The Trader's Survival Rules

The market loves to punish those who want to get "quick" results.
If you really want to trade, you must understand an iron rule: the market does not teach you how to make money; it only teaches you how to be a person. Stop searching for random information, and don't pay attention to those fragmented so-called teachings. What you need to do now is to memorize this article of mine. Do you think it's easy? It's extremely difficult. Because the number of people who can truly master a piece of knowledge is no more than 5% in the whole world.
Most people don't fail to learn; they simply can't hold on until the day they do. I've seen too many such people who, after just two days of learning, believe they have understood the way, start to feel high after winning a few trades, and begin to complain after losing two. They forget that the market dislikes those who overthink. Real professional traders care about only one thing: execution.
You think I watch the market every day for fun? Wrong. It's a practice, it's repetition, it's about constantly wearing down my own sense of luck. I've felt the thrill of a soaring market and witnessed the collapse of an account halved in a day, but I've never let them sway me. Because I know this game isn't about who is smarter, but about who can endure longer.
Even when I feel unwell, I still keep an eye on the market. Even if my eyes are dry, my head hurts, and my mind is scattered, I still watch. It's not to prove how hard I work, but to make watching the market a conditioned reflex. This is what I often refer to as muscle memory. One day, when you can instantly identify where the risks and opportunities are just by looking at the candlestick chart, that moment will mark your true entry into the field.
I often say a phrase: Money is never earned, but understood. Many people spend their lives looking for techniques and indicators, but the real experts look for the flaws in human nature. When others are greedy, I remain calm; when others are fearful, I act. This is not being cold-blooded, it is survival.
Do you know what the biggest difference between retail traders and professional traders is? Retail traders only want to seize opportunities, while professionals only want to control risks. Retail traders focus on profits, while professionals focus on losses. So the former lives in emotions, while the latter lives in systems. The most terrifying thing in this world is not the inability to analyze, but the boundless fantasies without boundaries.
You must understand that trading is not an outlet for emotions, but a rational arena. If you rely on inspiration, the market will teach you what cost really means. If you rely on feelings, the market will make you question life every time it causes you pain. Only when you treat losses as costs and execution as faith can you gradually turn this industry into your own territory.
Sometimes I look at the excitement and drive in the eyes of those new to the field, and I really want to tell them one thing: this is not a passionate anime, this is a slaughterhouse. The market does not care about your dreams; it only cares about your stop-loss. Someone who doesn't understand how to exit will never deserve the next opportunity. So don't just think about how much you can earn; first, ask yourself how much you can afford to lose and whether you can stay steady.
Professional traders focus on probabilities and calculate risks. While others make a bold move, I take a tentative step; while others rush in, I'm waiting for confirmation; while others are still dreaming of doubling their investment, I'm already considering how to retreat from the worst-case scenario. This is the wisdom of survival.
If I could meet my current self when I was 20, I wouldn't rush, I wouldn't mess around, I wouldn't fantasize. I would tell myself not to pretend to understand, but to learn how to live first. Because in this market, the ones who die the fastest are always those who want to be quick. Why do people never learn? Because most people want to escape pain, but growth itself is a painful process.
If you want to become stronger, you have to get used to loneliness, get used to being misunderstood, and get used to not having anyone applaud you. You need to learn to be silent in your breakdowns, reflect in your losses, and review when the night is quiet. That kind of pain, which no one understands, is your ticket to becoming stronger.
I fight with myself every day. I'm not in a good state today, but I never compromise because I know that if I indulge just once, it will be easier the second time, and after 100 times, I will be wasted. It's not the exceptionally talented people who can achieve great things, but those who can force themselves to follow through.
I often tell my students: self-discipline is not about turning you into a robot, but about giving you the power of choice. When you can control yourself, you can control the outcomes. This is why professional traders appear indifferent. We are not emotionless; we channel our emotions purposefully. When you have skills, a system, and composure, you should work on your mindset, study history, explore philosophy, and understand religion—not to become esoteric, but to comprehend cycles and essence.
All financial fluctuations in the world are a cycle of human nature. If you understand human nature, you will understand the market trends. That's why I say that if you want to improve your trading, you must first cultivate your mind. Only if you can remain steady in the snowstorm and see clearly in chaos can you possess the aura of a professional trader. Remember this: skills are what you use to earn a living, but human nature is the foundation for whether you can eat for a lifetime. There are no shortcuts in this field; there is only the correct practice day after day. Those who can last until the end are not the smartest, but those who can endure loneliness. This is the path of cultivation for professional traders.