Getting Perspective on Oil

This column was originally published on RealMoney on Oct. 12 at 11:04 a.m. EDT. It's being republished as a bonus for TheStreet.com readers.

Have you ever gone through a period when making sound trading decisions seems a lot harder than usual?

It's more than just being out of sync with the market. In fact, it's as if you're out of sync with yourself, and your trading results are suffering.

Yesterday, I wrote about the importance of being aware of your natural approach to trading. But this type of awareness is not an outcome; it's an ongoing process that requires attention every day you move your money around. ...