Stuck in a Trading Rut? How Trusting the Process Unlocks Your Success

Trading can feel like an uphill battle. You’ve put in the hours, studied the charts, and crafted a strategy, yet something still feels off. Losses pile up, confidence wavers, and the temptation to abandon your plan grows stronger. Sound familiar? The problem isn’t your strategy—it’s your mindset.

The key to overcoming these struggles lies in one simple yet powerful concept: trusting the process.

The Internal Obstacles Holding You Back

The biggest barriers to success in trading aren’t the markets themselves—they’re the mental hurdles we create. The need for control, the fear of uncertainty, and impatience often lead to self-sabotage. Here’s how these internal struggles manifest in your trading:

- Abandoning your strategy after a few losses.

- Chasing the “next best” system instead of refining your own.

- Forcing trades when the market isn’t offering clear opportunities.

These behaviors stem from a lack of trust in your process. But here’s the truth: shortcuts lead to disaster.

The Power of Trusting Your Process

When you trust your process, everything changes. You stop searching for magic fixes and start focusing on what truly matters. Here’s what happens when you embrace this mindset:

- You stop looking for perfection and focus on progress.

- You gain discipline and clarity by sticking to your plan.

- You allow success to unfold naturally through patience and consistency.

The ancient wisdom of the Tao Te Ching offers a profound lesson here. Verse 53 reminds us:

"The great way is easy, yet people prefer the side paths. Be aware when things are out of balance. Stay centered within the Tao."

In trading, this means avoiding the chaos of chasing quick wins and instead staying committed to your path. The road to mastery is simple, but it requires patience, discipline, and trust.

How to Build Trust in Your Trading Process

Trusting your process isn’t just a mindset shift—it’s a skill you can develop. Here are five actionable steps to help you sharpen your edge and build unwavering trust in your trading:

1. Complete a Breathwork Practice

Start your day with a grounding breathwork session. Try the Wim Hof Method:

- Perform 5 rounds of 30 deep breaths: inhale fully, exhale effortlessly.

- On the last exhale of each round, hold your breath for as long as feels comfortable—then push yourself to hold an additional 10–15 seconds.

- When you need to breathe, inhale deeply, hold for 45 seconds, and release slowly.

Reflect on how trusting your breath mirrors trusting your process in trading. Both require calm, focus, and patience.

2. Reflect on Trust in Your Trading

Take 5 minutes to journal on these prompts:

- Where in my trading process do I trust myself the most?

- Where do I struggle to trust my plan or strategy?

- What would change if I fully trusted my process, even during uncertainty?

Write down one area where you’ll focus on building trust today.

3. Commit to Following Your Plan

Before your trading session, review your plan and affirm your commitment to following it:

- Set clear criteria for entries, exits, and risk management.

- Affirm: “I trust my process and follow my plan with discipline.”

- Stick to your system, even if emotions try to pull you off track.

After your session, reflect: How did trusting my plan impact my clarity and decisions?

4. Observe Without Interference

Practice simply watching the market before taking action:

- If the market doesn’t align with your plan, resist the urge to force trades.

- Observe your emotions—do you feel impatient? Fearful? Tempted to jump in?

- Write down what you notice about your reactions.

By observing without interference, you strengthen your ability to act with discipline when the right trade appears.

5. Identify and Reframe Your Shadows

Ask yourself:

- Do I resist trusting the process because I fear losing control?

- What belief or fear holds me back from trusting my edge fully (e.g., fear of failure, impatience)?

Write down one shadow thought you notice (e.g., “If I don’t act now, I’ll miss out”), and reframe it into a truth (e.g., “Opportunities are infinite, and trusting my plan leads to success.”).

A Mantra to Guide You

Repeat this mantra throughout the day to reinforce your commitment:

"I trust my process. Discipline and patience lead to clarity and success."

Closing Thoughts

Trusting your process removes doubt, hesitation, and self-sabotage. It allows you to trade with confidence, knowing that consistency and discipline will lead to long-term success.

Remember, the path to mastery isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. When you stop chasing shortcuts and start trusting your preparation, your growth becomes inevitable.

Here’s to trust, resilience, and execution. Tomorrow, we’ll explore how patience strengthens your mastery and helps you thrive in uncertainty.

By embracing these steps and committing to the process, you’ll transform your trading struggles into opportunities for growth. Trust the journey, and the results will follow.