Injecting the Copium

Something that worried me – 

I didn’t know if I could find something to write about everyday.

But between multiple discords, messages from friends and clients, and consistently applying the principles I’ve learned and teach on a daily basis, it turns out I never have to look far to find something.

Today, I had a message from my friend Neil.

A very happy poker player and father, who went through a 2-month presence immersion program I coached last year with Jason Su.

Yesterday he decided to check out some other mindset coaches on YouTube.

What did he find?

Nothing effective, apparently.

He said, “But maybe I’m missing something, and it actually works for some people?”

A friend asked me a similar question a couple months ago.

“Does logic actually work for some people?”

I told him to replace the word logic with coping – Does coping work for some people?

Here’s how it works:

1. Emotions spike.
2. We continue to do stuff while the emotions pass.

No control over Step 1, and you can do whatever you want in Step 2.

Some people learn to accept the emotions as they come, enjoy their time with them, and remain effective at making decisions and moving towards the things they want in life.

Other people cope their way through it.

Distract, numb, or get busy.

Or, as some poker players love to do – inject logic.

They tell themselves they don’t need to feel something, or they should think a certain thing.

Then the emotions pass, the thoughts subside, and they’re convinced it’s because of what they did (as if it was a problem that needed to be ‘solved’ in the first place…).

But, the emotions passed in spite of what they did.

And now they’re worse off because of it.

Next time the emotions hit, they’re going to do the same thing.

And next time comes around real quick in poker.

Before you know it?

You’re going to be in a constant state of coping.

Thoughts spinning, constantly telling yourself you shouldn’t feel what you feel, or think what you think. Injecting more and more copium with every downswing and bad beat.

Truly sounds like hell on earth.

And, the game you used to love will be no more.

—————————–

Or?

You can learn to be present and accept your emotions as they happen.

You can do it all from the inside.

For almost all the people I’ve worked with, they were either never taught this option, or the poker community beat it out of them and convinced them to prioritize logic and problem solving when it came to their emotions.

Like Neil, I think you’ll look back and wonder what the hell everyone else is doing.

If that interests you, hit me up here and let’s talk more about it