In the contract market, through ups and downs, you will discover an interesting phenomenon: the same market conditions, some steadily accumulate profits, while others repeatedly see their dreams shattered.

Chasing a surge and entering the market, then immediately cutting losses when seeing a correction, only to feel like they sold too early—stories like these happen every day. The true dividing line, to put it simply, is two words: discipline.

Consistently profitable traders must think through three questions before making a trade: Why am I entering at this position? If the market moves against me, where do I admit defeat? How do I plan the exit strategy after reaching the target?

You will notice that they don’t chase after ETH or SOL’s skyrocketing moves; they only act when their verified signals appear. Taking profits is not greed, but a systematic way of managing profits. Cutting losses is not about giving up, but about preserving capital for the next trade. Of course, they will experience emotional fluctuations, but every operation must follow established rules.

On the other hand, there are those completely controlled by market sentiment. When a big bullish candle appears, they panic excessively, fearing missing out, and then heavily load into the position. The small stop-loss they initially set is abandoned because of impatience, and they hold on stubbornly. Staring at the K-line chart, they keep dreaming: if it pulls a little more, I’ll close; if it rises a bit more, I’ll break even. The subconscious message in their mind is: as long as I haven’t been wiped out, there’s still hope.

Essentially, these are two completely different trading philosophies: one treats contracts as a long-term business that requires refinement, relying on systems and discipline to succeed; the other treats it as a gamble for a turnaround, hoping for luck and intuition.

What’s the result? The former slowly accumulates in oscillating markets, while the latter returns to the starting point on an unnoticed night.

The harsh truth is: in this market, your opponent is never the market itself, but the mirror image of yourself driven by greed and fear. Recognizing this is the first step to advancing from a novice.