Intraday trading is often romanticised as a quick path to wealth, but the reality is harsher. It is considered one of the most difficult professions in the world, and also one of the most rewarding if one approaches it with clarity and discipline. My own journey has been shaped by repeated failures, gradual learning, and a conscious shift in how I manage risk, emotion, and capital.
Losses, Recovery, and the Emotional Reset
Even after months of learning, losses continue to hit hard. The market has a way of exhausting patience and shaking confidence. Two consecutive red days can undo more than two weeks of profitable trades. That imbalance teaches you quickly that trading is less about finding winning setups and more about surviving losing ones.
Whenever trades start drifting outside my comfort zone, I step away. I don’t force participation, and I don’t try to “recover” in the same session. Some days, the most profitable action is closing the chart and returning once the mind resets.
This wasn’t always my approach. Earlier, I would wait for some miracle recovery, hold losing positions far too long, and then watch the screen helplessly as the entire capital for the day vanished. Recognising that behaviour was the first step toward changing it.
A Trading Journal That Keeps Me Honest
The single biggest factor that keeps me grounded is my trading journal. Every day that I trade, I record one thing:
my net profit or loss , after brokerage, taxes, and all charges.
Not gross figures. Not selectively filtered screenshots. Only the real number.
Maintaining this log forces accountability. When I see how quickly a couple of bad sessions can wipe out half the gains of several winning days, it becomes impossible to lie to myself. The journal exposes emotional trading patterns, warns me when I’m drifting off-strategy, and affirms the days I follow discipline well.
It is the closest thing traders have to a mirror.
My Strategy: Start Small, Scalp Quickly, Exit Decisively
My approach today is the product of painful mistakes and deliberate adjustment. The core principles are simple but rigid:
1. Start Small to Control Position Size
The temptation to increase quantity after a few good trades is dangerous. I begin with minimal exposure so that even if I need to average, the overall size never becomes unmanageable. This protects capital better than any technical indicator ever will.
2. Pure Scalping : No Long Holds
I trade like a scavenger, not a predator. Quick entries, quick exits.
Whether I’m trading from home or from a place with unstable internet, as once happened while travelling from Kakdwip to Ranaghat, I stick to the same behaviour: small entry, observe price behaviour, take my bite, and exit.
3. No Platform Stop Loss , But a Strict Mental SL
I do not place stop-loss orders on the platform. I prefer a mental SL because mechanical stops often get hunted.
That said, the moment my mental SL is breached, I exit immediately. No negotiation with myself, no hope-trading.
4. One-and-Done Principle
Once I book a profit for the day, I stop. Earlier, after taking a good trade, I would feel the itch to keep going until I eventually gave back everything. Now, once I “switch off” mentally, I don’t re-enter the market.
This discipline has made my trading calmer, less compulsive, and, more importantly, more sustainable.
Consistency Over Aggression: The New Mindset
I’ve stopped chasing big days. I’m happy with small, steady profits, what I jokingly call my daal-roti trades. Protecting capital matters more than showing off a big number.
For me, a good day is one where:
- The risk was controlled.
- The averaging was measured.
- The exit was quick.
- The urge to over-trade was defeated.
If these conditions are met, the actual rupee amount doesn’t matter much. Peace of mind becomes the profit.
The Unique Freedom of Compulsory Waiting
One of the biggest advantages I have right now is something people usually don’t consider a blessing:
my compulsory waiting period.
Most aspiring traders struggle with the idea of quitting their job to pursue full-time trading. They fear losing a stable income, fear losing professional identity, and fear the uncertainty trading inevitably brings.
My situation gives me a rare balance:
- I have the freedom and time to observe markets live.
- I don’t need to trade out of desperation.
- I can afford to take breaks on emotional days.
- I am learning the craft without sacrificing my career.
- I can experiment like a full-timer while enjoying the stability of a secure government position.
This phase has given me exactly what many dream of but cannot risk. It allows me to refine myself as a trader without the anxiety that usually comes with the title “full-time trader”.
And for that, I am genuinely grateful.
Closing Thoughts: Trading Is a Personal Battle
Trading is risky. It is unpredictable. It is ruthless on your psychological weaknesses. But it is also rewarding when approached with honesty and discipline.
My journey has been built on three foundations:
- A trading journal that forces truth,
- A strategy centred on small positions and quick exits,
- A unique period of life that lets me explore the markets deeply without existential pressure.
I don’t know where this journey ends, but I know what keeps it moving:
discipline, humility, and the willingness to learn from every red day.
Happy trading , and trade safely.
