Your trading career isn't supposed to be "smooth".
There's no single Ah-Ha moment that defines your career in the markets.
A real trading career consists of euphoric highs and extreme lows.
Character is built in the drawdowns moreso than the peaks.
Honestly, congratulate yourself for still being in the game. A lot of people come and go. Staying in it, learning, and keeping your head up is already something to be proud of.
ICT concepts are powerful, but discernment matters. You have to simplify them enough to make decision-making easier, not harder. For me, the Candle Closure concept helped reduce ICT into a simple 3-candle AMD framework. That’s all I really need.
Mental capital is too important these days to be drowning in noise.
NQ: L -1%
L’s are business expenses in trading.
Your win rate and average RR shape the expectation of your model. Knowing that helps keep you grounded and in control.
As long as your mental capital is high and you’re following your rules, losses are part of the process.