From “Hold No Orders” to Understanding the Language of the Market

Going sideways is not a risk, but a psychological test. A few days ago, a long-time follower sent me a very honest message: “Hey, I’m not unable to make money, but I can’t hold onto my positions. Whenever the market fluctuates, I panic, sell, and then it runs again. How can I fix this?” That question took me back to the early days of entering the market. I used to be the same: as soon as the price increased a little, I was afraid of a correction; when it dipped slightly, I feared a sharp drop. When holding a position, I felt the pressure; when I cut it, I felt regret. Trading was always in a state of anxiety. Until I met someone experienced who truly understood the market. He only asked me one question: “Do you think the big money is against us? No. The thing they fear most is small investors calmly leaving the market.” At that moment, I suddenly realized: it’s not that I don’t know how to read charts, but that I haven’t understood the true nature of this game. Why Do We Always Fail to Hold Positions? The first barrier is the fear of losing money. Most beginners underestimate the psychological impact of losses. But when losses actually happen, the fear is exaggerated, making every fluctuation a mental torture. Poor position management makes that fear even greater. When you put too much capital into a single trade or a position with a large proportion, your psychology becomes extremely sensitive. Even a small movement can cause overreaction. Lack of a clear trading plan is a fatal mistake. Many buy just because “others are buying” or “heard good news,” but don’t know why they are buying, how much risk they are taking, or where to exit. At that point, emotions are completely driven by price. Change Your Perspective: Think Like Big Money When I started observing the market from the perspective of big money, many previously confusing things suddenly made sense: Why does the price often drop sharply right when you fear the most? Because that’s when the market forces impatient traders to sell. During accumulation, widespread fear triggers panic selling, creating opportunities for large players to buy at low prices. Why does the market stay sideways for so long, making you discouraged? Because accumulation takes time. Big money is patient; they need enough patience to absorb supply from those losing faith and wait. Why does the price often surge right after you sell? Because the distribution phase is usually accompanied by positive signals, making those who sold feel like they “missed the boat” and pulling them back into the market at higher prices. That’s when I realized: it’s not that I can’t hold positions, but that I don’t recognize how the market is trying to lead me to act. How Have I Trained My “Hold Position” Ability? First, distinguish between trend and noise I learned to differentiate between genuine trend changes and short-term fluctuations. A simple but effective tool is observing the change in open interest volume. Price rising with increasing open interest: capital is still flowing in, trend likely to continue. Price rising but open interest decreasing: profit-taking is happening, the trend may weaken. Just this alone has helped me avoid many premature exits. Second, always have a plan before entering a trade Every trade must be clear: what is the goal, how much risk am I willing to accept, where is the stop-loss, where is the take-profit. Once the plan is set, I no longer let emotions drive me candle by candle. I also no longer try to catch every opportunity. The market always has waves, but opportunities that fit my system are not many. Waiting is also part of trading. Third, evaluate based on statistics rather than emotions I monitor trading performance through four factors: win rate, profit/loss ratio, equity curve, and risk control level. I no longer let a single winning or losing trade affect my mood. When I see my capital steadily increasing over time, I know I’m on the right track, even if there are short-term losing streaks. The Most Important Transformation: From Passive to Active As my awareness changed, my trading rhythm also changed completely. Others panic, I stay calm. Others hesitate, I have a plan. Others chase prices, I am already on the train, buckled up. Interestingly, many beginners I guide later also undergo similar transformations. It’s not that they are smarter overnight, but that they realize one thing: every market fluctuation is not to fight against you, but to ask you a very simple question: are you worthy of keeping this profit? Conclusion Successful trading is not about luck, but about habits. Habits are formed when you repeat correct behaviors over a long enough period. “Unable to hold positions” is just an external manifestation. The root lies in market perception and self-control. Ordinary investors who want to survive long-term don’t need more complicated indicators, but need to understand the language the market is speaking. If you always leave at the wrong time, hesitate when action is needed, you might just be missing one final piece of awareness. I’ve paid enough tuition already; you don’t need to walk that path again. Learning to understand the market is the most valuable asset you can accumulate.