What drags you down in trading is not the loss, but the anxiety of not being able to wait for a slow bull market.

At 2 a.m., I was still watching the red and green bars on the K-line chart pulsate like a heartbeat—this is the daily routine of many traders. We always think the scariest thing in trading is 'losing': losing capital, losing time, losing hope for the future. But what truly drags people down is never the loss itself—it's your inability to tolerate 'slowness.'

Our generation seems to suffer from 'fast-money thirst syndrome': we want 'one-on-one' food delivery, 'speed dating' in relationships, and even 'invest today, profit today' in trading. But the cruelty of trading lies in this: it specifically punishes 'impatient smart people.'

What You Think Is 'Fast' Is Actually 'Dying Faster'

Open social media, and you'll see screens flooded with myths like 'double your money in three days' or 'earn 100K a month.' Many are swept up by this illusion of 'get rich quick,' diving headfirst into the market without asking: Why you?

• The trap of frequent trading: To chase 'quick profits,' you might trade a dozen times a day, with fees eating up your gains and emotions swayed by volatility.

Data shows 80% of high-frequency traders end up losing because they replace rational judgment with 'gambling-style moves.'

• The fear of 'slow': When the market enters a sideways phase, you grow anxious: 'Why isn’t it rising? Should I switch to another asset?' So you cut losses, chase the next hot trend, only to buy at the peak.

This is the classic consequence of 'can’t tolerate slowness': making the wrong decision at the wrong time.

'Slow' Isn’t a Flaw—It’s Trading’s 'Invisible Threshold'

Trading legend Livermore once said, 'The market is wise—it punishes those who lack patience.' This hits a nerve for many: we crave 'instant results' but overlook that trading’s essence is 'the rose of time.'

• Slowness respects cycles: Whether stocks, funds, or crypto, price movements follow cycles. Take Bitcoin: in the past decade, it crashed over 80% three times—yet each time, it reached new highs years later. Those who hold earn time’s reward; those who don’t pay emotion’s debt.
• Slowness protects you: Only by allowing yourself to 'slow down' can you calmly analyze fundamentals and technicals, free from FOMO (fear of missing out). For example, many who rushed into crypto at its 2021 peak did so because they 'couldn’t tolerate slowness,' fearing they’d miss the last rally—and are still bagholding today.

How to Brew the 'Miracle of Compounding' in 'Slowness'

Trading is inherently 'anti-human,' and 'patience' is the most anti-human virtue.
Here are three ways to grow in 'slowness':
1. Replace 'fast money' goals with 'steady money'
Aim for '15% annualized returns,' not '50% monthly.' Data shows even Warren Buffett’s annualized returns hover around 20%—but he stuck with it for 60 years, becoming the world’s richest.

Remember: Slower means farther.

2. Use 'DCA' to fight 'impatience'
Invest a fixed amount monthly, ignoring market swings. This 'foolproof method' is rooted in faith in 'time’s compounding.' For example, $1,000 monthly at 10% annualized grows to $2.26M in 30 years.

This is the power of 'slow.'

3. Spend 10 mins daily 'reviewing,' not 10 hours 'watching'
Less chart-staring, more journaling: Why did this trade win? Luck or strategy? Why did that one lose? Emotion or misjudgment? Reviewing is 'talking to yourself,' refining cognition through 'slow thinking,' not draining energy in 'fast trading.'

Finally: What Are You 'Waiting For'?

Our generation fears 'falling behind': peers buying homes first, friends getting promoted first, 'others’ speed' making our 'slowness' feel like failure. But trading should teach us: True 'speed' is 'taking it slow.'
Like planting a tree—you can’t yank it up to check roots at sprouting. Like simmering soup—you can’t taste it at boiling.

'Slow' in trading isn’t 'waiting to die'—it’s 'letting time make money for you.'

Starting today, be a 'slow trader':
Spend screen time on books instead.
Replace 'How much did I make today?' with 'Did I trade recklessly this month?'
Replace 'I want fast money' with 'I want steady money.'
After all, only those who endure to the end deserve the juiciest cut.
 

Comment below: When was the last time you 'lost money because you couldn’t wait'?