Friend, I know you are galloping in the contract market with a direction you firmly believe in—perhaps a strong bullish stance, embracing the fervor of a bull market; or perhaps a tenacious bearish view, capturing the sharpness of a bear market. This focus and conviction are valuable traits of a trader; they have brought you opportunities to capture significant trends and exhilarating profit experiences.
However, the market, as a teacher, excels at breaking our 'assumptions.' It has no eternal bulls and no endless bears; there are only cyclical fluctuations and unpredictable turning points. When we anchor ourselves to a single direction, it’s like carrying only one key while trying to unlock all unknown doors; risk quietly accumulates:
The abyss of stubbornly going against the trend: Once the market moves against expectations, that 'faith' can easily turn into 'obsession.' Being unwilling to admit mistakes and stop losses, or even increasing positions against the trend to average down, hoping the market will 'turn back.' This is often the main cause of significant account drawdowns or even liquidation. No matter how strong the trend, there are always retracements/rebounds, and no belief is stronger than the market's ruthlessness.
Missing half of the opportunity: Only focusing on one direction means you actively give up at least 50% of the potential opportunities in the market. When the market turns, you may not only struggle with losses but also watch helplessly as the reverse market rushes by, filled with regret.
The trap of an unbalanced mindset: A one-sided preference can easily make trading results overly personal. When going long, a market decline feels like 'the market is wrong' or 'being targeted'; when going short, a market rise brings anxiety and anger. This combative mindset against the market is a trading taboo and can easily lead to irrational decisions.
The fragility of strategies: Any strategy relying solely on a single directional expectation has a very low margin for error. The market environment changes rapidly, and no single direction can dominate forever. A single strategy becomes exceptionally fragile during market style shifts.
So how to transcend this 'one-sided obsession'? It’s not about giving up your judgment, but rather adding a layer of wise armor:
Understand 'probability' rather than 'inevitability': Transform 'I am bullish/bearish' into 'Based on current information, the probability of rising/falling is higher.' Acknowledge that any judgment can be wrong and respect the market's uncertainty.
Embrace 'flexibility' rather than 'rigidity': Top traders are not 'die-hard bulls' or 'die-hard bears,' but 'opportunists.' Their core ability is to identify trends and follow them, regardless of direction. When signals indicate a possible trend change, they dare to let go of their obsession, assess objectively, and even take the opposite position.
Make good use of 'hedging' rather than 'naked trading': Even if you have a strong directional opinion, in the contract market, you can use hedging strategies (such as opening a small number of reverse contracts while holding spot positions, or using options) to manage extreme risks, protect your core positions and mindset. This is not a betrayal of your own views, but rather mature risk management.
Value 'risk management' above 'directional judgment': Directional judgment determines potential profit space, while risk management determines how long you can survive in this market. No matter how optimistic you are about a direction, strict stop-loss and reasonable position management are always the first rules of survival.
Practice 'reverse thinking': When making trading plans, force yourself to think, 'If my judgment is completely wrong, how will the market move? Where is my defense line?' This can help you formulate contingency plans in advance and avoid panic at the moment.
Friend, letting go of the 'one-sided obsession' does not mean abandoning your advantages or insights, but rather giving your trading wisdom another wing. The highest realm of trading is like water—formless and shapeless, yet able to contain everything; acting in accordance with the trend can also achieve great results. When you can transcend the constraints of a single direction, listen objectively to the market's voice, and respond flexibly to changes, you will find that opportunities abound in the market, and your trading journey will become steadier and farther.
Gains and losses come from the same source; true freedom lies in embracing the full picture of the market, rather than being trapped on an isolated island of direction. May you become a calm helmsman in the turbulent ocean.