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Trading for a living

  • #401
  • Oct 29, 2025 7:18am Oct 29, 2025 7:18am
Quoting Noisy
{quote} I wouldn't say that these are just imaginary reasons holding me back from solving my problems. Problems like financial problems, anxiety, and sadness are very real for me, and I feel them every day. I'm not imagining it. It seems normal that everyone has expectations, and that these often diverge from reality, at least until the expectations become lived reality. That's called progress, which unfortunately hasn't happened for me in years. If you struggle for years but make no progress, I don't need to be a psychologist to know that this...
This lunatic is going to ask his therapist to help him on his trading Journey?
  • #402
  • Oct 29, 2025 9:05am Oct 29, 2025 9:05am
Quoting Noisy
{quote} I wouldn't say that these are just imaginary reasons holding me back from solving my problems. Problems like financial problems, anxiety, and sadness are very real for me, and I feel them every day. I'm not imagining it. It seems normal that everyone has expectations, and that these often diverge from reality, at least until the expectations become lived reality. That's called progress, which unfortunately hasn't happened for me in years. If you struggle for years but make no progress, I don't need to be a psychologist to know that this...
Why am I not surprised? Your response is exactly as I expected, based on how you have stubbornly held on to every view, opinion, and belief of yours so far.

To me you are proving me right in what I said in the post you quote. I'll add to it: You will NEVER be able to change your situation until you let go of your beliefs about it. Your understanding and perception of both yourself and your reality are what's keeping you stuck.

But instead of arguing my point, let me tell you another story, this time about myself. Many years ago I had done exceptionally well in trading, and decided to cash in and pull out. I chose to spend a year in one of the largest ski resorts in Europe in an apartment I rented there.

Before I left I was inundated with proposals from recruitment consultants, and they were wondering "how can you, now that you've finally made it?" And one of the more senior ones told me that if I stayed away for more than 6 months I'd never be able to come back. Great, I thought, I'll be away for a year.

In a spa in the resort I made friends with another sauna lover: the local priest. As we got to know each other, I learned quite a lot about this flamboyant Swiss-bred man, and our sauna meetings became regular. One day he confessed to me that in becoming a priest he had discarded more lucrative career options because he felt a calling to make a difference in people's lives. But now he was disillusioned. Why? Because, he said, all his parishioners experienced themselves to be stuck in life situations that they thought they couldn't do anything about, and there was no way he could help them because of that. So he felt frustrated, and wanted to quit.

"But you are different", he told me, "you have the ability to change your situation." Why, I wondered, because I can afford a year of pleasure in a somewhat luxurious location? "No", he said, "because you were able to let go of and leave what for most in that situation would be the defining moment of their life". That is, in my case, I would have been stuck in a 'successful' career that I would be so attached to that I'd never leave, and soon enough end up like one of his parishioners.

Enough. This story was not meant to draw attention to myself, nor to disregard the genuine pain, suffering, and frustration that you no doubt have experienced for a long time. Quite the contrary: you deserve all the love, care, therapy, compassion, etc, that may come your way. But that doesn't take away from what I said in the second paragraph above.

There's more to it, of course, but I'll finish by saying that only in surrender will one find freedom; surrender of whatever keeps you stuck or attached. By surrendering all expectations on the outcome of your trading you will not suffer from losses, for example. And surrender may happen on different levels of course, but that's a different story.
  • #403
  • Oct 29, 2025 9:06am Oct 29, 2025 9:06am
Perhaps this could be helpful:

Inserted Video
  • #404
  • Oct 29, 2025 9:51am Oct 29, 2025 9:51am
Quoting Noisy
Hi everyone, I wanted to start this thread to connect with others who are on the journey of making a full-time living from trading. Many of us share the same goals: creating consistent income, managing risk, and building a lifestyle where trading can support us. But as we know, it’s not an easy path, and it helps a lot to exchange ideas, strategies, and experiences. Some questions to get the conversation rolling: What has helped you most in moving towards consistent profitability? Do you focus on day trading, swing trading, or longer-term investing?...
Hello Noisy and thank you for bringing this types of topics on here.

