In 2012, with a passion, I headed south to Shenzhen, squeezing into the city of countless dreams.
In 2015, I accidentally stepped into the cryptocurrency world, opening a realm interwoven with volatility and fate.
Now, I have settled in Guangzhou, with two properties and two cars (one Land Rover, one Mercedes), spending 100,000 monthly on daily expenses, while most of my assets are still in the exchanges. On the surface, it looks glorious, but in reality, this path has been lonelier and clearer than for most.
First, the day I made my first bucket of gold was not the kind of thrill you imagine.
Staring at the K-line for over ten hours every day is not passion, it's numbness.
'Staying up late' is no longer suffering for us; it's a habit — you never know when the next big drop or rise will occur.
What you see is freedom and wealth, but you cannot see the lonely figure staring at the screen in the deep of night, nor can you see the expectation in the eyes of those who once trusted you, staring at the levels you provided.
Behind all of this, what supports it is not nonchalance, but responsibility, pressure, and a kind of discipline that smiles back after being beaten down by the market.
Second, I do not rely on passion for trading; I survive by strict rules.
I am someone who strictly adheres to rules.
• First rule: Never trade based on 'feelings' again.
The market is not your father; trading based on feelings will ultimately teach you a lesson.
Emotions are the least valuable cost in trading.
• Second rule: Always set stop-loss and take-profit.
In every trade, setting a stop-loss is not about luck, but based on market structure and your own capacity.
• Third rule: Better to miss out than to make mistakes.
In uncertain markets, it's better not to trade. If you can't do this, you'll eventually blow up.
• Fourth rule: Stick to your original judgment, and admit it when you're wrong.
Don't waver during trading; for a mature trader, the greatest practice is not technique, but 'not second-guessing'.
Third, my growth has moved from 'trading' to 'awakening'.
I used to become rich overnight, making millions as if it were easy.
But I have also lost my way: indulging in excess, giving in to desires, partying every night, once thinking this was success.
It wasn't until I experienced consecutive losses and an emotional breakdown, lying on the floor for an entire day, watching my account value drop from 8 figures, that I began to understand: this is not freedom, this is a shackle.
I began to learn to let go:
• Quit smoking, quit staying up late, and start wearing a seatbelt every day.
• Learn calligraphy, play the electronic keyboard, read the Four Books and Five Classics, and walk with a smile.
• I even bought a cheap jade piece, engraved with 'gentle as jade', to remind myself to stay humble.
Trading has allowed me to see myself clearly. It is not wealth that brings freedom, but the clarity of oneself that grants inner peace.
Fourth, a true expert sees trading as a practice, not a performance.
Do you think 'unity of knowledge and action' is simple?
Most people analyze the market expertly, but when they pick up the mouse to place an order, they hesitate. Because their 'thoughts' and 'actions' are always split.
Why do people frequently ask others for opinions? Because they don’t trust themselves. But once they believe others and things go wrong, they can only blame others and continue to avoid confronting themselves.
True trading is not about predicting the market, but about not collapsing when you make mistakes and being able to hold your position when the market is favorable. This is more important than how much you earn.
Five, I want to tell new traders some harsh truths about the cryptocurrency world.
1. A crash is not a disaster; it's a mirror to reveal your true self.
You only realize who your true friends are and who stabs you in the back; you see who relies on systematic trading and who is swimming naked.
2. Always only buy cryptocurrencies that allow you to sleep at night.
Anxiety about holding positions comes from not trusting them. Faith is not just talk; it's about whether you can hold it for 5 years with peace of mind.
3. Watching the market every day is not as effective as reviewing trades every day.
True understanding relies on records, not on guessing the market. Recording helps you build your own cognitive system.
4. Trading cryptocurrencies is not about who makes the most profit, but about who lasts the longest.
There are only a few days each month when you can make big money; for the rest of the time, not losing is winning.
5. You think you are betting on the market, but in fact, you are betting on human nature.
The market is not something to defeat; it is something to submit to. The more you try to conquer it, the easier it is to suffer a humiliating defeat.
Six, I am currently slowing down.
I no longer chase every market movement, nor do I let the fluctuations in my account balance affect my emotions.
I began to engage socially, admire masterpieces, learn psychology, read Laozi and Zhuangzi, observe trees, mountains, and water, and smile while conversing with strangers.
I no longer seek to change this world; I only want to reflect on myself through trading, and then live better.
Seven, a message for everyone who comes across this article.
You come to the cryptocurrency world not to become a gambler, not to get addicted, but to regain your sense of control over your fate.
If you can see through the essence of all this: it's not greed, nor urgency, nor gambling, but patterns, patience, systems, and respect — only then can you escape the chaos.
Don't try to change the market, nor think about surpassing the trends; what you need to do is to make yourself stronger.
As for what the essence is?
If I must answer — the essence of trading is seeing through your own greed, anger, and ignorance.
The true essence of life is to live as the person you like.
If you like this article, feel free to leave comments for discussion. If you are struggling and confused in the cryptocurrency world, perhaps I can give you a reference answer. We are all practicing in trading; may we both be able to end with a smile and not waste this life.
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