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Message: [QUOTE="VMVarga, post: 4747305, member: 354733"] It is only natural for the human mind to become upset and frustrated when there is perceived unfairness. If someone cuts in front of you when you are in line (like voting, don't forget to vote next week!) you are going to feel like it is unfair and the natural urge to become upset or angry about it has to be suppressed. Unless of course you are like Larry David and you are set on always calling out those who "chat and cut". When you get a strong hand like AA or KK and you get into a big hand with a big pot and you end up losing it to someone with 45suit, you get that same feeling of having been treated unfairly. Of course fairness has nothing to do with it in this case, but we still feel like we were robbed of a sure thing. You have to remember that having a "sure thing" in poker does not happen often, and it never happens preflop. Because it is so natural for us to get upset/angry when those things happen, we have to make efforts to condition our minds and strengthen our mental toughness. Unlike emotions such as anger and frustration, mental toughness is not something that comes naturally. It must be developed, like a skill. So try to look at each bad beat that happens to you as one more opportunity to develop that mental toughness and avoid those toxic emotions like anger. This is much easier said than done--as are most things that are worthwhile in life--but I promise you that if you work hard at it, you will develop that mental toughness that will help you stay level headed at the tables. Developing this skill will also make playing the game much more fun, even when you lose. Developing mental toughness is something that will not just benefit your poker playing, it will also benefit most areas of your life. There are some great books on this subject, like Unbeatable Mind by former Navy SEAL Mark Divine. If you really struggle with bad beats and can't seem to avoid getting angry when they occur, I recommend the book. [/QUOTE]

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