You want to know a secret that changed my mentality around money?
Scenario: April 1st your portfolio was 100k and we went on this magical run where it climbed up to 140k as of yesterdays close. Then a day like today comes along and you happened to get stopped on all your positions and you are now sitting at 130k. Did you lose 7.14% today or is your portfolio up 30% in a month?
Unrealized gains ARE NOT YOURS. They belong to the market! If you want to mitigate volatility, trim into extensions. But if you are going to stress out about every down day as if the money was yours on an open position, you'll never truly be able to scale up comfortably.
Treat every new buy or sell based on it's individual price action. And stop looking at your portfolio value every evening as if the money on open positions belongs to you. Checking portfolio value every 10min only leads to emotional and sloppy execution when you look at the whole and not the individual parts.
If stock A is still acting great then it shouldn't be sold just because you took a small loss on stock B. Exit stock B and continue to let stock A work for its own merits. The minute you start to make emotional decisions because of money is when you ruin your chances at real growth.
This week’s plan: less is more.
Goal = reduce trading frequency → only take the cleanest A+ setups (the ones I’ve clearly defined & evaluated).
No forcing, no revenge, no “eh it’s close enough”.
Protect capital, protect mind, let the edge do the work.
What’s your one big rule/focus right now? 📉💡
#TradingDiscipline #LessButBetter
Once you pick your time frame, study the BEST historical moves in it.
Collect 50–100+ samples across many markets—include big ups AND downs.
Spot what they have in common.
choose timeframe → analyze top moves → build a large sample → find patterns
Why do unfairness & uncertainty feel so crushing?
Because we’re wired to crave control + justice. When reality refuses, we suffer twice: once from the event, once from our resistance.
Radical acceptance cuts the second suffering.
You stop wasting mental fuel on “it shouldn’t be this way.”
Suddenly you’re free to respond, adapt, create—without the weight of delusion.
Freedom isn’t getting what you want; it’s no longer needing the world to be different before you can live fully.
This song speaks for today’s Iran.
A land under rubble, eyes still open.
Grief everywhere — but silence nowhere.
We are the witnesses.
We are the waves becoming a storm.
#IranRevolution2026#IranMassacre
https://t.co/MfccPB8z0z
Basso’s vibe: Treat trading as a brain tease, not thrill ride. Detachment = freedom. This exercise uncovers biases, builds a system that fits YOU.
11/12
How to do it: Write answers, synthesize into SMART goals. E.g., “25% returns, 1% risk/trade, 15% max drawdown.” Review quarterly. Use formulas to verify realism.
10/12
Lifestyle fit: Trading shouldn’t wreck your life. Basso’s long-term systems minimize daily grind. Define: Time frame (short/long), markets, trades per month. Ensure it meshes with job/family.
8/12
Risk management core: Basso risks 0.8-1% per trade. Views losses as “cost of business.” Set yours: Max drawdown? How to handle stress? Objectives must prioritize preservation over wild gains.
6/12
Skills & psych inventory: What are your edges? Basso’s: Programming for automated systems, patience, no emotional drama. Weaknesses? He managed past tension with relaxation. Identify yours – overconfidence? Fear? This shapes realistic objectives.
5/12
Start with personal factors: Age, income needs, emotional tolerance. Basso? He doesn’t rely on trading for income (takes a salary), can handle 25% losses without stress. Assess your capital, risk appetite, and time commitments. Be brutal. 4/12
Thread on setting trading objectives from @VanTharp “Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom” – inspired by Tom Basso’s insights. This step is crucial but often skipped. Let’s break it down.
1/12
The exercise: Tharp interviews @basso_tom , a trend-following pro, and poses deep questions. Your task? Answer them honestly about yourself. It’s not quick; dedicate hours to self-reflection. Compare to Basso’s balanced, detached approach for inspiration.
3/12
Why objectives matter: You can’t build a solid trading system without knowing exactly what you’re aiming for. Tharp says it should take 20-50% of your system dev time. Most people rush it in minutes – big mistake. Clear goals align your strategy with your life.
2/12