When Temporary Profit Margins Narrow: Are You Being Challenged by the Market or Planning in Silence?

Just having a slightly profitable account can already cause anxiety. When the price makes a small correction, emotions immediately spiral out of control. If you’ve ever been in this state, understand one thing: this is not solely your fault, but a necessary lesson that the market teaches every trader. I have witnessed—and personally experienced—periods where having an open position was more exhausting than staying out of the market. Profit makes you fear losing, losses cause confusion, and every candlestick pattern makes your heart beat faster than normal. Until a veteran trader asked me a simple question that was enough to change my mindset: “Do you really think every price movement in the market is aimed at you?” That question woke me up. Why Do Temporary Profits Cause More Stress Than Losses? It may sound counterintuitive, but floating profit (unrealized gains) is the most fragile aspect of a trader’s psychology. When your account turns green, your brain begins assigning a real value to that profit: “This profit is enough to pay the house”“This profit can buy a car”“This profit is like I’ve already earned it” The problem lies in the fact that you treat unrealized gains as if they are owned assets. Therefore, every price correction feels less like “a normal adjustment” and more like “my money is being taken away.” According to behavioral finance, people fear losses much more than they enjoy gains. Once you have floating profit, your mindset shifts from seeking profits to protecting what you have. And this fear leads to: Closing earlyMaking impulsive tradesMoving stop-loss without disciplineBreaking the original plan The Market Doesn’t Target Anyone—But It Always Exposes Everyone’s Psychology The market doesn’t care who you are, when you entered a trade, or how much profit you’re making. But it is very good at revealing the psychological weaknesses of the crowd. Why does the sharpest drop often happen when people are about to give up? → Because that’s when the collective psychological defense is weakest. Why does sideways movement make people so exhausted they want to quit? → Because it’s a patience test, rewarding those who can sit still. Why does the price often surge right after you exit a position? → Because the market needs to eliminate those who lack confidence before a real rally begins. There are no conspiracies targeting you personally. The only truth is: anyone who cannot control their emotions will be eliminated. Changing Perspective: From “The Challenged” to “The Mastermind” The difference between a losing trader and a long-term survivor isn’t about predicting correctly or incorrectly, but about the position you hold in the market. If you focus on each candlestick → you will be led by emotions. If you see the entire structure → you start thinking like a strategist. Experienced traders don’t try to predict every move perfectly; they prepare multiple scenarios: When the market is panicking → they don’t rush to act. When the market hesitates → they start planning. When the crowd regains enthusiasm → they have already set their positions. They don’t follow market emotions; they anticipate and act before the crowd. The Important Thing Is Not How Much You Make, But How Long You Can Endure Later, when I guide many beginners, I realize a very clear common point: 👉Their breakout doesn’t come from better techniques, but from better tolerance of profit fluctuations. Market fluctuations are not meant to test whether you are right or wrong, but to ask you a single question: “Do you have the strength to hold this profit?” To get through that phase, there are no quick tricks—only discipline: Have a clear trading planKnow your stop-loss and take-profit levelsUnderstand your acceptable drawdownDon’t make decisions when tired And equally important: know when to step away from the screen. The market is open 24/7, but human psychology is not. Personal Experience: When I Stopped Viewing Every Trade as a Life-or-Death Battle I also used to trade emotionally, viewing each trade as a “life-changing opportunity.” The result was stress, constant mistakes, and an unstable account. The turning point came when I started viewing trading as a probabilistic game, not a survival battle. Now, my system doesn’t promise to win every trade, but guarantees: ConsistencyPositive long-term expectationsRepeatable results Thanks to that, I no longer overreact to every account fluctuation. Profits or adjustments are just normal parts of the system. Conclusion: Your Position Will Determine the Emotions You Experience The problem has never been the market. The problem is where you stand. Standing on the “challenged” side → emotions lead the way. Standing on the “strategist” side → discipline guides the way. A good trader isn’t someone who has no emotions, but someone who doesn’t let emotions make decisions for them. If you still worry every time profits shrink, ask yourself: “Am I the one being tested by the market, or am I quietly setting up my strategy?” The answer could completely change your trading path moving forward.