During the past few days we have seen noticeably increased volatility and movement in our markets. Days like this are what a day trader salivates for, because the money making opportunities are vast as money is pulled in and out of the market and stocks act somewhat erratically. During these times it is easy to get overly worked up because you realize that this is such a good opportunity to make a good amount of money. It’s like anything else in life: before a big game, or even a big date, when the adrenaline is rushing and you find your self a little antsy even before the game begins or you open a car door.

I am good for working myself up so much so that I take my eyes off the prize and lose a little bit of composure, especially when things don’t go my way. I know what opportunities are out there and get frustrated when things do not work out in my favor. Just as a basketball player who knows where his three point shot drops from, or a running back who has a favorite off-tackle play, when someone knows venues or situations in which they perform well and in a certain instance they falter, frustration rushes in and hinders their ability to perform in the future.

Yesterday I was feeling exactly that way. I was making money but then losing a good percentage of what I made, steadily forcing things and becoming a bit reckless as things did not go my way. This was clearly affecting my ability to read prints, interpret breaking news, and gauge the market to consistently make smart trades and take good profits. I was hindering myself because I had steadily worked myself up and set high expectations instead of approaching each situation with a clear mind that would be conducive to a good day trading. When I finally took a deep breath, and approached things without the expectations and/or finger-tapping-nervous-overaggressive-frustrated-“This is not going my way” (because we all know that only my way is the right way) attitude, I finally had a clear mind. I used that to work myself into good positions that were manageable. I made a few solid trades that were not followed with a would’ve/could’ve/should’ve statement because I was satisfied with my performance. And afterward I was able to walk away satisfied because I realized my hindrance and worked through it.

So what I am saying is, to all of you that may find themselves in this position: Just relax. And trade. Take a deep breath, open your eyes and clear your mind. See the market for what it is, not what you think it is supposed to be. And react accordingly.

Let me know how it goes for you.