Emotional Aspects of Option Trading
Too many people underestimate the emotional component of option trading. They think it will be easy to pull out when they're losing money... and ride a winner when it's making money.
But what we often imagine is easy (in theory) is harder (in practice) than we think.
Which is why it pays to follow rigid trading rules that "overrule" your emotions. Without them, your emotions may take you for a ride.
Here are a few common emotional responses people have when they first risk real money on a trade...
But first, if I may, I'd like to share a quote about investing that inspired this post in the first place.
"Investing in stocks is definitely the best course of action, just so long as you're the kind of person who can will him/herself to stop in the middle of an orgasm." -Jeff Yeager, The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches, p. 204
When I read this, I laughed out loud. Because I think it's fairly accurate in describing the amount of self-control an option trader must have.
* When you're in a winning trade, you have to exit when things are still looking relatively good.
* And when you're bleeding cash like crazy, you have to bail out even if you believe the trade will recover and turn profitable.
No doubt, this is challenging for anybody to do.
But this won't be as hard to do if you craft solid trading rules and follow them religiously.
Now, get this. Most new traders allow their emotions to control their trading.
Example: New traders are notorious for taking profits too early. That's because their "inner miser" is saying, "Hey, you've made enough money. You should get out while you still can."
This is greed talking. They listen, so they take profits early.
When in a losing trade, many new traders stay in too long. Their emotions say, "You've only lost a little bit. The trade will turn around. Don't worry."
Naturally, they're listening to the voice of fear, the fear of loss. If they listen, they will experience substantial losses.
If you ever hope to become a professional trader, you must learn to control your emotions. Ignore greed and fear of loss, no matter how loud they yell at you.
And this is why I strongly recommend that you use trading rules to override your emotions and dictate when you enter and exit trades. - 16586
But what we often imagine is easy (in theory) is harder (in practice) than we think.
Which is why it pays to follow rigid trading rules that "overrule" your emotions. Without them, your emotions may take you for a ride.
Here are a few common emotional responses people have when they first risk real money on a trade...
But first, if I may, I'd like to share a quote about investing that inspired this post in the first place.
"Investing in stocks is definitely the best course of action, just so long as you're the kind of person who can will him/herself to stop in the middle of an orgasm." -Jeff Yeager, The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches, p. 204
When I read this, I laughed out loud. Because I think it's fairly accurate in describing the amount of self-control an option trader must have.
* When you're in a winning trade, you have to exit when things are still looking relatively good.
* And when you're bleeding cash like crazy, you have to bail out even if you believe the trade will recover and turn profitable.
No doubt, this is challenging for anybody to do.
But this won't be as hard to do if you craft solid trading rules and follow them religiously.
Now, get this. Most new traders allow their emotions to control their trading.
Example: New traders are notorious for taking profits too early. That's because their "inner miser" is saying, "Hey, you've made enough money. You should get out while you still can."
This is greed talking. They listen, so they take profits early.
When in a losing trade, many new traders stay in too long. Their emotions say, "You've only lost a little bit. The trade will turn around. Don't worry."
Naturally, they're listening to the voice of fear, the fear of loss. If they listen, they will experience substantial losses.
If you ever hope to become a professional trader, you must learn to control your emotions. Ignore greed and fear of loss, no matter how loud they yell at you.
And this is why I strongly recommend that you use trading rules to override your emotions and dictate when you enter and exit trades. - 16586
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