"You only lose what you cling to." Siddhartha
I feel going both ways whether I'm clinging to a winning poker hand or a losing poker hand I can only lose if I'm clinging to either. This seems to me to be especially true for long grueling mtts which is why I've always viewed them as the most horrific. I cling to them so hard that when I lose I'm devastated. It is an unhealthy reality that I constantly create in my mind while playing. Also like my friend said the only reality I should worry about is making the best possible plays, do my best and thus can do no wrong. Even if it is the wrong play I should already be moving on to improving my play and on to the next thing that life throws at me. To not do so is really a waste of living.
On another Buddhist note also of Siddhartha's:
"You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger."
Not only does me getting angry make me feel worse while playing, but without fail I feel bad about it long after a session even a winning session. I should be happy that there are people at all playing a game that I love. As my friend says "Fellow comrades in this poker journey!"
Alas while this is all good the real problem is trying to apply these philosophies while in the heat of the moment. This is another reason why I (perhaps tackily) related his post to Buddhism. I feel that perhaps if I silently chant to myself a mantra such as "You only lose what you cling to." I can view things from a broader perspective and progress as a person.
