I’ve been trading pretty tightly lately.

Rules set. Checklist followed. Pre-market done.
No chasing. No overtrading. Just clean execution.

Or so I thought.

That kind of structure usually helps me stay sharp. But last week, something felt off.

I’d mark up a level, see price line up perfectly… and still hesitate.
No entry. No trade. Just a bunch of second-guessing.

And of course, the move ran without me. Classic.

So I took a step back and opened the journal.

Here’s what hit me:

Discipline or fear?

It’s a fine line.

Following your rules is good. Essential, even.

But when you start hiding behind them — when they become reasons not to act — that’s not discipline.

That’s fear wearing a name tag that says “risk management.”

Here’s how it showed up for me:

• “It didn’t check every single box.”
• “Let’s just wait for more confirmation.”
• “I’ll take the next one.”

All of it sounded smart. Safe. Professional.

But deep down, I wasn’t protecting capital — I was avoiding discomfort.

I didn’t want to lose.
I didn’t want to be wrong.
I didn’t want to feel the hit.

A journal check

One note I scribbled months ago saved me:

“Rules protect edge. Not your ego.”

That snapped it into focus.

So I sat down and trimmed the fat.

What are the core rules?
The ones tied to real edge — not fear?

Now I keep it simple.

The framework stays. But I leave space to think.
Space to act.
Space to be a trader — not just a rule follower.

My gut check now?

If I’m passing on valid setups just to “be safe”…
If the journal keeps saying “hesitated” or “late entry”…
If I’m blaming discipline when it’s really doubt…

It’s time to pause.

Because real discipline means showing up.
Even when it feels uncomfortable.

Until next time — trade sharp, stay honest.