At three in the morning, the cigarette pack was empty, and the string of numbers on the screen was still flashing: -410,000. My phone kept vibrating, not with market fluctuation alerts, but with debt collection texts. That’s when I finally understood—in this market, you’re either swallowed up or you develop a set of skills.

I also used to reflexively stare at others’ profit screenshots, feeling anxious inside. I always thought I was several steps behind. It wasn’t until one night that I realized—this place never pities the anxious, it only rewards the calm. My turning point started when I told myself, “Enough.”

**First thing: Control your fingers, then talk about profits**

I once believed in a myth of a turnaround, but what happened? I kept cutting myself emotionally every time. Later, I forced myself to pull out all my trading orders and review them one by one: why manually cancel a stop-loss that was set? Why rush to exit after making a little profit? Why stubbornly hold on after a loss? The patterns were all there, but I ignored them.

In two months, I gave up the idea of going all-in on one trade and started doing one thing: let rules replace impulse in decision-making. As long as I’m alive, there’s a next chance.

**Second thing: Always keep ammunition**

I’ve seen too many people empty their savings during market celebrations, only to find no chance to turn things around when the market reverses. My method may sound old-fashioned, but it works:

Divide your money into three parts, and use only one at a time. It’s okay to get the direction wrong; the backup is still there. Only add to positions with high probability setups, becoming more cautious as you go. Always keep half in reserve for emergencies. Trading also requires contrarian thinking—when everyone is rushing in, I quietly reduce my positions; when the market is desperate, I start observing. This isn’t some brilliant prediction, just a way to leave myself an escape route.

If you live long enough, opportunities will naturally come knocking.