Home › Market News › The Trader Mindset: What It Really Takes
A lot of traders know the feeling. You second-guess a setup. You chase a red trade. You freeze when the pressure hits. In those moments, it’s not about your strategy. It’s about your mindset.
That’s why we brought in Brett Steenbarger, Ph.D., a legendary trading psychologist with decades of experience and author of The Daily Trading Coach and Enhancing Trader Performance. He joined us on TopstepTV to break down what separates traders who burn out from those who build long-term consistency. You can catch the full conversation here.
Here’s what we learned, and how Topstep is built to help you think, act, and trade like a serious trader.
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One of the biggest mindset hurdles traders face is stress, especially during headline-driven markets.
Dr. Steenbarger draws a powerful comparison here: a physician in an emergency room can stay calm under extreme pressure because they’ve been trained, they’ve practiced strategy, and they know exactly what to do and why.
Trading needs that same level of structure. When you know your setup, your risk, and your next move, pressure fades and performance improves.
Here’s how serious traders train their mindset:
That’s why Topstep emphasizes lower-risk learning. TopstepX gives you the structure, feedback, and tools to train like a pro, from daily loss limits to account locks when emotions run high.
Serious traders take mindset seriously, and so do we.
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Markets shift. Volatility spikes. What worked yesterday might not work today. That’s why serious traders don’t cling to rigid playbooks. They adapt.
Dr. Steenbarger shared how switching from one-minute bars to 15-second charts helped him stay sharp in fast markets. It wasn’t just a technical tweak. It was a mental reset.
Here’s the kicker: what works for one trader might totally throw off another. Just because someone swears by 15-second charts doesn’t mean you need to turn your monitor into a strobe light.
Find your rhythm. Trade your plan. Adapt your way.
To trade like a professional, ask yourself:
TopstepX is made for that kind of agility. With TradingView charts, Drag & Drop bracket orders, and the Tilt™ Indicator to track your emotions in real time, you’re ready to move with the market, not behind it.
Stay flexible. That’s your edge.
FOMO—fear of missing out—is one of the most dangerous mindsets for traders. It can cause overtrading, emotional decisions, and blowing past your rules.
Dr. Steenbarger’s fix? Step back. Regain perspective. Only trade when it’s your trade.
Missed a move? Let it go. Trading isn’t about catching everything. It’s about sticking to what fits your process. Your edge will show up again. It always does.
That’s where TopstepTV comes in. Watching others trade live, wins, losses, and all, can reset your mindset and remind you that there’s always another opportunity.
Remember: you don’t beat FOMO by forcing trades. You beat it with patience and process. That’s how pros stay grounded.
You don’t increase size by jumping from 1 contract to 10. Dr. Steenbarger compares it to lifting weights: gradually increase the load after mastering the lighter one.
Same with trading. Bump your size only after consistent performance. Otherwise, the emotions kick in, and discipline goes out the window.
One useful trick? Treat each half of your day like a separate trading session. Review performance midday. Start fresh. That mental reset can help keep you from pressing too hard.
Topstep’s ecosystem gives you the tools to scale with control, from TopstepX for disciplined execution to review sessions with coaches on TopstepTV to keep your head in the game.
Build the muscle first, then scale with control. That’s how consistency wins.
Your real edge isn’t in indicators. It’s in your ability to recognize patterns and understand the market’s bigger story.
Dr. Steenbarger teaches that the most successful traders adapt by zooming out to understand the broader market context and zooming in to identify real-time behavior.
They don’t just react. They observe, question, and learn.
That’s where Topstep comes in. Through simulated trades and TopstepTV replays, you’ll train yourself to:
It’s not about predicting every move. It’s about reading the story the market is telling and trading with clarity, not chaos.
Start focusing on the patterns that matter. That’s how you build an edge that lasts.
Dr. Steenbarger said it best: “Be alert to your best trading. Study what you did well, and you’ll internalize those patterns.”
Mindset isn’t something you build once. It’s something you build every day.
Topstep is built around that idea. We give you the platform, tools, and community to do that work and stay funded.
This isn’t about trading perfectly. It’s about trading with purpose. Building habits that last. And knowing how to stay in control, even when the market goes off-script.
Ready to stop winging it and start trading with purpose?
Let’s get to work.
👉 Watch the full AMA with Brett Steenbarger
A Funded Trader is someone who trades firm capital, not their own, to grow their skills and earn real payouts. At Topstep, it means you’ve proven you can manage risk and trade with discipline. Once funded, you keep your first $10K in profits. After that, it’s a clean 90/10 payout, with 90% going to you.
