Optimism
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009It’s a strange bit of psychology, but optimism is one of the greatest tools one can have when at the poker table. The ability to say “I know I’m going to do well and I’m going to win,” is a powerful motivator. And really what it is is just your own conditioning of your subconscious mind. You’re conditioning yourself to be in the mindset of a winning casino player, and because you start to believe it, you start to play better. It’s not any magic formula, but it’s just that you’re reinforcing positive beliefs. You’ve studies all the books and you’ve been seasoned on the felt. You know you have the skills to win, and by simply taking that mindset to the table with you, you’ll reap the benefits. But you have to be warned that this works both ways. As much as an optimistic attitude can increase your poker play, a pessimistic or downtrodden attitude can have an adverse effect on your play. If you go in thinking “I’m just going to try not to lose” then you’re more than likely going to sabotage yourself, set yourself up to lose. If you go in thinking that you’re not one of the better or best players there, then you’re subconscious is merely going to prove your right. It’s funny how our mind works; it takes that one thing we feed it and the projects that into all of our actions henceforth. It’s like planting a seed. A seed of doubt in your game will grow into a tree of loss. A seed of hope and optimism will grow into a money tree. It’s really that simple. It’s all about the attitude. Well maybe not ALL about the attitude, you do have to have the skills, but you need to have confidence in your skills and not doubt them. It’s only then will you have mastered your mind on the poker table and be able to play at your most optimal.

