I think one reason a lot of people have trouble trading is that they're trading a system or method that doesn't suit them personally. For instance, if you're trying to trade long term swings and the risk exposure or unprotected profit is killing you then maybe you should consider a shorter term trade and/or scalp. Of course the opposite is true. If you're getting fed up trying to scalp the market for a few ticks only to watch in disappointment as it continues on it's way then maybe you should be trying to trade a longer time frame.

There is no right answer. We're all different, but if you sync up your trading style with your personality then that will go a long way to increasing your comfort level in the markets, and who knows, that could spill over into some more profitable trades for you. And just because you start at one point/time frame doesn't mean that you can't change your mind or adjust your time frames as you go along.

For instance, I used to be what I would call a mid range trader. I could hold on to a trade with several hundred in open profits for a couple of days to weeks and not have a problem with it. I slept quite well at night. But no more. Now my time frame has shifted to where I'm more comfortable getting in 'n out of a trade with as much profit as I can stand - usually somewhere around $500 for most markets. The thought of holding overnight makes me uncomfortable and I'm always running profit targets in the night sessions trying to get out of the trade with my profit target. Sure the market might go further and I might "give up" some potential profit, but right now this is what works for me.

Is that wrong? No, of course not. Given what the markets are doing right now this is what I'm most comfortable with, but that doesn't mean it has to be that way for you. Remember that consistent profits is what makes you money trading - without it you're dead in the water. Whatever you have to do to get there is your major objective. And being honest with yourself and finding out what kind of trader you are is the first step to that target.

Erich