Yesterday didn’t go the way I wanted.
I was watching $PLTR and $TSLA for puts right after the open. Around 9:46 AM, I alerted that I was watching $TSLA 390P, and shortly after that I entered at $3.50.
The plan was clear from the start. My stop was $405.50, but my short position targets were $402.48 and $400.51. Nothing complicated. Just a level, defined risk, and areas where I expected follow-through if sellers stepped in.
By 10:21 AM, I was out at $3.15.
Stopped.
It was about a 10% loss.
And that’s trading.
What makes this one interesting is that some traders gave it the full 20% stop and the trade eventually worked in their favor. That’s the part that can mess with your head if you let it.
But here’s the reality — a stop isn’t about being right or wrong. It’s about protecting capital.
There are different ways to manage risk. Some use tighter stops to keep losses smaller and more frequent. Others give trades more room to breathe. Neither approach is “perfect.” What matters is consistency.
If I define a stop, I respect it. That’s the rule.
The real mistake isn’t getting stopped out. The real mistake is moving the stop, widening it out of frustration, or removing it entirely because “it’ll come back.”
Yesterday was a loss.
It wasn’t a blown account.
It wasn’t revenge trading.
It wasn’t emotional.
It was a defined risk that didn’t work.
And that’s part of the process.
Tomorrow’s another opportunity.