Lacking Motivation
 

Playing a lot over the past couple of weeks has led me to realize something. I play poker for three reasons now:

1. I am greedy.
2. I am bored.
3. I am addicted.

Up until a couple of months ago I enjoyed playing short-handed games at 50/100 and above because I believed the players to be extremely tough and the challenge of beating them always made playing fun. Now I am back to 6-tabling Full Ring 25/50 because the swings were too crazy, and while I'm making good money, motivation to play is gone aside from wanting to make money and wanting to kill time on days when I'm bored and don't have much to do. It is almost habitual, whenever I'm on my computer I'm either playing poker or at least have tables open.

How common is this among high-stakes players and how do you learn to deal with it? I've seen, talked about, and analyzed enough hold'em hands to a point that no spots intrigue me and no games are intellectually stimulating. And I don't really like the idea of playing solely to make money, but on the other hand it won't always be around and the money is pretty good.

So...is it worth it? How do you deal with issues like this?

Re: Lacking Motivation
 

I would say donation to the players in ssnl who have potential.







like me.

Thanks

Re: Lacking Motivation
 

But seriously try coaching people for free. It will give you a good feeling

Re: Lacking Motivation
 

First of, your post doesn't contribute whatsoever, so thanks for that.

Second of, while we are on the subject, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about. Earlier tonight I was bored and went to a 1/2NL table, and started pushing all-in every hand. Through some crazy twisted bad luck I couldn't win a hand and lost like 7k in an hour. And then I did two blind allins at 10/20 and lost.

I don't really care about doing this kind of thing occasionally, but I find myself doing it way too often. It's probably out of boredom and unfulfillment I get from playing actual poker so i say, "F it, I'll just gamble and try to make 5k the easy way" or something like that. It doesn't make much sense, but at the same time it's another recurring problem and I guess it all goes back to not being happy playing poker.

Re: Lacking Motivation
 

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...;gonew=1#UNREAD

[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Re: Lacking Motivation
 

MG,

Exactly how I've felt over the past few months, besides maybe being addicted. Oftentimes, If I'm feeling bored I will usually play poker because "well, I mine as well try to make some money." Rarely do I ever get the urge to just play poker for excitement/ challenge etc.. like I used to. Personally I'd rather be doing other things for the most part.

I'm greedy and if I'm not playing then I'm losing money.
Also, I invested a lot of my $$ in the stock market, and at least currently I find the market to be more interesting. I also realized that poker is not something I want to do as a long-term career for sure. It's just too swingy and stressful.

Re: Lacking Motivation
 

I just think Barrin6 wished he was you ... many strugling SSNL'ers dream of having a roll of those 7000$ you casually blow.


Dude, with all respect .. sure poker is boring, and if you don't need the money, do something else for a while like start playing the Ukulele or something.


But hey, Work is boring .. and at least you don't have The Man looking over your shoulder.


Just do it, when you need it and well ... at least you aren't running a Johnny Beef operation like some of us, desperately trying to win around 2000$ a month just to keep afloat. (and yeah, I'm stupid, I know ... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] )

Re: Lacking Motivation
 

This doesn't answer your general question but you need to reflect on your actions in terms of the absolute value of money. Blowing $7k is the most retarded thing ever by shoving all in every hand as stakes that "don't matter." If you are doing this, you shouldn't be thinking, oh it's only 1.5 buy-ins, you should stop yourself under the realization that it's seven thousand dollars. Think of all the things you could have bought (cruise/vacation to clear your mind, etc), and start to regain an understanding of the absolute value of money. In your NORMAL game when you try to make money, you use money as a tool. However, as soon as you step out of your true game, and into another game where you no longer are doing that, you are abusing your money. As soon as this thought crosses your mind, you need to step back and say "If I shove every hand x times, I am pretty certain to lose y-z amount. Instead of shoving every hand at 1/2, I could go and buy ___." Hell, donate it to a charity. Blow it on entertainment. But shoving every hand at 200 is certainly not worth seven grand.

Re: Lacking Motivation
 

[ QUOTE ]
This doesn't answer your general question but you need to reflect on your actions in terms of the absolute value of money. Blowing $7k is the most retarded thing ever by shoving all in every hand as stakes that "don't matter." If you are doing this, you shouldn't be thinking, oh it's only 1.5 buy-ins, you should stop yourself under the realization that it's seven thousand dollars. Think of all the things you could have bought (cruise/vacation to clear your mind, etc), and start to regain an understanding of the absolute value of money. In your NORMAL game when you try to make money, you use money as a tool. However, as soon as you step out of your true game, and into another game where you no longer are doing that, you are abusing your money. As soon as this thought crosses your mind, you need to step back and say "If I shove every hand x times, I am pretty certain to lose y-z amount. Instead of shoving every hand at 1/2, I could go and buy ___." Hell, donate it to a charity. Blow it on entertainment. But shoving every hand at 200 is certainly not worth seven grand.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know. I didn't do it because I thought it would be worth it. I did it because I find poker unfulfilling and unexciting, and because I'm stupid. And because at some point, the numbers in your cashier just begin to lose all meaning whatsoever. And that in my mind, all it is is an endlessly oscillating number slowly going up over time but with daily fluctuations.

Re: Lacking Motivation
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
This doesn't answer your general question but you need to reflect on your actions in terms of the absolute value of money. Blowing $7k is the most retarded thing ever by shoving all in every hand as stakes that "don't matter." If you are doing this, you shouldn't be thinking, oh it's only 1.5 buy-ins, you should stop yourself under the realization that it's seven thousand dollars. Think of all the things you could have bought (cruise/vacation to clear your mind, etc), and start to regain an understanding of the absolute value of money. In your NORMAL game when you try to make money, you use money as a tool. However, as soon as you step out of your true game, and into another game where you no longer are doing that, you are abusing your money. As soon as this thought crosses your mind, you need to step back and say "If I shove every hand x times, I am pretty certain to lose y-z amount. Instead of shoving every hand at 1/2, I could go and buy ___." Hell, donate it to a charity. Blow it on entertainment. But shoving every hand at 200 is certainly not worth seven grand.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know. I didn't do it because I thought it would be worth it. I did it because I find poker unfulfilling and unexciting, and because I'm stupid. And because at some point, the numbers in your cashier just begin to lose all meaning whatsoever. And that in my mind, all it is is an endlessly oscillating number slowly going up over time but with daily fluctuations.

[/ QUOTE ]

I understand why you did it, and I have done some stupid stuff in the past as well. I was chastizing you to prevent you from ever doing something like that again [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img].

Think of NL5K as your office (that's what you play I'm assuming?). Once you step out of office, you are done with work. Don't associate Stars/the poker site with your job, only the tables you play seriously.