After years of navigating the crypto world, if someone asks me who the biggest enemy in trading is, I would say without hesitation—it's myself.

Many people think trading difficulty lies in precise predictions or finding some magical indicator. Actually, that's not the case. The real arena isn't on the charts, but inside your mind. You're battling your greed, fear, and impulsiveness—that's the core battle in trading.

So how to win? I've tried relying solely on self-discipline, but I found willpower is unreliable; it always runs out. Therefore, you must design a system that is counterintuitive, constraining that unruly self from multiple angles.

**Level One: Replacing Feelings with Rules**

Trading rules are like your external brain. But these rules must meet three conditions.

First is quantification. Don't say things like "I feel it'll go up today" or "This coin looks good." Those are garbage. Your rules must be precise for every condition. For example: when the four-hour K-line price is above the 20-day moving average, and the one-hour chart forms a bullish engulfing pattern, then enter. Only such rules are executable.

Second is completeness. From the moment you open a position, you should know where to set your stop-loss, when to add to your position, and how to take profits. The rules must cover the entire trading lifecycle, answering every question you might have, rather than leaving it to last-minute improvisation.

Finally, visibility. Print out your core rules and stick them directly in front of your computer. Before placing an order, just like a pilot checks instruments before takeoff, confirm each rule one by one. It may sound silly, but this "silliness" can save your life.

**Level Two: Training Awareness**

Next, learn to observe your emotions instead of being hijacked by them.

When you feel impulsive to place an order, stop and give yourself three seconds. Ask: Is this decision based on the rules, or is it because I saw others making money and I can't wait? Is the market truly signaling, or is my greed stirring again?

With long-term practice, you'll gradually become an observer of your emotions rather than a passive victim. Emotions will still come, but if you can see them clearly, you won't be controlled by them.

**Level Three: Environment Design**

The last dimension is transforming your trading environment. What does that mean? It’s making doing the right thing the easiest choice.

For example, if you're easily influenced by signals from a chat group, leave the group. If you often check K-lines late at night and make reckless trades, delete the app from your phone and only trade on your computer. If you frequently over-leverage, lower your account risk parameters so the system automatically protects you.

Human willpower will eventually run out, but environmental constraints are continuous. Smart traders aren’t those with the strongest willpower, but those who know how to leverage external forces.

Ultimately, trading is a psychological game. You're not just fighting the market, but that self who always wants to buy the bottom, chase the high, or go all-in. Building rules, training awareness, and designing environments form a complete self-restraint system. Stick to this approach, and you might just survive trading—and even make money.