Easier said than done. When is a good opportunity and when is bad? The market always look uncertain whenever I want to make a trade. The problem is that I will only know if the market is good after the trend has started. So what am I going to do before the trend has realised? This dilemma is part and parcel of trading and is also another reason that makes it difficult. I will always have doubts, especially with a few losses behind me. All the “what ifs” will appear in my thought bubbles. I am often put into an emotion turmoil, torn between greed and fear. Greed will tell me to go for it and I will feel very bad if I miss the boat, while fear will tell me not to as I will suffer another loss. To resolve the battle, this is where the conviction comes in. The conviction that my trading system is proven to be profitable. As long as I trade correctly, I will end up in profits. So by understanding that “I can lose money even if I select the right stocks” and having the mentality “it’s alright to lose“, I have the courage to carry out trading even after a string of losses.
http://www.bigfatpurse.com/2011/04/lessons-learnt-as-an-investor-so-far-part-2/