There’s nothing like the emotional rollercoaster of options trading.
You wake up early, chart your plays, feel smart for five minutes…
Then your trade goes sideways by 11AM, and you’re slamming your laptop shut, swearing off trading forever—again.
You whisper to yourself:
“Why does this feel like gambling with extra guilt?”
“Everyone on Reddit is printing money… why do I always get burned?”
“Am I just not cut out for this?”
I’ve rage-quit more weeks than I can count.
Until I found one strategy that changed everything.
Not because it made me rich.
But because it made me calm.
Let me introduce you to the strategy that saved my trading sanity:
The Cash-Secured Put.
📉 First, A Quick Reality Check
If you're still jumping between call options on penny stocks hoping for a 500% return overnight...
You're not trading.
You're hoping.
And hope isn’t a strategy.
I used to be addicted to the thrill. But the thrill doesn’t pay. It robs you—of clarity, of discipline, of emotional control.
So I went looking for something slower.
Smarter.
Sustainable.
And what I found wasn’t sexy—but it works.
🧠 Enter: The Cash-Secured Put (aka The Chill Trader’s Strategy)
Here’s how it works in plain English:
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You sell a put option on a stock you actually want to own.
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You collect a premium up front—cash in your account immediately.
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If the stock drops below your strike price, you’re obligated to buy it (at a discount).
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If the stock doesn’t drop? You keep the premium and repeat.
That’s it.
No wild swings.
No infinite losses.
No anxiety-driven decision-making.
It’s like telling the market:
“Hey, I’ll buy this stock if it drops—and you’ll pay me just for being willing.”
🧘♂️ Why This Strategy Feels Like Therapy
✅ You Profit Either Way
If the stock drops? You get it at a lower price.
If it doesn’t? You still get paid.
✅ You’re Playing Offense + Defense
This isn’t about guessing direction. It’s about setting conditions that benefit you regardless.
✅ You Get Off the Dopamine Hamster Wheel
No constant refreshing. No heart palpitations.
Just clear entries, calm exits, and predictable premiums.
✅ It Replaces Panic With Process
I now start my week with one question:
“What’s a stock I’d happily own at a discount?”
Then I sell a put on it, collect my premium, and walk away.
💡 My Real-Life Example
A few weeks ago, $AAPL was trading around $185.
I liked it long-term, but I didn’t want to buy it yet.
So I sold a $175 cash-secured put for $1.75 premium.
That’s $175 in my pocket—for being willing to buy Apple at $175.
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If it dropped? I’d own the shares 5% cheaper than current price.
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If it didn’t? I’d keep the cash, and try again next week.
It’s simple math, backed by logic, not emotion.
And for the first time, I didn’t feel like I was surviving the market.
I felt like I was partnering with it.
😮💨 The Biggest Mindset Shift: I Stopped Trying to “Win Big”
Options trading shouldn’t feel like a scratch ticket.
But that’s what most people turn it into.
Once I accepted that consistent, boring, “base hit” income was better than sporadic Hail Marys, everything changed.
The cash-secured put taught me that options weren’t just weapons of mass speculation—they could be tools for controlled income, calm decisions, and long-term ownership.
🛑 Before You Try This, Read This:
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You need the cash to buy 100 shares of the stock you're selling a put on. It’s called cash-secured for a reason.
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Stick to stocks you’d be proud to own. No chasing junk tickers just for premium.
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Know your risk tolerance. Assignment isn’t failure—it’s part of the strategy.
🧭 TL;DR – My Sanity-Saving Trading Shift
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I stopped chasing profit.
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I started collecting premium.
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I embraced assignment.
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I let go of trying to be “right” every trade.
Now, every Monday, I do one thing:
Sell one cash-secured put.
And live my life.
💬 Closing Thought:
If trading has been making you feel like a chaotic, desperate version of yourself…
It’s not your fault.
You’re not bad at this.
You’re just using strategies designed for adrenaline, not clarity.
You deserve a system that respects your peace and grows your account.
For me, that system started with one cash-secured put.
Maybe it will for you too.
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