When I see other regs getting ahead quickly, sometimes I feel impatient and push myself. I want to keep my composure and keep my own pace, but sometimes it doesn't work out. What method is effective in this case?
Looking at this, there are probably a few temporary methods, but I prefer going to the root, as it is not only more sustainable, but has the potential to change your whole outlook in many aspects.
In this case what we see is are focused on a mix of comparing and results.
An example.
Lets say the next 10 seconds.
you can think about results
while you are thinking about results, do you also think about strategy?
Answer: No
So you have to make a choice how you want to distribute your ability to think during those 10 seconds and each hour and each day.
When do not actively choose this, what is your learned or default behavior will come through.
For most humans, that is to think about results and comparing.
I will probably make a whole video on comparing soon.
But ultimately. When all you do is to think about comparisons and results, then your brain literally is taken up by this and there is less space and energy there for you to think about what really matters to you.
Now what can we do?
One important thing is, to learn to rewire your brain by actively choosing to return to different things to think about.
Sometimes that can also mean to take a break (if it is influencing you too much) and recalibrate yourself.
This means, you have to become aware of your tendencies in real time. This requires a form of presence and checking in with yourself frequently, in order to see where you stand and then have a sort of technique, a refocus moment, available that allows you to focus again on what matters to you.
As you will or might have heard in some of my other videos. This is why learning to be more present or as it is also sometimes called, Mindful throughout your day is important. However, a shortcut to that is to learn about the cues that show you that you are now in that mode. Because if you are unaware what mode you are currently operating in, it is very hard to know that there is something that needs changing.
This is not completely true, because you can also adopt a new mode and make that your default mode of thinking and being, however, that is requiring a new approach to life. Where you don't look to figure out where you are at, but instead you consistently throughout the day actively choose your way of being and thinking regardless of where you are right now.
For example if you are a little mad at something, it does not matter to figure out what you are mad about, but you would simply return to a mindful and calm practice.
Some might make an argument here that this does not resolve problems you might accumulate but that is not entirely true but in the short term it might sometimes look that way, but to go into that would be a little much to explain here.
In Short.
Learn what triggers you, types of thoughts, the words you use in your thoughts, the things you think about (as you said, another reg getting ahead early).
So when you see a reg winning a lot, regardless of you being triggered or not, you could then go into a reminder.
I am not here to compete against variance with others and who is ahead now or later, I am here to perform the best I can and make the best decisions I can.
I can do this, by focusing on the process, staying calm and taking in the information from the hands without adding my own desires and flavors to it.
Another thing to remember there is, whatever someone wins at the table, is in large part due to variance, sure there are players and hands that have that extra bit of skill in them. But mostly, someone being ahead or behind by larger sums is due to the cards that they have been dealt.
If two good regs play against each other, they will likely not missplay a hand so badly that variance had no effect on the outcome.
So it is important to set your thinking straight that your emotions are trying to tell you there is something going on other than variance and wanting to win and beat others.
The way to win is not to just focus on others, it is to stay calm within and play your best game and when you can't to return to it as soon as you can, by taking breaks and having techniques available and well practiced that allow you to return to calm and present execution.
I had been doing very, very well over the past month and then came across a session where I ran into some standard variance, dropped a BI, and then turned it into three on pure tilt. I really got upset at myself over this and stopped playing to analyze things for a handful of days. I'm feeling good enough to return to the tables with more understanding of myself and what leads to my own tilt, and this video has been a great warmup alongside my solver study!
Mass procrastinator and negative thinker here. I've made tons of strides on this over the past couple of years in life but, of course, it still tries to rear it's ugly head when it comes to poker because money is directly involved. I'm working on it. Hard.
I think there are a few factors there, money being directly involved is one, another is, that poker variance is so fast, that even if you have trained it and you can manage things in life where they are running a little more slowly, in poker, it can just go way too fast way too quickly and simple acts like a tornado then. Good thing you stopped and looked at these tilt moments.
To improve them even further, you want to simulate at least to some degree, to make things harder on yourself when you are doing away from playing work, so that you get a few extra reps in.
