A Trader’s Confession

Sometimes I feel like I don’t quite fit into society. No matter how much I try, I always end up being different - not in a way that’s forced or intentional, but simply because it’s who I am. The way I live, the way I think, and the way I see things often don’t match the standards people follow. And over time, I’ve learned to accept that maybe I’m not meant to fit in perfectly.

I’ve always lived a simple, minimalistic life. I don’t need much to feel content. Most people chase comfort through possessions - cars, clothes, gadgets, bigger homes - but I’ve realised that the more you own, the more those things end up owning you. They demand your attention, your time, your maintenance, your care. Every possession becomes another invisible chain tying you to the ground.

Minimalism, for me is about clarity. It’s about understanding what truly matters and removing everything that distracts you from it. When you live this way, you start to see how little you actually need to feel free. I live today almost the same way I lived two years ago. I wear similar clothes, eat similar healthy food and focus on the same passions - trading and traveling. I don’t need to constantly upgrade my life to feel progress. My version of progress is internal - becoming calmer, sharper, more aware. That’s the kind of wealth that can’t be measured in numbers.

People often think money is the ultimate goal. But look around. There are people who have more money than they can ever spend, yet they’re restless, anxious and empty. They keep chasing something that doesn’t exist - a version of happiness that they believe will appear once they reach a certain number. But happiness doesn’t work like that. It’s not a destination. It’s a mindset that grows when you stop comparing, stop proving, and stop needing more.

In that sense, trading is a paradox. On the surface, it’s one of the most materialistic professions out there. Everything revolves around money - profits, losses, numbers, performance. Social media made it even worse. Everyone is showing off. Everyone posts wins, luxury lifestyles and motivational quotes about success. But when you look deeper, most of it is fake. Ninety-nine percent of traders lose money. Yet the internet is full of people who act like they’ve figured it all out.

So where is the truth?

The truth is often quiet. It doesn’t attract followers. It doesn’t look glamorous on Instagram. Real trading is boring. It’s lonely. It’s repetitive. It’s emotionally demanding. But it’s also deeply personal - it teaches you more about yourself than most people are willing to learn. And that’s exactly why so many avoid it. It’s easier to sell a dream than to face reality.

When I started to grow my social media, I thought it would be a way to connect with people who shared the same values. But as my following grew, I saw how rotten the system really is. The number of offers I got to promote complete garbage was unbelievable. Companies offered me large sums of money to post things that had zero value for you, my audience - products and services that were, in many cases, clear scams.

And the saddest part? So many “traders” take these deals without hesitation. They don’t think twice, because they care more about the short-term money than the long-term trust. They promote anything that pays. But that’s how this online world works - people forget fast. The next flashy thing replaces the last one within days. Authenticity doesn’t trend. Reality doesn’t sell.

Sometimes it’s exhausting. Trying to stay real in a world that rewards pretending. Pushing hard truths while others push fantasies - and watching how people prefer the fantasy, every single time. But I can’t do it differently. I can’t lie to the same people I’m trying to help. I’d rather be underestimated for speaking truth than overpaid for selling illusions.

That’s why the more I see what trading culture has become, the less I even like calling myself a trader. Because to most people, “trader” now means someone showing luxury, bragging and flexing screenshots. Not someone who sits quietly, studies, journals and learns through pain and discipline.

But maybe that’s exactly what keeps me grounded. I don’t want to be like everyone else. I don’t want to live for external validation or social approval. I want to live freely - to own less, to feel more and to do work that matters to me.

Minimalism, trading, traveling - all of it connects to one core principle - freedom. And freedom is not about having everything. It’s about needing less.

- Luke FT.