In this market, surviving longer is always more important than being flashy.

At 3 a.m., the bright screen of my phone stings my eyes. The account balance in the lower right corner is wildly fluctuating, shrinking with each refresh. It feels like someone is cutting into your flesh with a dull knife—so real it’s suffocating.

Years ago, I personally destroyed 60% of my principal that night. Slumped in my chair, my mouth filled with bitterness. Not the bitterness of coffee, but the bitterness of despair. It was from that moment on that I decided to understand the rules of this market. Not to conquer it, but to learn to coexist with it.

The trading principles I want to share today do not come from any theoretical books. Behind every word are sleepless nights after a margin call and deep reflections after cutting losses.

**Stop-loss is the trader’s lifeline**

"Can I buy the dip at support?" I’ve been asked this question countless times. My answer never changes: "Fasten your seatbelt first, then consider stepping on the gas."

For students with small funds of around 500U, the first lesson must be to draw a red line. Every stop-loss must be locked in, and position size never exceeds 5%. This is not cowardice; it’s wisdom. During last year’s sharp decline, traders who strictly followed this discipline survived 80% longer than those who stubbornly held on and gambled on a rebound.

The market is the ultimate cure for disobedience. Discipline is the only cure for the market.

Stop-loss is never a sign of failure. It’s an opportunity to restart. Successful traders are not those who never lose money, but those who know how to control the extent of their losses. When you can manage risk and keep your account alive long enough, opportunities for huge profits will naturally come.