Mirage

Profits resulting from the violation of one's own system or methodology constitute the most treacherous mirage of success. We've all been tempted at one time or another to suspend our collection of pre-defined rules (so painstakingly accumulated, yet so easily put aside) for the possibility that for this one particular moment, distinguished from all others, things might be different. And perhaps we were right -- this time -- and the register rung. Yet for those of us who have chosen the way of the System, the momentary suspension of discipline is a transgression beyond profit or loss. For no matter the what the outcome of the trade executed, the damage has already been done -- any gains secured in such a manner will only serve as future tuition until that particular lesson is learned. This must be understood before forward progress can occur, for unless process takes precedence over result, the cycle repeats ad infinitum.