I've been thinking about intuition lately - that X factor in trading that took me 27 years to finally recognize and trust. The delay wasn't about capability. I had too much noise in the way.
The veteran trader's edge comes from learning to get out of your own way long enough to hear what you already know. That quiet voice that says "something's off here" or "this is the one."
Here's what I've come to understand: the best self-work an experienced trader can do is remove obstacles that prevent us from being fully present with ourselves. Cultivate presence, and we open the window to let intuition in. That's where the magic happens.
This is where my focus lives now. Removing obstacles to presence.
We talk all the time in trading about creating our luck - putting ourselves in position for opportunity, doing the work when markets are quiet so we're ready when they're not. Presence works the same way. We have to create conditions that invite intuition. Keep the windows open. Clear the path. Do the work to stay present.
Finding presence takes different forms for different people. For me, it's nature. A walk with my dog. A hike in the woods. Sitting on a rock among the trees, just being. These are the places that quiet everything else and let me hear myself.
Your path might look completely different. That's fine. The work is finding what clears the noise for you, then protecting that space fiercely. And know this: it isn't easy and it takes persistence.
Because here's the thing about intuition: it has this uncanny knack for putting us in position to get lucky. That trade you passed on because something felt off, even though the setup looked perfect. That position you sized up because everything aligned just right. Intuition doesn't guarantee outcomes, but it sure has a way of stacking the odds in our favor.
After 27 years of trading, I've learned that all the technical analysis and options Greeks in the world won't save you if you can't hear yourself think. Create the presence. Clear the path. Let intuition do what it does best - put you in position to catch some magic.
Want to learn how I'm applying these principles to real trades? Join me at All Star Options where I share my setups, trade management, and the mindset work that makes it all click.
Sean McLaughlin | Chief Options Strategist, All Star Charts
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