The Most Expensive Illusion in Trading: 'I've Become Awesome'

“Last month +42%, yesterday one trade gave back 35%, woke up this morning flat zero and owing the platform $8,000.”

This was the final message from a guy in the group chat before he left. Same old recipe, same old taste. Almost every trader who has survived three bull-bear cycles has starred in this tragedy—the only difference is the size of the numbers and the number of blow-ups.

Profit and Loss Come from the Same Source

Every chunk of meat the market lets you eat has poison buried in the bone. The strategy that made you 300% in ranging gold 2022-2023 explodes in the 2025 trending runaway. The breakout system that printed money in 2020 gets slapped to death in the 2024-2025 chop.

Every dollar you make, the market has already written an IOU: “to be taken back with interest later.” The only question is when you cash that note.

Tape this to your monitor

Next time your account is glowing green, read this out loud:

“Every cent I’m making right now is money the market has temporarily lent me and will reclaim with interest. I didn’t get better—I just haven’t been harvested yet. My only job today is to protect capital and give the market no excuse to come for me.”