In the markets, you are your own worst enemy.

If you've been trading for long, this phrase probably rings true...

Money brings up powerful emotions. And if you let those emotions affect your decision-making, you'll often make mistakes...

Maybe you take a bigger position than you know you should... Maybe you hold on to a position after you had planned to exit... Or maybe you exit a position before you had planned to.

Why does this happen? Sometimes it's due to a lack of discipline or experience. But a lot of times, traders hold beliefs about the markets that just aren't true.

One of the biggest misconceptions in the stock market is about volatility and the Volatility Index (also known as the "VIX").

Today, we'll show you what history shows us about volatility, and how you can use it to avoid making a common mistake...

The VIX is often called the market's "fear gauge." It measures expected volatility in the benchmark S&P 500 Index over the next 30 days.

When the VIX is high, it tells us folks are expecting a big move... usually a drop. And when the VIX is low, it tells us folks are expecting a period of relative calm.

Because the VIX deals with expectations, many people think it's a contrarian indicator... They think a low VIX means folks are too complacent. So when the VIX drops to low levels, they worry that a big jump in volatility – and lower stock prices – are just around the corner.

This gets folks into trouble. You see, history shows that the VIX is not a contrarian indicator...

On April 11, we ran a historical study on the VIX. We looked at what happened to stocks after the VIX held above 13 (a very low level) for three months, then dropped below 13.

The VIX had done exactly that less than a month earlier, on March 15. Here's what we found...

The average and median returns across one-, two-, and three-month time frames were all positive. The worst returns weren't too bad. And returns were positive across all time frames more than 67% of the time...

Folks get worried about stretches of low volatility. But low volatility – and the fear surrounding it – generally tells us we don't have to be too worried.

Looking at history can help you avoid these kinds of misperceptions.

That's why when we ran this study in April, we decided to spend the next couple of months mostly recommending bullish trades... and ignoring the common fears.

Now, we're past the end of June. And we can see how our plan turned out this time around...

The chart below shows the S&P 500 for the three months since the VIX dropped below 13 on March 15. The stock market climbed, dropped 6.8%, then bounced. And the one-, two-, and three-month returns were 2.9%, 0.1%, and 2.3%, respectively...

This picture and the returns don't match the historical averages perfectly. But "matching the averages" isn't our goal when we look at this sort of historical study.

Our goal is to get an idea for what has happened in the past in similar circumstances. Then, we can use this information – rather than emotions – to choose appropriate trading strategies.

Our study showed us that the worst returns under similar conditions weren't too bad... and that most of the time, returns were positive. That gave us more confidence to place bullish trades. And it was the right decision.

Eight of the 11 trades we made in that window of time went up, starting from the date of our study. The average return on all 11 trades (including open positions and a few that we closed as winners) was 1.5% in an average of 24 days, or 23% annualized.

The stock market was flat. But because we had a neutral-to-bullish outlook, we used the right trading strategies... And the results were excellent.

History serves as one of the best guides we have for navigating the markets...

Hopefully you've stayed long stocks and kept money in your highest-conviction ideas over the past few months. But even if you haven't, you can learn from today's essay...

First, keep watch over your emotions. They'll often lead you to make bad trading decisions. So when you feel a strong emotion come up, check to see if it's grounded in reality. History is a great guide.

And second, remember that when the VIX falls to a low level, it doesn't spell disaster for stocks... If anything, it's usually bullish.

Good trading,

Ben Morris and Drew McConnell

Editor's note: In their DailyWealth Trader advisory, Ben and Drew look for the world's best short-term trading ideas – every single day the market is open. They'll walk you through how to execute each trade, step-by-step... Plus, you'll learn valuable tips about trends, timing, risk-management, and more. If you've ever wanted to learn how to trade but haven't yet, this is exactly the service for you. Click here to sign up risk-free.

Controlling your emotions is key to your success as an investor. But there's something just as vital to your wealth...

Market Notes

THIS OLD-SCHOOL SUPERMARKET KEEPS SLIPPING

Today's chart shows why you want to own the best companies in their fields... not the also-rans...

The greatest companies supply a product or service that few competitors can match. But that's tough for grocery stores, where competition is fierce and slim margins leave little room for error. Today's company is a grocery giant that's losing ground to other players...

Kroger (KR) is the world's largest supermarket company by revenue. It runs nearly 2,800 stores under a dozen-plus chains, including Ralphs, Harris Teeter, and Kroger itself. Kroger's massive supermarkets boast huge product selections. But customers are drifting off to smaller discount stores... superstores with convenient grocery departments... and online marketplaces. The company's sales dipped 1% in the most recent quarter, and its identical-store sales missed analyst expectations.

KR shares are down more than 25% over the past year, falling to a new 52-week low. Kroger officials say they're turning the business around – but after a string of disappointing quarters, investors are taking their money to stronger companies...