The Loneliness of a Trader's Journey (2024)

Choosing a career in trading often means embracing a solitary path in life. The loneliness that comes with a trading career is not just about being physically alone; it's a unique form of solitude. In the minds of traders, there exists a vast inner world that outsiders usually struggle to comprehend. Therefore, it's not that traders are unwilling or reluctant to share their journey with others; it's just that discussing it often feels futile.

First and foremost, it's challenging to gain understanding and support from family members when you choose trading as your profession. This choice effectively severs many conventional pathways, as it usually means no fixed source of income. Spending years in front of a computer screen, day in and day out, seems completely logical to family members when you're making money. However, they might not see the psychological and emotional toll you endure. If you happen to incur losses, family members might even start to criticize you, claiming that you are not focused on a "real job" and are essentially worthless. As a result, those you can have meaningful conversations with become increasingly scarce.

Even with fellow traders who share your passion, there's a limit to the topics you can discuss. Seasoned traders have battled in the markets for years, enduring the market's constant torment while continuously growing. They have developed their stable trading systems and typically adhere to them. They aren't very interested in other people's trading systems. Although they might occasionally offer guidance, the scope of discussion is often limited unless there are shared interests beyond trading.

So, the loneliness in a trader's journey is not something deliberately sought after; it's a natural consequence of traveling down this path.