Mental Game Forum

Ahh the rubber band…I've seen that idea thrown around a lot and even read some other poker mental game guys talking about it.  In my view it's another example of a short-term solution that really doesn't get to the core of the problem.  Basically you're trying to get yourself to stop and think through a version of a shock collar for a dog. 

It's hard to know if this is purely a discipline issue, in general though be more specific about why you feel rushed, why specifically you're thinking in the future or clicking buttons?  Does it happen all the time or just at certain times?  Also, how many tables are you playing? or anything else you can give to describe what may be causing this.

Best,
Jared

Hey Mel,

Okay, hopefully you see given what you just wrote why snapping a rubber band isn't going to solve this problem.  What you've described here makes a lot of sense and gets to the reason why you go into autopilot and not just arbitrarily pushinging yourself because you do. 

The problem comes down to projections of the future.  When you're winning your mind creates images, thoughts, and feelings around you also winning in the future.  There's a sense that future winning is real right in the moment that you feel it.  As though you've already earned it and it's just a matter of sitting down and playing.  Of course logically you know that isn't true, but in the moment it seems that way.  Since it isn't true, you then start to protect it.  Like something you've taken but know doesn't belong to you.  You haven't earned it, you've just assumed it to be yours in your mind. 

Taken all together, your mind then becomes more focused on protecting that feeling as the way to win, rather than being focused on the action as the way to win. 

I've made some assumptions here, does this apply to you?  If so, the solution is to recognize when you are winning (what you describe at the beginning of your last post) and to remind yourself that your win validates the work you've done in the past, it does not guarantee the future.  The future you also have to earn and that means being focused on the action. 

Being focused on the action is the next peice of the puzzle here, and what I'd recommend doing is getting a rough estimate after your sessions of how many hands you played that you needed to think and you did, and how many you needed to think and you didn't.  The hands that are easy decisions and you can autopilot, don't worry about.  So let's say 25% of hands you need to think and you did, the goal is to raise that number every time you play.  You can't just go from 25% –> 100% just by knowing the problem, you have to build up the muscle.  Every time you play is a chance to build that muscle. 

Does this help?

Have a great week as well!