The most obvious sign of someone who can make a living through trading is not how bright their account numbers are, but rather an almost dull calmness.
No longer does one’s heart race over how much was made on a particular trade, nor do they lose sleep over temporary losses. Market fluctuations are like tides; you stand on the shore, knowing when to bend down to pick up shells and when to retreat to higher ground — no longer being led by every movement of the candlestick chart, nor feeling the need to prove to anyone, 'I can do it.'
I once fantasized about 'turning a single trade into a fortune,' but later understood that stable profits are never reliant on a few windfall trades, but rather on the resilience to weather through the downturns. When facing three consecutive losses, one can review strategies and adjust positions as usual, rather than doubling down out of spite; when the account curve lies flat for half a month, they still execute every trade as planned, patiently waiting for the trend to warm up. Behind those slowly rising numbers lies the confidence of being able to 'afford losses' and the composure to 'stay grounded.'
More importantly, you are clear about where the profits in your account come from — not from a stroke of luck, but from a set of rules honed over hundreds of times: when to open a position, how much to add, and where to set stop-loss and take-profit, all as methodical as an old farmer tending to his fields. So no matter how chaotic the market gets, you can confidently say 'I can survive,' because what supports you is a method, not mere chance.
I no longer see this field as synonymous with 'freelancing.' I know it can be tough: staying up late watching the US market, the gloom of consecutive losses, the solitude of reviewing trades. But these struggles have become routine, just like an old farmer who has grown accustomed to the wind and sun — it’s not that it’s not hard work, but rather that I've accepted this path and trusted that I can continue on it.
When all the fantasies about trading settle into 'doing what needs to be done,' and when understanding can reliably catch every execution, you can truly live off it. In this state, there are no legends, only the solidness of 'doing one thing thoroughly.'
