Staring at the market chart late at night, it seems like I can hear the heartbeat of global traders. In this 24/7 market, how many people have become "market food" through round after round of sharp rises and falls.

To be honest, I’ve also suffered quite a few losses. It wasn’t until later that I realized a principle: true trading ability isn’t about predicting the trend, but about how to survive amidst volatility. Today, I want to share three methodologies that have helped me stay alive until now.

**First: Treat K-lines as the market’s emotional expression**

Many beginners think technical analysis is just memorizing various pattern names. I used to think so too, until I had a margin call and realized—each K-line is speaking, reflecting the psychological state of market participants at that moment.

When a hammer appears at the bottom, it looks like a reversal signal, but what does it fundamentally reflect? It indicates that the bearish force is weakening, and the bulls are about to counterattack. What about the Evening Star pattern? It’s like visually depicting the panic psychology of investors caught chasing highs.

A little trick I’ve summarized is to look at the ratio between the body and the shadows. A thick body indicates strong participant conviction, while long shadows reveal market hesitation. If I see a particularly long upper shadow, I know a lot of funds are fleeing at the top. Even if the price is still rising in the short term, I stay alert.

What about volume? It’s a magnifier of emotion. True breakouts are always accompanied by a surge in volume. I’ve seen too many cases where prices soar but volume remains dead, and the outcome is often a quick plunge.

**Second: Risk management always comes first**

I must emphasize this point separately because its importance is seriously underestimated. Many people focus on how to make more money but don’t think clearly about how not to die.

My approach is simple: before each trade, I must calculate the maximum loss I can tolerate. For example, if I have 100,000 in my account and I only allow myself to lose 2,000 on a trade, then that is my stop-loss—when hit, I must cut it without bargaining.

The key is to set these limits before taking action, not to decide in the heat of the moment when losses actually occur. At that time, people are irrational, full of hope.

**Third: Choosing the right entry timing is more important than frequent trading**

The biggest flaw of beginners is being unable to sit still. When the market moves, they want to trade immediately, placing dozens of orders a day. I’ve seen too many such people, and their transaction fees can eat up most of their profits.

My current strategy is to select opportunities carefully. I might only make 3 to 5 trades a month, but each one is confirmed repeatedly. What’s the benefit of this? Less psychological pressure, higher decision quality, and more controllable odds.

Honestly, surviving longer in this market is often more valuable than trading quickly.