If you’ve traded long enough, you know that losing trades are inevitable. But if you’ve ever sat down and actually reviewed every losing trade you’ve ever made, you know it’s not just about identifying mistakes — it’s about confronting yourself.
Recently, I did exactly that. I rewatched every losing trade I ever made — every chart replay, every journal note, every emotional decision. It took days. It was uncomfortable. It even made me question if I was cut out for trading at all.
But somewhere between the frustration and the self-critique, a pattern started to emerge. Not just one, actually — a collection of recurring themes that explained why I kept losing money, even when my strategy was sound.
This post isn’t a list of excuses or trading clichés. It’s a raw, data-driven reflection of what really causes most traders — myself included — to lose. And more importantly, what we can do about it.
Most traders love reviewing winners. It feels good to look at those green trades and tell yourself you nailed it. But when it comes to losers, we prefer to move on quickly — chalk it up to bad luck or “market manipulation” and forget…


