When does trading become your identity?

"I am a trader" is a powerful identity and a fragile one: when the account struggles, the self struggles with it. The identity question sits underneath half the psychology threads here.

When does trading become your identity? — drawdown and recovery diagram
An equity curve during a drawdown and its recovery

Examine yours:

  • how much of your identity is in trading
  • what the identity protects and costs
  • the other identities that keep you balanced
When does trading become your identity? — risk-reward diagram
A risk-reward ratio of 1 to 2

The drawdown guide is easier to read when the self isn't on the line.

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