There was a time when hitting "Buy" or "Sell" made me feel like a trader. I’d wake up to green candles and think I had the markets figured out. Red days? I’d double down, convinced a rebound was just around the corner. In truth, I wasn’t trading—I was gambling. And I didn’t even know it.
The wins came quickly at first. Beginner’s luck? Probably. I told myself I had a natural instinct. I’d screenshot profits, post them online, and sell the illusion—to others and to myself—that I had found my edge.
But behind the scenes, something toxic was taking root: obsession. I couldn't sleep without checking charts. I ignored any rules I claimed to follow—if I had any at all. I was chasing hype, entering trades on a whim, and completely neglecting risk management.
Then it all came crashing down.
One reckless, overleveraged trade on a coin I barely understood. It plummeted. Instantly. My weekly profits vanished in seconds. I tried to recover with more trades—faster, riskier—and ended up digging an even deeper hole. My account didn’t just shrink. It imploded.
And so did my confidence.
But in that breakdown, something shifted. I realized I didn’t have a strategy. I had habits—and they were bad. If I didn’t change, I wouldn’t just lose money. I’d lose myself.
So I stopped. Completely. No trades. No charts. Just reflection.
When I returned, I did it differently. I approached trading as a business—not a game. I built a journal. I tested strategies. I stuck to risk rules like gospel. Most importantly, I stopped trying to always be in a trade. Sometimes, the best position is to wait.
Now, I live by these principles:
Every trade needs a reason. If I can’t explain it in one sentence, I don’t take it.
Risk comes first. I never risk more than 1–2% of my capital on a single trade.
No revenge trading. A loss is a lesson—not a trigger.
Less is more. Fewer trades. Better trades.
Today, I’m not just trading. I’m managing risk, protecting capital, and focusing on consistent growth.
I used to chase the thrill. Now, I seek clarity.
I used to think I was a genius. Now, I know I’m a student.
And honestly? That change in mindset is what saved me.
