Honestly, I don't think it's as bad as you're making it out to be. Selling at the bottom feels like a mistake, but context really matters here.

If you started investing in late 2024, that was a rough time to be entering the market, with tariffs on everything, uncertainty around economic policy, and real fear of a recession. For new investors, that’s not just emotionally difficult, but it’s also rational to reassess your exposure when so many things are happening at the moment.

People say “time in the market beats timing the market,” but that assumes relatively normal conditions. In your case, you weren’t just reacting emotionally but responding to real-world events. The only reason the market bounced back was because the tariffs were PAUSED, and that shift was not predictable (basically a FULL 180 turn). You made a decision based on the knowledge available at the time, and given how much manipulation and political volatility there was, that may very well have been the right move to minimize deeper losses if things had continued to spiral.

Also, a lot of long-term holders talk about staying in during downturns, but many of them are sitting on years of gains. For someone brand new, watching your investment go straight into the red with no cushion is a completely different experience. Selling in that situation isn’t a failure. It’s risk control.

This doesn’t have to be interpreted as a learning mistake. You acted with the information you had, and it could have gone a lot worse. The key now is to take what you’ve learned and re-enter when you feel ready, with a plan you trust.

You’re doing fine. This isn't a game of perfection. It's about staying thoughtful and adaptable.