Investing is a profession that demands a high degree of independent thinking and radical honesty with oneself.

I once remained stuck in a certain phase for a long time. It wasn’t because I denied having emotional or psychological issues to work through, but rather because I lacked the courage to truly stand on my own. I fantasized that someone—or something—would descend and rescue me.

But to face reality, one must first help oneself. Only when you're willing to own your decisions and take full responsibility for their consequences can you truly begin the inward journey. Then, all the knowledge you've acquired will finally start to serve a purpose.

To put it bluntly: I hadn’t grown up. I was still hiding in a “cup” called home.

But the cup is small, and the world is as vast as Lake Baikal. Just a drop of vinegar can sour the entire cup.

Everyone starts life in a fairytale, protected by parents, then steps into society. But not everyone crosses that threshold emotionally or mentally.

Most people don’t complete the journey, so they:

- Retreat into their families;

- Disappear into large organizations;

- Or drown in desires.

They haven’t truly stood up for themselves or faced life’s challenges with courage.

If the Buddha were to tell a parable, perhaps it would go like this:

A man with healthy legs insists on using a wheelchair. When he encounters stairs, he waits for others to carry him.

When no one’s there to help, he begins to complain and resent the lack of elevators or accessible ramps.

The longer he stays in that comfort, the more his legs weaken.

What he really needs is not a better wheelchair, but painful rehabilitation to regain strength.

Rehabilitation is exhausting. Few are willing to do it unless life itself forces their hand.

But if the muscles and nerves are still intact, the moment of rediscovering your own legs often comes after being thrown to the ground, your wheelchair taken away. You crawl with your hands, drag yourself to the roadside, pull yourself up with a stick or rock—and when you can finally stand, you’ll realize:

You had legs all along. And they’re strong enough to carry your full weight.

Adults lack the courage toddlers have when learning to walk—because adults have learned how to lie to themselves, while toddlers face the unknown with pure wonder.

The suffering we face—physically or emotionally—may seem undeserved when viewed from the narrow scope of a single life. But zooming out, much of it is the result of our own past actions.

Given that we’re alive here and now, the only practical and responsible approach is to accept reality and take ownership.

No one else can do this part for us.

Accepting reality and taking responsibility is painful—but we often forget that it’s also the very definition of freedom.

Freedom isn’t about doing whatever we want in illusion. It’s about making choices through our own will, and acting with integrity.

Because there is resistance, we can feel force.

Because we face darkness, light has meaning.

Suffering is the seed of awakening.

Service gives meaning to our existence.

Clinging to your own pain and rushing to “fix it” is often a disguised form of the death wish.

Feeling “alone” is an illusion. Thinking you can hide safely within the crowd is also an illusion.

The more you try to fill the void within from the outside, the deeper you sink.

The more you try to insulate yourself from pain, the smaller and more fragile you become.

Becoming a “mama’s boy” may be due to your upbringing—or your own habits.

Whether you blame others or rely on them, the truth is: no one can live your life for you.

Exploring your wounds and shadows is hard. It’s true—some gifted people may help you uncover the architecture of your subconscious in a conversation.

But no one can do the inner work of understanding yourself for you.

If you haven’t yet experienced the connection between your heart and the world, you likely can’t yet observe the markets with clarity either.

In that case, step away from trading or investing. First, use a reliable system to address the challenges in your real life.

When you’ve gained experience and insight, then—and only then—reconsider becoming a trader/investor who can stand tall and grounded.