One of the most important factors in playing a game that involves so much losing and perceived unfairness is unquestionably our mental state. Not just because it affects decision making at the tables -- but because it sits at the heart of our motivation to withstand what can be a mentally *challenging* game.
If you play a lot of poker or intend to be semi/full-time pro it is going to affect significant proportion of your life and could wreak havoc with your self-esteem -- and lack of preparedness for such mental challenges can easily lead to a ruinous poker-life imbalance.
If you're NOT careful, your whole life can be a f**kin grind
I have not seen a thread that specifically deals with this aspect of poker -- although it crops up from time to time in individual discussions of hands. So -- is it a good idea to start a thread to cover the plethora of mental-game-related matters? I realize this is opening a can of worms that potentially can lead to some huge disagreements -- but there is also a lesson to be learned in that no?
Topics to consider:
Observing Performance
Improving Mental Fitness
The Psychology of Personal Growth
Poker as a Lesson for Life
Discussion can range from recommended learning sources to personal experience, opinions on what it all means, examples from life and so on. Let's open up the discussion with suggestions and interest?
