Why you're afraid to make unconventional poker plays

I have coached people at the highest levels of poker – the people who you look up to who are routinely winning in the toughest cash games and biggest tournaments.

They all still do it. They all still have the thought: “But what will people think?” when they land in a spot where their gut instinct is telling them to do something far different from what is 'standard.'

If you can’t overcome this, you will never be able to just trust your instincts and do the thing you’re most wanting to do, because in that moment the emotions inside you are making it so that your number one priority is to avoid criticism from the outside world.

That part is nothing new.

Sadly, there is also nothing new and innovative being offered by the community of mindset coaches who offer bland and ineffective advice such as: “Just stop caring what others think.”

That kind of “advice” is garbage. If you care what others think, you care what others think – you can't suddenly stop caring.

Alex Foxen isn't afraid to trust his instincts and make an unconventional play.

The only question that matters 

How do you learn to trust your instincts and just make the play you want to make, while you are also having the thought that other people might have certain things to say about it?

I have helped many through this wall. And it’s quite simple.

First, admit to yourself that you do indeed care what other people think, and that you do want them to think that you are good at poker or intelligent or whatever else it is that you would like them to think.

Second, notice what happens.

There is an emotion that comes with that level of honesty inside yourself. Stay present with that emotion, accept that it is there, then you will probably notice that while it might be a little uncomfortable, the world has not ended, and you are still you.

You’re now in the right state. The state in which you can actually pull the trigger on the play you want to make, without having to pretend that you are something you are not.

Try it the next time you’re unsure whether you should go for something because of what others might think. Then thank me later.

Jason Su is the author of The Joy of Poker and coaches many of the world’s top poker players on how to perform their best when it matters most.

Learn more with Jason on YouTube and through what some say is 'the best newsletter in poker,' which you can access for free at pokerwithpresence.com.