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Most of us are more personal finance blog readers than stock traders so we really do not earn a living buying and selling stocks. However, it is understandable that many of us are a little upset when we look at our stock market portfolio because of the recent decline of our stock prices. For example, my stock portfolio is basically down $10,000 from an all time high one month ago. This roughly means that I worked for nothing for the last couple months since my after tax income is much less than $10,000.

I’m not particular worried though, because the stock market has been good for me. For me, stocks are a long term growth story as opposed to a short term one. Sure, the stock market has been declining pretty sharply for the last month. However, if we take a 10 year average of stock market prices, the long term up trend is very apparent.

I’m no expert in stocks. Like most of us, I just try to invest in the stock market because I want to have a good life down the road. I understand that the stock market is not going to make me rich overnight, but if I keep investing through good and bad times, I will be rewarded.

Therefore, I will keep buying into the decline as I know prices will increase in the long term. I also focus my energy on other aspects of my life such as my blog and my job, so I’m not looking at the stock prices 24/7. I understand the risk and I made my decision to trust the market. How do you cope with this decline?