep a money management commitment...but you didn't? All of us have from time-to-time fallen through the commitment cracks. These behavioral implosions areTue, 28 Jun 2011 11:18:12 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-06-28.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-06-21.htmlSkill building is an essential part of trading. Trading is one of, if not the most, difficult business ventures on the planet due to the fact that it challenges your personality blemishes, character flaws and weaknesses on a very deep level. If you have limiting beliefs about your self-worth, deservedness, intelligence or any other strongly held learned limitation regarding money and your ability to analyze, process and execute trades consistently, you will hit obstacle after personalTue, 21 Jun 2011 12:11:24 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-06-21.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-06-14.html"Know thyself" is a maxim that is attributed to philosophers, great teachers and writers through the ages from Socrates and Plato to Mahatma Gandhi and Oscar Wilde. That is because this simple two-word phrase is a powerful portal to growth and development. Without a sense of who you are and what you are made of, it's difficult to take an accurate inventory of your strengths and weaknesses. Without a clear purpose for your life, you are negotiating this journey devoid of a compass. And, withoutTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:55:08 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-06-14.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-06-07.htmlSusan's mind was working overtime, it seemed, as she had entered a trade on the YM E-mini. She had identified a supply zone on the 60 minute chart and the price action had been retracing back to that zone. She had set her limit order on the 5 minute chart just above the bottom line of the zone. She also had a stop set 2 points above the top line of the zone. The order was filled and the price action kept rising. She immediately heard herself say, "Hey, it's continuing to go up, it should beTue, 07 Jun 2011 11:22:31 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-06-07.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-06-01.htmlWhen you were born, and arguably before you actually came out of the womb, you began to download programs from your parents – this is part of your development as a human. A portion of this development took place in a "critical period." During the critical period (6 months to about 3 years), you downloaded into your brain/mind more data than you ever would again in life. These programs took the form of languages, behaviors, beliefs, thoughts, rules, emotions and limitations to name only a few.Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:17:14 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-06-01.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-05-24.htmlShe had had a string of losers, three to be exact; and the tension in her trading office hung in the air like black velvet curtains in a funeral home. The first trade of the day had been a small winner, but it was dampened by the fact that sherry had exited prematurely robbing herself of a larger profit, that is, if she hadn't panicked. When the price action began to retrace away from her target, thoughts of losing in the trade led to waves of anxiety which then drove her to move her stop toTue, 24 May 2011 11:48:01 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-05-24.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-05-17.html"It happens every time," Raymond seethed to himself. "Why do I freeze up just when the setup is ready?" he said. The price action on the ES E-Mini had just pierced the supply zone and a shooting star candle formation had presented itself at the top of an intra-day rally on the 60 minute chart. Rather than place a market order at the close of the next candle on the 5 minute chart, he found himself unable to pull the trigger. He was driven by fear of loss and fear of being wrong. And, it seemedTue, 17 May 2011 11:19:21 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-05-17.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-05-10.htmlThe setup was clear. A supply zone was readily apparent on the ES E-Mini as Jonathan leaned into his screen and peered closely at the charts. He determined that the trend was down on the 4 hour chart. The good thing he thought to himself was that the price action was already retracing back to the supply zone on the 60 minute chart that he now was drawing high and low lines on. His plan was to place his protective stop 2 points above the high line, which he entered; and further, he identifiedTue, 10 May 2011 11:17:39 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/contact@tradingacademy.com (Online Trading Academy)http://www.fxstreet.com/education/market-psychology/lessons-from-the-pros-specialty-skills/2011-05-10.html