some posters have stated that when they sell the sp is guaranteed to go up or they buy and the sp is guaranteed to go down..... so they don't even bother trying. Man, have I been there. The problem is that they let that get in the way of actually changing their pattern of investing/trading and ultimately don't allow themselves the opportunity to find the pulse of a stocks moves and the resultant success. Most have found that they have lost significant paper value in stocks they own at one point or another. So why aren't they used to the idea of losing money and therefore being able to accept losing it while actively trading? Simple, they can blame the stock market for their losses instead of taking the responsibility for it themselves. The funny thing is that whether you lose it actively trading or by just letting it sit there, it is still your responsibility for what happens to it. The difference is that when you are trading it you also can limit your losses. Letting it sit in the market allows the market to determine the depth of loss and over the past few years you all know what that has meant.

There is no question that it feels uncomfortable to sell a stock when you are under water on it because you desperately want to make the loss back. Again the rules of trading rear their heads and state that the market doesn't remember what you paid for it nor does it care. Fixating on static numbers doesn't account for the incredible variability and therefore opportunity of a stocks sp to make you money. But you also have to become flexible and not hang onto historical numbers.... what you paid. There is a deep rooted insecurity and accompanied self-depracating thing that comes out of us when we feel responsible for "losing" money by missing the boat or making a trade that goes against us. These are feelings that cripple us from finding success. Where would our venture explorers be if they drilled a bunch of holes, hitting nothing and then saying "we better quit 'cause this has cost us a lot of money and we haven't found anything yet"? See what I mean?

Yes we're all different with different tolerances.... and there are those here in the market place who probably shouldn't be..... life is a never ending search for self.... but there are those who stand at the threshold of liberating themselves from unproductive patterns who will do well once they get the hang of effective trading/investing. I never would have imagined myself dropping $2 or $3K for a loss and not batting an eye, when the first trade I ever made was for about $300 and I couldn't stop my hand from shaking as I pushed the "buy" key on my computer. Watch for NOT when it takes the next climb and just sell a little when there is a lull in the movement. Hold onto it for a while. Let it sit on the side. Wait for a really bad market day.... might be days or weeks and then note all of the opportunities. If all of your money is presently in, it will be a wise move just to have some on the side.... and then wait, be patient, watch the sp come down and buy in again when the sp sits at a low for a time. Even if it goes lower you still are further ahead as you saved the downward move between where you sold and bought back in. If it doesn't come down, which would be rare, there are tons of other plays that you can diversify into. There are always opportunities but always set your loss limits, at least in your head, and don't permit losses below that. It's all psych. folks. Those that fear will make bad decisions. Those that go boldly will find a never ending sea of opportunity.

When I find things that work for me I like to share them. The above is what I do. There are others far more successful at it than I, but it works for me. It's up to you if you want to go there.