How I Lost Money Trading and Gained It Back by Holding

It all started with me watching a YouTube video. The guy was talking about how he made thousands of dollars in a single day by trading crypto. I was completely hooked. The idea of making quick money sounded way better than waiting years for my investments to grow. It felt like a shortcut to financial freedom, a secret that only a few people knew. So, I jumped right in, opened an account, and started trading. My brain was buzzing with the possibilities.

At first, it was exhilarating. I’d stay up late, watching the charts like a hawk. I was so convinced I could predict every little move. I had my theories, my little-known indicators, and a belief that I was smarter than the rest of the market. And for a while, it worked... or so I thought. I'd have a great day, feel like a genius, and then lose all my gains (and then some) on one bad trade. The stress was unreal. My life became a constant cycle of checking my phone, my mood swinging with every dip and spike in the market. I’d be ecstatic one moment and completely dejected the next. My friends would ask me what was up, and I’d just say, "Oh, you know, just a regular day in the market." But it wasn't regular; it was a non-stop rollercoaster of emotion that I was starting to hate.

I remember one night, I had a big trade go south. I lost a significant chunk of money on a cryptocurrency I was sure would skyrocket. I felt sick to my stomach. I just sat there, staring at the screen, and I realized something important: this wasn't fun, and it wasn't sustainable. The constant worry and stress weren't worth the potential for a quick buck. My health, my relationships, and my sanity were all taking a hit. I was so focused on trying to beat the market that I was letting it beat me instead.

That's when I decided to shift my strategy. I started looking into holding. The concept was simple but terrifyingly counter-intuitive after my trading experience. Instead of trying to time the market every day, I started researching solid projects and companies that I genuinely believed in for the long haul. I'd read about their technology, their teams, and their long-term vision. I wasn't just buying a ticker symbol; I was investing in an idea.

I started a new approach. I’d buy a little bit here and there, a strategy people call dollar-cost averaging, and then I'd just... leave it alone. I deleted the trading app from my phone and put my mind at ease. It was hard at first; the impulse to check the charts and see if my investments were "doing anything" was strong. But every time I felt that urge, I’d remind myself of the stress I had been under. I'd go for a walk, read a book, or just focus on my day job. I let time do the heavy lifting for me.

And you know what? It worked out. I still check my portfolio, but it's a calm, maybe-once-a-week kind of thing now. The stress is gone. I'm not a millionaire yet, but my investments are growing steadily without me losing sleep over them. The small dips don't faze me because I know I'm in it for the long run, and the big spikes are a pleasant surprise, not a high-stakes moment of decision. I finally found my peace of mind. For me, holding has been the true winning strategy, but I had to go through that painful trading experience to really understand why. Trading taught me that I don't have the stomach for constant risk and that I value my peace of mind more than a quick, stressful profit. Holding taught me patience and the power of consistent, long-term growth.

I’m so much happier now. I’m not tied to my phone, and I don’t have to worry about a sudden market crash wiping me out. I feel like I'm building something solid for my future, not just gambling on a hunch. My experience taught me that the best approach is the one that lets you live your life without constant worry. For me, that's holding.

That’s when I decided to shift my strategy. I started looking into holding. Instead of trying to time the market every day, I started researching solid projects and companies that I believed in for the long haul. I’d buy a little bit here and there, a strategy people call dollar-cost averaging, and then I’d just… leave it alone. I deleted the trading app from my phone and put my mind at ease.

And you know what? It worked out. I still check my portfolio, but it’s a calm, maybe-once-a-week kind of thing now. The stress is gone. I’m not a millionaire yet, but my investments are growing steadily without me losing sleep over them. I finally found my peace of mind. For me, holding has been the true winning strategy, but I had to go through that painful trading experience to really understand why.