Many people have always thought that bear markets are the source of losses, but the truth is exactly the opposite. The reason you feel so much pain in a bear market is because you had already filled up your positions at the tail end of the rally. What really buries people at the peak isn’t the crash itself, but that impulsive decision to double down at the top.

In reality, as long as you gradually build your position when no one is paying attention and the market is so cold it could freeze, losing money almost never happens. Especially with those assets that have stood the test of time—you don’t have to be perfect, just be a little more patient, and time will erase your mistakes. The only difference is whether you make money faster or slower.

What truly causes people to crash is a very typical way of increasing positions:
The higher it rises, the more you dare to buy, and the larger your bets become.
You don’t dare to go heavy at the bottom, just symbolically buy a little.
When the price starts rising and you see good profits, you immediately increase your investment.
When it reaches euphoric heights, you even put in borrowed money.
But when the market turns, the profits vanish, and your principal evaporates as well.
Even though you got in early, you end up being the one left holding the bag at the top—this absurd scenario happens all the time.

Why do people fall into this trap so easily?
Because a bull market is a competition of patience and mindset.
You hold steady, solid coins, while others are making dozens of times their money on small coins.
You weren’t in a hurry, but being surrounded every day by “get rich quick” screenshots and “limit-up” screenshots, it’s hard not to get tempted.
The noise in a bull market constantly stirs up your jealousy and anxiety, eventually knocking you off rhythm.

There are two particularly effective ways to avoid going astray:
First: Leave it all to time.
Don’t look at prices, don’t focus on timing, just invest at a fixed interval.
This approach may seem foolish, but it effectively shields you from impulsive human nature.

Second: The income allocation principle.
Whenever you have cash flow—whether it’s salary or a bonus—take a fixed proportion and put it directly into your investment plan.
Don’t look at the market, don’t worry about emotions; this portion is not to be used elsewhere.
The rest is for living expenses, loan repayments, and consumption.
You’ll find that those who stick to this system end up doing much better than those who chase the hottest trends or analyze K-lines.

So, what drags you into the abyss is never the bear market, but the greed in those last few days of the bull market.
What really destroys you isn’t the market, but your inability to overcome yourself.