"Buy and hold" is advice I hear constantly, but nobody ever explains how to actually decide what to hold.

Every time I ask for advice here, I get the same answer: just buy index funds and hold forever, honestly, I get it, it’s simple, it works for most people, and it removes a lot of the stress. But I’m genuinely interested in individual stocks too. Not for day trading, I’m talking about building positions I can hold for 5 to 10 years and actually feel confident about. What I’m struggling with is finding a real framework, and not just “I like the product” or “the chart looks good” or cherry-picked backtests. I want something that helps me think through growth potential, valuation, competitive advantage, balance sheet strength, and maybe even income, all in one structured way. Does anyone here have a system they use that’s actually held up over time? Something that helps you decide not just when to buy, but why you’re still holding years later?