Spectrum of Negative Emotion

Spectrum of Negative Emotion (Anger, Fear, Loss or Excessive Motivation or Confidence)

Mental Game Tactical

Made for the private use of readers of The Mental Game of Poker. ©2013 Jared Tendler, LLC · www.jaredtendlerpoker.com Purpose: To build recognition of your pattern. Recognition is the critical first step to gaining control of emotion.

Instructions: 1. One is the lowest level of this emotion and ten is the highest. 2. Choose to build recognition of your general pattern or a specific emotion: Anger, Fear, Loss or Excessive Motivation or Confidence. a. You can also use this sheet to recognize your pattern of: Loss of focus or discipline. 3. List the ‘Mental Game’ signs: thoughts, emotions, actions, and physiological, that occurs at each level of emotion. 4. List the ‘Tactical’ changes in your game that occurs at each level of emotion. 5. Identify your Threshold: The point where emotions start shutting down your mind and you start to lose control. 6. Identify your Point of No Return: The point where you have to quit because you’re no longer able to regain enough control of your emotions.

Goal: Your goal is to train recognition of your pattern to the level of Unconscious Competence, so you’ll be able to instant spot your pattern even under intense emotional pressure. That way, you’ll give yourself the best opportunity to gain control at times you typically could not. Follow these suggestions to help you efficiently build and train recognition of your pattern:

A. Add notes after you play, especially after days when your emotions are high enough to cause problems. B. Revise/edit your notes. C. Regularly study your pattern before you play. D. Away from the table, test your recall of your pattern.

Additional Theory Note:

This analysis of your pattern does not align perfectly with the ‘Performance/Stress Curve’ from the book. The Performance/Stress Curve shows the relationship between all your emotions combined and your level of performance. At emotional level one on the Performance/Stress Curve, emotions are so low that your performance is bad. Emotional level one on this sheet is the very first sign of that emotion rising.