''If you can't control what is happening, challenge yourself to control how do you react to what is happening''
For now, if you have more practice in poker than a couple of months, you should know for sure:
The best asset you need to take to the table is the right mindset for the session.
No matter how many educational poker videos you watched before or how many poker books you worked through, you will lose against the game if you don't have the right mind to bring to the table. Even this doesn't matter how good is your poker vocabulary and how many lousy beat stories you heard from friends and fellow players in the smoke area. Remember: any two cards can win if you can play those two cards out in a suitable match, against the right player and at the proper time and position.
What to do? How to be an intelligent, patient, knowledgeable and calm poker player? How to be a better person? How to bring out ''better me.'' every time you start the game/session.
I am only human. I make mistakes, I will get tired, frustrated, lose my temper..... especially, then the game is not going in my way..., and I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT. Did I? Did you? Is there the right way to play poker? Probably not. What was the right way to play in a particular situation today will not be right tomorrow, or in the following case after this hand. Even if you will get the same cards on the next hand, your position is changed, your mood or somebody else's mood is changed around the table, depending on the results from the last hand.
For example, an excellent tight player will decide on the next hand to go all in no matter what. He/she did get enough for today, and now is the time to try Lady Luck. Where is she? He/she is thinking. I have been sitting here for almost an hour and have no decent hand yet. It is the right time for me now - everybody around the table had their share of luck... Only not me. After he/she decided to tray Lady Luck, all your long saved readings from this player are going to the... let say forest. You are doing everything right technically: you will enter loose or try to push him/her out from hand after seeing the flop 3, 7 and 9, not the identical suits on the table. But you can't - not now, not today - this is the actually wrong play for this moment.
You just didn't know about his/her last decision yet before entering in hand. But technically, I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT. Did you now lose your hand and money? How much you lost - 3 blinds, or a hundred and three, or all you had. Did opponent(s) lose? Did you win? How big did you win? Did you do ''everything right'', or did you get lucky? Do you care, or this is nothing, and you can afford to stay in-game. New buy-in? Today, tomorrow, next week? Is your bankroll 20 buy-ins or a hundred. How many mistakes you can afford without landing in tilt?
The first part of the mantra: NEVER RISK WITH BIG MONEY/POTS, NEVER RISK WITH WHOLE BUY IN -STAY IN-GAME. YOU STILL HAVE YOUR SWORD, AND YOU CAN FIGHT LONGER IN THIS BATTLE. NEVER GIVE UP. You deserved it. You have been a long time in this game. Believe me, this is not building up your confidence if you have to leave the table or battleground with limping your leg behind or a clomp in your throat, especially in a live game. Even at home: standing up and closing the computer screen is hard. The first thought probably will be to start again, follow the following table(s), there are other people - I can do it! I will win back everything from them and even more! I am not a loser. I know how to play, I studied, I watched videos... I know how to call this situation - THE TILT. I know everything about this game. Is this happening with me at this moment? My first tilt, second..... fifty-first tilt? Am I able to turn it around? Did I learn anything from the last situation? Walk away. Those tables and people will be there after an hour, tomorrow, next week etc.
The second part of the mantra: SET YOUR LIMIT AND TIME YOU WILL SPEND IN ONE SESSION. AND STICK THERE NO MATTER WHAT. Trust me, again, it is complex, and first, second, and etc. times, maybe you cannot do it. But remember - I (you) wanted to be a better person, bring ''a better me'' to the table. You got to do it for the sake to beat the level or game! I will offer all the best for visitors to MY TABLE from now on. I promise to put all the best food and drinks on this table. This is because I am a good person. Yes, you did read right, my table and I am a good person. Did you say I were the last one to join? So ...... after I joined, this is MY TABLE. You, my fellow friends and players worldwide, got to play under my rules today on my table. I have my own game management and way of playing, and nobody can disrupt me. I will own this table for the next (particular time) hour, let say. Be aggressive, but be selective with who and what kind of situation.
The third part of the mantra: PLAY YOUR GAME, TRUST YOURSELF, MAKE IT HAPPEN. Remember, You can't play wrong or right way in this game. Don't blame yourself if something you thought was not working out. Nothing personal. Everything depends on the right timing and the right person. Don't deal with things you can't change right now or ever (Lady Luck etc.). Do not forget to let others have starlight moments, too, as far you are filling your pockets at the end. You are the best host in this game today. You are doing your best now, with the knowledge you have today... I AM (YOU ARE) the (good) BOSS.
Good luck and make your own mantra (or use mine). What is essential for you: to win or spend the time? Win or lose? Can you turn the table around today, now? Is there any point? Can I(You) be a better person and good host...