For example you could set a timer for a single hand review or a single decision and if you don't meet it, some form of punishment, to make the pressure feel just a little more real. Overall, the time aspect is what is not often utilized in poker study, but at the table you only have a few seconds per decision and sometimes on multiple tables, which brings out another aspect, you could review 4-6 tables at once or even play much smaller stakes, all with the intention to work on your emotional state and handling quick decisions... Some trial and errorr works well here until you can find something that works for you.
However this is not so much about poker study, but about learning to accept that you miss things. Also and this is important, you want to frequently go to a place in your mind where you recall that you accept things and tough spots occur and whether within or outside your control and you do not need to overcompensate for them, just stay or return to your calm center.
But yeah, living this as a way of life, where you just learn to be more calm all the time and accept rough patches more quickly, will ultimately be the way
Chris Pimmer Thanks for writing me back here. This is also a great reminder for me to keep an eye on my timebanks. That last session, I knew they were low and I just didn't have the discipline to stop slightly down. I had to push it and ...three BI's later I finally pushed back for the day.
You are welcome :)
Something important to realize and train is, that, these emotional things and overall things, they add up, until they overwhelm you and it becomes impossible to not tilt or make big mistakes and it all starts with a simple... oh I can handle this, or these tables are too good... but what needs to be acknowledged in the same sentence is.
I am entering a difficult situation, variance and time constraints will increase variance, which can have an undesired effect on me. This of course does not hold true for everyone in the same way, but for those that are affected by this, variance with every neglected little thing will increase.
Had such a wild up and down weekend, Friday went and played live and lost, Saturday got absolutely wrecked on pokerstars but Sunday and today we played and ran good. And that’s not to say I may not of played my best earlier it’s a combination likely of some run bad and not playing my best to my abilities. Reading some of the comments! I do see some of the regs moving up stakes and that’s ultimately my goal and where we want to be. The past few times I have tried moving up I get my ass kicked here and there and have to move back down! Think I need to just get more hands in stay focused and consistent with my play and it will come
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Listening to healthy content in a calm voice is healing. Thank you for making a good video.
That's wonderful, you are very welcome and thank you for letting me know
When I see other regs getting ahead quickly, sometimes I feel impatient and push myself. I want to keep my composure and keep my own pace, but sometimes it doesn't work out. What method is effective in this case?
Looking at this, there are probably a few temporary methods, but I prefer going to the root, as it is not only more sustainable, but has the potential to change your whole outlook in many aspects.
In this case what we see is are focused on a mix of comparing and results.
An example.
Lets say the next 10 seconds.
you can think about results
while you are thinking about results, do you also think about strategy?
Answer: No
So you have to make a choice how you want to distribute your ability to think during those 10 seconds and each hour and each day.
When do not actively choose this, what is your learned or default behavior will come through.
For most humans, that is to think about results and comparing.
I will probably make a whole video on comparing soon.
But ultimately. When all you do is to think about comparisons and results, then your brain literally is taken up by this and there is less space and energy there for you to think about what really matters to you.
Now what can we do?
One important thing is, to learn to rewire your brain by actively choosing to return to different things to think about.
Sometimes that can also mean to take a break (if it is influencing you too much) and recalibrate yourself.
This means, you have to become aware of your tendencies in real time. This requires a form of presence and checking in with yourself frequently, in order to see where you stand and then have a sort of technique, a refocus moment, available that allows you to focus again on what matters to you.
As you will or might have heard in some of my other videos. This is why learning to be more present or as it is also sometimes called, Mindful throughout your day is important. However, a shortcut to that is to learn about the cues that show you that you are now in that mode. Because if you are unaware what mode you are currently operating in, it is very hard to know that there is something that needs changing.
This is not completely true, because you can also adopt a new mode and make that your default mode of thinking and being, however, that is requiring a new approach to life. Where you don't look to figure out where you are at, but instead you consistently throughout the day actively choose your way of being and thinking regardless of where you are right now.
For example if you are a little mad at something, it does not matter to figure out what you are mad about, but you would simply return to a mindful and calm practice.
Some might make an argument here that this does not resolve problems you might accumulate but that is not entirely true but in the short term it might sometimes look that way, but to go into that would be a little much to explain here.
In Short.
Learn what triggers you, types of thoughts, the words you use in your thoughts, the things you think about (as you said, another reg getting ahead early).
So when you see a reg winning a lot, regardless of you being triggered or not, you could then go into a reminder.
