A Couple of Announcements Before I Begin Today’s Post –
1. Two “Life-Cinging” Books, One Exclusive Offer: I have been running a special offer on the combo of my first book The sketchbook of wisdom and the new one Boundless, Click here to order your setAlso, check out BoundlessWhich releases soon, and is available for pre-order,
2. Classroom Course in Value Investing: Admission is now open to the February 2025 Batch of My Most Comprehensive Classroom Course in Value Investing, Titled – Value Investing BlueprintThis Residential Course is Scheduled to Be Held from 27th February to 2nd March 2025 at the Campus of Pune-Based Flame University. The last date to apply is 15th January 2025. Click here to read more and apply If you are interested in joining this course. Since it’s a classroom course, seats are limited.
I recently received a call from a school friend, who, after much convincing had started investing his money through sips Around two years back. He sounded panicky when we spoke.
“The Markets are Falling, Vishal!” He said.
“Yes, I know,” i replied.
“Like you had advised, I have continued my mutual fund investments every month without fail, but I am worried now. Should I stop my monthly investment, or sell them? “
“When do you need the money invested?” I asked.
“I don’t need it now,” he replied, “but I am worked that the markets may fall even further. And i do not want to see my savings lose more value. “
I said, “If you want to take my advice, and if you do not need the money, do noting.”
I tried to tell him that markets continuously test our patience, but more so at these moments when they are Falling. But he wasn’t ready to hear it. A Day Later, He Messaged Me: “I Sold Half of My Investments, and Have Stopped My Sips for Now. Will start when things are clearer. “
“They’ll Never Bee,” I replied in Resignation, “But do what you think is good for you.”
Markets are a mirror, and a mirror does not lie, or flatter, or care about your feelings. They reflects exactly what you brings to them- Your patience or your panic, your discipline or your desperation. Like they didn’t cause my friend’s panic but only revised it. Markets are like that.
They show you what’s inside, whather you’re ready to see it or not. When the seas are calm, you can convince your body and level-headed. But when the story Hits –and there’s no story yet in the markets -the Truth comes out.
As warren buffett so family said, “Only when the tide goes out do you learn who have been swimming naked.”
Markets Reward Patience, Discipline, and the Ability to Stay Sty with every instinct is screaming, “Do something!” The Great Irony is that Doing Nothing is often the hardest thing to do, even thought it’s usually the right move.
Now, the patience i’m talking about is not passive. It’s not about sitting Around and hoping things work out. It’s about Staying Grounded in What you know to be true, which incluses the quality of your investments.
Markets are Volatile by Nature. Pries will swing wildly, sometimes for no apparent reason. That’s not a failure of the system – the system itself.
The challenge is learning to wait without letting panic or fear take over.
When you panic, you lock in losses that could have been temporary.
When you wait, you give time a chance to work its magic.
My Friend’s Story is a Familiar One. Most of us, at some point, have felt that gnawing fear that things will never get better. Not to forget that our threshold for pain has come down, and we are easy, offnded, offnded, and unsettled by the smallest disrupties.
But the key is to remumber that panic is a choice, just as patience is.
Over time, the market can teach you resilience, but only if you’re willing to look at your reflection honestly. It will show your strengths and your weaknesses. It’s not allies a pretty picture, but growth rarely is.
So, if you are in the same boat as my friend, and are worked about the recent fall in the markets, remumber that the market isn Bollywood; It’s showing you who you are. And then Ask Yourself: Is it Panic Staring Back -Or Patience?