This morning I almost placed a trade I should not have.
As usual I was checking all the pairs and found a setup on GBP/USD. Everything was marked — the higher timeframe BOS, the Order Block, the Fair Value Gap, the liquidity zone. The chart looked ready.
Then I noticed one thing missing.
At first glance it looks like a perfectly valid setup. That is exactly why it is dangerous.
Price had created a clean FVG after the BOS and retraced back into it, forming a liquidity zone. But the liquidity sweep had not happened yet. Without the sweep, I have no confirmation that the market has actually taken liquidity before moving. And price was already approaching another BOS to the downside without it.
This has happened to me many times before. Every time I jumped in — because watching price move without me always creates the feeling that this time it will not come back.
Earlier this year I would have convinced myself the sweep was not necessary. That the setup was close enough. That missing it would be worse than bending the rule.
My cursor was already over the button.
Then I closed the chart.
Maybe the trade will work without the sweep. Maybe I will watch it run without me. I am willing to accept that. If price gives a BOS to the downside without sweeping the liquidity first, I am out. No trade. I would rather miss the move than break the rule that has been protecting me.
There are many temptations in trading. The temptation to remove a stop loss. The temptation to use high leverage. The temptation to ignore your own rules. The temptation to enter early or exit before your target. They do not disappear. What changes over time is how long it takes to say no.
Missing one trade never ruined a trader. Breaking one rule often does.
And when we lose that fight on some days — because we will — the only thing left to do is prepare better for the next one. Not revenge trade. Not increase size to recover. Just prepare.
Today I did not beat the market.
I beat temptation.
Bye for now, take care.
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