October 22nd, 2026

The Morning: Still Fighting the Nerves

This was the day I finally started hitting my stride. I was definitely still nervous, though, and I’m not entirely sure why.

At around 8:10–8:15 AM, there was a valid setup near the VWAP band. I skipped it, which turned out to be a good decision because the trade would have lost approximately 44 points per contract, or nearly $200 total.

However, I went back and questioned whether these early morning trades were worth taking. Technically, this was a valid trade under my system, and the backtesting shows that these setups do work.

The lesson here is that one losing trade doesn’t invalidate a strategy. I shouldn’t feel like every trade needs to work just to prove that my system is reliable. The data is already there.

Day 95 Travel Poster

The First Trade: Accepting a Loss

The first valid setup appeared around 9:10–9:15 AM. Although price was approaching resistance, the trade still met my criteria. Unfortunately, it resulted in a loss of negative 52 pointsper contract. That’s part of trading, and I have to accept it.

The Missed Opportunity

At 10:05 AM, I entered another valid trade. Price reached its target before reversing sharply. This is where I struggled. Should I reenter?

My original rule required a retest and recross of the 8 EMA. However, I had also introduced another valid entry condition: price could retest the 1 VWAP band and continue in the intended direction. That opportunity appeared, but I recognized it too late and missed the trade. It would have been enough to turn the day profitable.

The Final Trade

The final valid setup came around 1:20 PM, resulting in another loss of -39 points per contract.

The Importance of Consistent Execution

The biggest lesson today is that I cannot selectively take trades based on fear or hesitation. My strategy relies on executing every valid setup because I never know which trade will be the winner.

Based on my review, Wednesday should have been profitable despite the losses. The strategy wasn’t necessarily the problem. My execution was.

Today’s Takeaway

Today’s takeaway: Trust the rules, accept the losses, and don’t skip valid opportunities. Consistency is what gives the strategy a chance to work over time.

Total Profit: $596.40

MNQ Chart