Well, I am a day trader and I am still between the breakeven and consistence trader as of now and base on my experience since over the past 2years in the trading Arena, My daily routines that have been really helps me in trading is before getting to my desktop for trading i go taking my bath so as to refresh my blood sirculation then pratice some exercise then my breakfast since i trade normaly trade between the London and New York session so that really helps me a lot and give me suficient time.. so then i move on to identify my what are my Bias for that day and as I am a trend trader so my plan is to identify the Supply and Demand zones using the Daily timeframe and then moving on to waiting for my entry point upon confirming my favourite pattern.
  • #405
  • Oct 29, 2025 10:54am Oct 29, 2025 10:54am
Hi Noisy,
I wrote to you some time ago about having experienced a situation similar to yours, and I can confirm that reading your message has confirmed my impressions!
Unfortunately, life and trading very often reflect our feelings back to us, so if we feel pain, frustration, etc., this will unfortunately be the result not only of trading but also of other actions we take on a daily basis.
What has helped me and continues to help me every day on the chart is a combination of light-heartedness/open-mindedness and hard work.
Sometimes you have to overcome yourself and your beliefs, starting with your state of mind, because you know it's true that “sometimes we are our own worst enemies”...

P.S. This thread contains lots of good advice about life and trading, but sometimes we are so blinded that we fail to recognise the value of even a gold nugget...
  • #406
  • Oct 29, 2025 11:19am Oct 29, 2025 11:19am
Quoting Noisy
{quote} I wouldn't say that these are just imaginary reasons holding me back from solving my problems. Problems like financial problems, anxiety, and sadness are very real for me, and I feel them every day. I'm not imagining it. It seems normal that everyone has expectations, and that these often diverge from reality, at least until the expectations become lived reality. That's called progress, which unfortunately hasn't happened for me in years. If you struggle for years but make no progress, I don't need to be a psychologist to know that this...
Many people will have their own opinion on your pain, suffering, anxiety etc. What matters is knowing that it is your lived experience so only you would know if it is real or not so I would obviously logically defer to you and take your word for it being that you would know yourself better than pretentious imperious FF members would.

The issue I feel is your perception of it. You say struggling fosters financial problems, anxiety, frustration stress, dissatisfaction etc. All these things foster even more struggle, anxiety frustration etc. But that's not all they foster. Simultaneous and inconceivable oneness and duality governs this world. 2 opposites in one and are one. It is a theme that is recurring and common in all tantric customs and religions despite their diverse backgrounds. Asiatic religions like Taoism/Confucianism(Yin Yang), Hinduism written in the Bhagavad Gita(Kirshna proclaims he is creation and destruction, spirit and matter, immortality and death personified). Abrahamic religions like Christianity(God is Alpha and Omega, one God and the trinity), Buddhism speaks of the Eightfold Path and the Middle Way(balance between opposite extremes). The world is governed by 2 opposites in one and in all religions the text tasks the proponents to fully realize that it is in the totality and completion of these 2 opposites that divinity resides where you may glean god like power as evidence in nature as well(Man/Woman make life, hot air and cold air make storms, north south pole magnetic fields, even all matter including you on a subatomic level are protons(positive charge) and electrons(negative) charge that combine as one and form a neutron via electron capture, day, night, Buyers and Sellers come together as one to agreement and that facilitates trade etc.)

