3 Life Lessons from Poker

So I know some of you other Steemians like a bit of poker, here are 3 lessons I learnt playing Poker:

1. Never Regret A Decision

When you play poker, you make decisions: Do I raise? Do I fold? Do I go all in? Do I call? 

Each decision can impact your bank - your wealth. But your decision doesn't have any influence on what cards will be dealt, the decision won't change if you have the best hand or worst - that is out of your control. Even when you make the right decisions, you can lose. It's taught me to accept in life, that when I make a decision, I made it at that time and for what I thought was right for me. Regardless of what comes from our decisions, there is no point in regretting, because we did it for the right reasons. It is easier to live with a loss when you made the right choice.

2. Don't Make Important Decisions When You Are Emotional

In Poker when we play on negative emotion, this is called TILT. But it occurs when we are up too.

When you are on a winning streak, you start to feel invincible, your ego grows, your decisions start to become less thought-out, your judgement starts to become one sided, you start to trust that whatever you are doing, you are doing it correct - regardless of anything or anyone else - you feel right! This is dangerous, in poker and in life, it sometimes only takes one slip, one big fall... Making that decision when you feel on top of the world can bring it crashing down. All of those good feelings, vanished in an instance. Its best to think rationally, logically, know that you are right, don't just feel it.

Equally, when we are down, we start to play without making informed decisions, it seems like whatever we decide, things will go wrong, and so we change how we make those decisions, we start to rely on instinct and 'luck' aka stupidity, we become reckless. Remember to not let those emotions rule your decision making or it could be your last. Always think with your head, and trust yourself, even if it doesn't work out, it was the right move.

3. Don't Quit On A Good Thing

Sometimes you are playing poker, minding your own business, when an unlucky FISH takes a seat next to you.

Little does that fishy know they are about to pay your rent for the next 6 months, sometimes the hardest part isn't beating them. It's keeping a straight face and being able to say "Unlucky" with a tone of sincerity.

You're probably thinking, why would you ever quit, you are getting free money?!
Well you get tired, you get hungry, you might think another table looks better, the grass is always greener...

If you are on a good thing, stay with it until it isn't good anymore, and then leave, never before.

AKA. Don't quit on Steemit, we are on a good thing, I hope we don't have to leave!