89% of futures traders are liquidated in their first month. I was one of them, and I’m still paying off the mental debt of that $5,400 hole. I used to stare at $XRP candles hitting 10% gains and think I was missing my chance at financial freedom, only to ape in at 50x leverage right before the inevitable wick down. Watching my margin evaporate while I waited for a recovery that never came felt like watching a slow-motion car crash. Now, every time my heart rate jumps because $DOT is making a massive move, I force myself to stop and answer three brutal questions before I even think about touching the trade button.

Rule one: ask if you are buying the breakout because of a technical setup or because you are terrified of...