I say this to say that weakness and suffering is the seed to strength. Strength is the fruit of weakness. In order for me to gain muscular strength I must weaken my muscles. In order to move forward you must push back. When you perceive it in these terms you dwell in the depression a bit differently because you know it is potential for happiness, progress. What exists in you is weakness but that is potential strength. That's why I hated losing in the markets but loved losing because each loss taught me how to win. I would argue I learned more form my losses and failures than wins. So in your weak moments, in those quiet hours of despair, dwell in it, feel it, even relish it as you realize that strength lies within those same moments and within you as the weakness comes with potential strength.
  • #407
  • Oct 29, 2025 1:18pm Oct 29, 2025 1:18pm
Quoting sharingan9
{quote} I say this to say that weakness and suffering is the seed to strength. Strength is the fruit of weakness. In order for me to gain muscular strength I must weaken my muscles. In order to move forward you must push back. When you perceive it in these terms you dwell in the depression a bit differently because you know it is potential for happiness, progress. What exists in you is weakness but that is potential strength. That's why I hated losing in the markets but loved losing because each loss taught me how to win. I would argue I learned...
While I agree with your sentiment you must be careful when saying this to someone who is severely depressed as it could put them "over the edge"
  • #408
  • Oct 29, 2025 1:49pm Oct 29, 2025 1:49pm
Quoting medici
Perhaps this could be helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmpu58yv8-g
Honestly, this talk really hit home for me. I love how Lidsky flips the idea of -reality on its head and shows that it’s not something fixed, but something we actively create through our choices and mindset. His story about losing his sight and still building such a successful, meaningful life is incredibly inspiring- it’s proof that our limitations are often the ones we place on ourselves.

What stood out most to me was his point about fear clouding our vision. I think we’ve all had moments where fear made things look worse than they really were. Letting go of that and taking ownership of how we interpret situations feels like such a powerful way to live.

Definitely a reminder I needed today- thanks for sharing this!
  • #409
  • Oct 29, 2025 4:36pm Oct 29, 2025 4:36pm
Quoting Noisy
{quote} Absolutely right. I only recently found a therapist with whom I feel quite comfortable, but so far I can't see how she can specifically help with these kinds of problems.
Trading or learning to trade is not on the path to achieving mental health. In fact, mental health is a prerequisite to becoming a successful trader. I recommend that you lower your expectations of employment and income, learn to live on the income your skills can provide you, and never post on FF again. This thread is clearly not helping you, as indicated by the fact that you have not reached this conclusion on your own. Spend less time with the therapist and more on finding a job.
  • #410
  • Oct 30, 2025 5:32am Oct 30, 2025 5:32am
Quoting medici
You will NEVER be able to change your situation until you let go of your beliefs about it. Your understanding and perception of both yourself and your reality are what's keeping you stuck.
These sauna conversations are always very enlightening. I also go to the sauna and exercise regularly. It's a good counterbalance to all the screen time. I understand what you're saying and I'm fully aware of this whole thing of negative belief systems becoming self-fulfilling prophecies. However, I don't think that this is the decisive factor that's keeping me stuck, since I've already changed my beliefs several times in my life and my reality hasn't improved as a result. Although I strongly believe that faith can help people overcome crises, overcome resistance, and find confidence where others fail, it just hasn't worked for me so far.

I also don't believe that my beliefs are entirely negative. I'm actually a very positive person who simply tends to question many things critically and doesn't see everything through a toxically positive lens. I believe in data, facts, and what my eyes see and my ears hear.

As my predecessor said, I don't believe this will help me much in determining whether and how I can make my dream of living from trading a reality and whether it could replace or at least significantly supplement my current income.

So I think we shouldn't delve into these topics too deeply. There are many good answers here, which I appreciate very much, but there were also some trolls who wanted to add their two cents without knowing me at all. To those who do this, please refrain from posting your pointless comments that contribute nothing to a solution and are only intended to launch personal attacks to boost your ego. It bores me to tears, and the next person who does this will be immediately added to my ignore list.