I am not here to compete against variance with others and who is ahead now or later, I am here to perform the best I can and make the best decisions I can.
I can do this, by focusing on the process, staying calm and taking in the information from the hands without adding my own desires and flavors to it.
Another thing to remember there is, whatever someone wins at the table, is in large part due to variance, sure there are players and hands that have that extra bit of skill in them. But mostly, someone being ahead or behind by larger sums is due to the cards that they have been dealt.
If two good regs play against each other, they will likely not missplay a hand so badly that variance had no effect on the outcome.
So it is important to set your thinking straight that your emotions are trying to tell you there is something going on other than variance and wanting to win and beat others.
The way to win is not to just focus on others, it is to stay calm within and play your best game and when you can't to return to it as soon as you can, by taking breaks and having techniques available and well practiced that allow you to return to calm and present execution.
Thank you very much for your long and kind reply. If I have a similar mental problem, I'll come back and read this comment again.
I had been doing very, very well over the past month and then came across a session where I ran into some standard variance, dropped a BI, and then turned it into three on pure tilt. I really got upset at myself over this and stopped playing to analyze things for a handful of days. I'm feeling good enough to return to the tables with more understanding of myself and what leads to my own tilt, and this video has been a great warmup alongside my solver study!
Mass procrastinator and negative thinker here. I've made tons of strides on this over the past couple of years in life but, of course, it still tries to rear it's ugly head when it comes to poker because money is directly involved. I'm working on it. Hard.
I think there are a few factors there, money being directly involved is one, another is, that poker variance is so fast, that even if you have trained it and you can manage things in life where they are running a little more slowly, in poker, it can just go way too fast way too quickly and simple acts like a tornado then. Good thing you stopped and looked at these tilt moments.
To improve them even further, you want to simulate at least to some degree, to make things harder on yourself when you are doing away from playing work, so that you get a few extra reps in.
For example you could set a timer for a single hand review or a single decision and if you don't meet it, some form of punishment, to make the pressure feel just a little more real. Overall, the time aspect is what is not often utilized in poker study, but at the table you only have a few seconds per decision and sometimes on multiple tables, which brings out another aspect, you could review 4-6 tables at once or even play much smaller stakes, all with the intention to work on your emotional state and handling quick decisions... Some trial and errorr works well here until you can find something that works for you.
However this is not so much about poker study, but about learning to accept that you miss things. Also and this is important, you want to frequently go to a place in your mind where you recall that you accept things and tough spots occur and whether within or outside your control and you do not need to overcompensate for them, just stay or return to your calm center.
But yeah, living this as a way of life, where you just learn to be more calm all the time and accept rough patches more quickly, will ultimately be the way
Chris Pimmer Thanks for writing me back here. This is also a great reminder for me to keep an eye on my timebanks. That last session, I knew they were low and I just didn't have the discipline to stop slightly down. I had to push it and ...three BI's later I finally pushed back for the day.
You are welcome :)
Something important to realize and train is, that, these emotional things and overall things, they add up, until they overwhelm you and it becomes impossible to not tilt or make big mistakes and it all starts with a simple... oh I can handle this, or these tables are too good... but what needs to be acknowledged in the same sentence is.
I am entering a difficult situation, variance and time constraints will increase variance, which can have an undesired effect on me. This of course does not hold true for everyone in the same way, but for those that are affected by this, variance with every neglected little thing will increase.
Chris Pimmer
“How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked. “Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.”
Haha, That was funny
Hey Chris another wonderful video my guy thank you
Had such a wild up and down weekend, Friday went and played live and lost, Saturday got absolutely wrecked on pokerstars but Sunday and today we played and ran good. And that’s not to say I may not of played my best earlier it’s a combination likely of some run bad and not playing my best to my abilities. Reading some of the comments! I do see some of the regs moving up stakes and that’s ultimately my goal and where we want to be. The past few times I have tried moving up I get my ass kicked here and there and have to move back down! Think I need to just get more hands in stay focused and consistent with my play and it will come
Yeah, if you fuck off at the gym one day, you’ll start to make it a habit!
The hardest part about going, is getting your shoes on and getting out the door.
The same can be thought about poker, reviewing the hands you need to review, trainer, sitting down and getting the hands in
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