Discipline – Trading Intelligence at the Highest Level

One late night, I received a message from a fellow trader, with a tone full of exhaustion: “Brother, my account only has 2,800U left. I no longer dare to dream of getting rich quickly, I just hope for a chance to start over.” Those words made me see myself many years ago — also staying up all night staring at charts, doubting whether I was truly suited for this market. In such a state, all complex technical indicators become meaningless. Because at this moment, the person has already lost to their own emotions before losing to the market. I didn’t teach him any sophisticated strategies, only asked him to persist in doing three things that go against instinct. One month later, his account grew to 20,000U. Not because I am talented, but because he won against himself.

1. Three Things That Go Against Human Instinct Many believe that making money in trading depends on advanced technical analysis. But the truth is: sustainable profits come from resisting instinct. The three principles I asked him to follow seem simple, but they hit the root of most small traders’ losses. First: When Seeing Price Fluctuations, Ask Immediately “Is the Trend Clear?” Previously, whenever he saw a candle move, he wanted to enter a trade. I forced him to ask himself before each trade: Is the market in an uptrend, downtrend, or just sideways? Only when the trend is truly clear is trading permitted. Later, he told me that just this one question helped him eliminate more than half of meaningless trades. Especially during false breakouts with long wicks, he restrained himself from “all-in,” avoiding big losses. Second: Cut Losses, Don’t Hold or Average Down “Cut losses at 10%” — that’s the strict discipline I set. The most dangerous thing about losing isn’t the money lost, but the mindset: “Must recover at all costs.” This mentality causes many to keep averaging down, ultimately increasing their losses. I asked him to divide his capital into 5 parts, using only 1 part per trade. Thanks to that, even with consecutive losses, his account still had the potential to recover. Third: Only Trade When Your Mind Is Stable Never trade when angry, tired, or under pressure. Because decisions based on emotions are the number one killer of accounts. He started recording his psychological state after each trading day. This habit helped him recognize his emotional patterns and understand himself much better.
2. Transformation from “Loser” to Trader Initially, his habits were exactly like most: Small profits wanting to go big, losses wanting to hold, enduring when the market goes against him. But as he persisted with the three principles above, everything gradually changed. He learned to wait. No longer eager to participate in every fluctuation, but patient like a crocodile, only acting when the opportunity truly appears. In reality, most of the time, the market offers no clear opportunity; beautiful trends only make up a very small part. He accepted imperfection. No longer obsessed with missing the wave, nor trying to catch the top or bottom. The market always has opportunities, but not all are for you. Most importantly, he understood the essence of risk management: It’s not about chasing high win rates, but about losing less when wrong, and letting profits run when right. A profitable system doesn’t depend heavily on win rate, but on the profit-loss ratio and discipline. One month later, he messaged me: “Brother, now I understand. Turns out, making money isn’t about predicting the market correctly, but about controlling myself.”
3. The Crypto Market Is Not Short of Opportunities, Only Short of Discipline From 2,800U to 68,000U, that’s not a story of overnight wealth. It’s a journey of patience and waiting. The market is crazy, he restrains himself. The market is uncertain, he stays out. When a real trend appears, he dares to ride the wave. In this market, many know technical analysis, but very few can control their instincts. That’s why money always flows from the many to the few. Position scaling strategies, RSI indicators, trend analysis… of course, they are important. But they are just “techniques.” What determines your long-term survival is “mindset and discipline.” I’ve met many traders who are theoretically excellent, familiar with all kinds of indicators, but still lose because they can’t manage their emotions. Conversely, some use extremely simple methods, but thanks to iron discipline, they maintain steady profits for many years. Conclusion: Trading Is a Journey of Self-Discipline The story from 2,800U to 68,000U isn’t magic, but a process of winning against oneself. He was impulsive, wanted to recover, and held onto losses. But in the end, he overcame: Not falling for false breakouts, not averaging down during dips, only following clear trends to ride the waves. The essence of trading is a process of cultivating inner strength. It doesn’t test your prediction ability, but your ability to resist greed and fear. When your decisions are no longer driven by emotions, the market becomes a tool for profit — not a machine crushing your account. The door to the crypto market is always open, opportunities are never lacking. The only problem is: do you have enough discipline to hold onto them? Many know the techniques. Only those who can control themselves truly make money long-term.