I think I've given a good overview of myself and my situation. This isn't meant to be group therapy; as I said, I'm looking for concrete solutions to trading related problems. I'm neither "lunatic" nor do I think I have overly high expectations. I'm just a normal guy trying to find my way and move forward. Period.
  • #411
  • Oct 30, 2025 6:29am Oct 30, 2025 6:29am
Quoting GEfx
{quote} Trading or learning to trade is not on the path to achieving mental health. In fact, mental health is a prerequisite to becoming a successful trader. I recommend that you lower your expectations of employment and income, learn to live on the income your skills can provide you, and never post on FF again. This thread is clearly not helping you, as indicated by the fact that you have not reached this conclusion on your own. Spend less time with the therapist and more on finding a job.
It's not that I don't have a job. Quite the opposite, I work hard, but I'm stuck there too and my income is dwindling. I can't expand my business, and it hasn't really brought me any joy for quite some time. It's not that I'm not looking for alternatives apart from trading, but I simply don't meet the requirements, especially the level of performance, that most well-paid jobs demand. Yes, I can do something to keep me afloat (e.g. frying burgers) but that's not what I'm aiming for.
  • #412
  • Oct 30, 2025 6:34am Oct 30, 2025 6:34am
Quoting medici
Perhaps this could be helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmpu58yv8-g
Fantastic, very inspiring. Thank you. I downloaded the PDF and also ordered the book by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans (Designing Your Life).
  • #413
  • Oct 30, 2025 8:55am Oct 30, 2025 8:55am
Quoting Noisy
{quote} Fantastic, very inspiring. Thank you. I downloaded the PDF and also ordered the book by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans (Designing Your Life).
Wonderful. Happy to hear. Feel free to shoot any questions about the design work my way. (As said before, my partner facilitates this kind of work professionally.)
  • #414
  • Oct 30, 2025 9:23am Oct 30, 2025 9:23am
Quoting fx6996
{quote} While I agree with your sentiment you must be careful when saying this to someone who is severely depressed as it could put them "over the edge"
Fair enough. I just gave the best advice that has certainly helped me. Even when im frustrated now I feel excited as if Im on the brink of something.

But enough of this philosophical talk! Lets talk trading!

Well...one more philosophical question: If price drops but nobody is there to see it............does it hit my stoploss?

Post come charts guys this week has had alot of news and movement. What are yall seeing?
  • #415
  • Oct 30, 2025 1:44pm Oct 30, 2025 1:44pm
Quoting sharingan9
{quote} Fair enough. I just gave the best advice that has certainly helped me. Even when im frustrated now I feel excited as if Im on the brink of something. But enough of this philosophical talk! Lets talk trading! Well...one more philosophical question: If price drops but nobody is there to see it............does it hit my stoploss? Post come charts guys this week has had alot of news and movement. What are yall seeing?
Price moving up and down as usual. ;-)
  • #416
  • Oct 31, 2025 4:28am Oct 31, 2025 4:28am
Quoting medici
Which is why my algo trader friend from BNP Paribas didn't want to bet his future on his currently generous sustenance.
While I'm working on my "Odyssey Plan"...

Do you know what kind of tools are used by institutional algorithmic traders? I assume they don't use the classic retail platforms to detect signals and execute trades. Probably a combination of sophisticated platforms, proprietary systems, and APIs.
  • #418
  • Oct 31, 2025 8:18am Oct 31, 2025 8:18am
Ok. Looking at a short of sgdchf but its a daily R1 so we will see how much we get from it. Took a nice long on NU yesterday. Looking to see USDPLN setup as I just got the signal
  • #419
  • Oct 31, 2025 8:47am Oct 31, 2025 8:47am
Quoting Noisy
{quote} While I'm working on my "Odyssey Plan"...


Quote
Do you know what kind of tools are used by institutional algorithmic traders?

Yes, I know the general kind but haven't kept up to date. It's been a while. But I'm sure many still use TT (Trading Technologies) as a generic trading platform. The algo world has a lot of specialised tools for every little bit all the way to specialised networking facilities for high-speed transmissions of orders. Still, it can still be run by somebody's Excel spreadsheet with some Excel Add-ins written in C++ pulling the strings. At least, I've written such add-ins many years ago that took a lot of cpu power on lots of cpus to do their job.

Quote
I assume they don't use the classic retail platforms to detect signals and execute trades.

absolutely not.

Quote
Probably a combination of sophisticated platforms, proprietary systems, and APIs.

Yes, but not all sophisticated, as mentioned, and with a lot of the core algo elements written in Python or C++.
  • #420
  • Oct 31, 2025 9:43am Oct 31, 2025 9:43am
Quoting sharingan9
Ok. Looking at a short of sgdchf but its a daily R1 so we will see how much we get from it. Took a nice long on NU yesterday. Looking to see USDPLN setup as I just got the signal
Let’s see how that USDPLN signal plays out.
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