From Poker Pro to ...

[Artiekee]

Hey everyone!

This is my new journal, I will post a link of the old journal on the bottom of this post for those interested.

In short about me; I'm a 28 year old guy living in Amsterdam. The last 10 years of my life were mostly dedicated to poker. Last december I quit as fulltime player. I still like the game, but I want to focus more on other interests such as personal development, mindfulness and spirituality.

I took the Life Purpose Course and finished that about a month ago. The course helped me a lot with guiding me in the right direction. Currently I'm not 100% sure what I exactly want to do, but it makes a lot of sense to combine my interest in games with mindfulness, personal development and spirituality. 

So this journal will be about my exploration process, a switch from poker professional to something new.

I will be posting about my activities, ideas, insights, progress, what's on my mind, and so on. 

Feel free to ask anything at anytime 

 

[Artiekee]

Oh here the link to old topic:

And also my vision board

[Artiekee]

Today the book Unique Ability 2.0 arrived, this book helps with identifying your strenghts and your Zone of Genius. In the Life Purpose Course I've been struggling the most with identifying my Zone of Genius, so I'm happy @Rowan recommended me this book.

2 days ago the catering industry opened up again here (Netherlands). I like to play darts and pool and used to do this about twice a week. Really happy this is possible again. 

Last week I applied for Toast Masters, I didn't get any response yet so I applied again today. Toast Masters seems like a great way to overcome fear and expand my comfort level, while also learning valuable communication skills. 

Focus points

• Unique Ability 2.0 
• Mental coaching material

I'm grateful for

• Social time with family & friends
• Re-opening of the catering industry
• Good weather

[Artiekee]

the last couple of months I've been experimenting with different morning routines, and I'm pretty happy with my current routine.

It looks as following:

• Wake up
• Drink 1 glass of warm water 
• 10 minute yoga
• 20 minute Wim Hof Breathing
• 20 minute meditation (visualisation and affirmation)
• Cold shower
• Light breakfast

No phone, computer etc allowed before breakfast

I was playing around with the order of this list, and this one seems to work best for me. I like to do a bit of yoga before starting the WH Breathing, this makes it easier. The breathing gives me more clarity so that helps with the meditation. And the cold shower really helps to wake up and get active to start the day. 

 

Focus points

• Mental coaching material
• Books
• Getting familiar with Esports

I'm grateful for

• Strong morning routine
• Sleeping good last couple of days
• Making good progress with mental coaching material
• Playing darts
• Hotpot with friends at home tonight

 

[Artiekee]

The idea of starting a youtube channel keeps popping up in my mind, and I even feel the urge to share this idea with friends. This is usually a big sign that I really want to do it.

If you asked me 2 years ago if I ever wanted to start a youtube channel or something similar to it, I would have said you're crazy. But now Im seriously considering it, so this tells me I've progressed a lot the last years and cleared up a lot of emotional baggage. Social anxiety determined a lot of my actions, but this seems to be gone for the most part and I'm ready to take on a challenge.

Focus points

• Mental coaching material
• Getting familiar with Esports
• creating a list of action items to start on youtube

I'm grateful for

• Motivated & Focused
• Good chat with friends
• Increased confidence

[Artiekee]

I got a respons from Toast Masters, but they are not taking any guests for this month.

I want to practice communication skills in the mean time, so I've decided to create a daily habit of recording videos. 5 to 10 minute about subjects that interest me, and without the intention of showing anyone the videos. I think this will really help to become a better communicator if I work on it every day.

Last week I shared my morning routine. Here is my before bed routine:

• 1 hour before bed activate brainless mode
  • No phone
  • no screens
  • no chatting about deep topics
  • no thinking activities (scheduling, brainstorming, just thinking in general)
  • no non-fiction books
• Dim the lights
• brush teeth
• Listen to a fiction audiobook (anything fiction aslong as it's just just easy to follow)
• 10/15 minutes calming yoga  while listening to the audiobook
• 10/15 minutes meditation (either bodyscan or progressive muscle relaxation)

other notes:

• No caffeine 10 hours before bed time
• no food 3 hours before bed time
• maintain same bed hours 
• get out of bed quickly after waking up

focus points

• Mental coaching material
• Recording daily video
• Reading books

I'm grateful for

• Practiced a 15 minute presentation with my friend
• Motivated & focused
• Strong habits

 

 

[Artiekee]

On 6/18/2020 at 5:07 AM, BorisSutherland said:

WOW, mate, what changes in life you have achieved. How did you come to this? I still can't refuse an evening game of poker on the site (link Removed by moderator) All my friends are against me playing poker because I spend a lot of time playing. They don't understand that this is how I earn my living and I don't have a place to work if I give up poker. I've spent my whole life working out winning schemes, studying combinations and math in order to make a living at poker, but now I realize that I want to end it, but I can't. I would be very happy to take your advice.

So my focus really was only poker for a long time. I started to develop other interests, mostly because I wanted to apply this in combination with poker, simply to get better (mindfulness, personal development, spirituality). And then at a point there was a mindset shift, or realisation, that I want to contribute more than I'm currently doing with poker.

The way the general public views poker is rather negative, so yeah it can be difficult with friends and family. In the end they just want the best for you and there limited knowledge of the game makes them believe it's a poor career choice (which it actually is for many people, but that's another topic)

Just realise that all these things you have done till this point can be valuable in other apsects of life aswell. I haven't finished my study, I have no work experience, but that's oke. Everyone has things they are interested in and things they are good at.

[Artiekee]

Bit of a slow week. Had some problems with sleeping and had migrain for a couple of days (usually have this a couple of times a year). So didn't really worked as much as I wanted to.

But besides that, still some interesting developments. I already had cut down my caffeine intake to 1 cup a day, but after doing some more research I've decided to totally quit caffeine earlier this week. (maybe that triggered the migrain).

Also, I've bought a mental coaching course, this will probably take 200-250 hours to finish. The idea is to spend about 2 hours a day on it, maybe that's a bit on the optimistic side, but let's see. 

I've created a youtube channel, I want to start posting videos at the end of 2020/early2021. It will be about improving mindset for gamers, to perform better and more importantly enjoy the game more.

Focus Points

•  Make a short introduction video for youtube
• Starting the mental coaching course
• Chinese exams (in 2 weeks)
• Scheduling (need to make this a daily and weekly habit)

I'm grateful for

• Created youtube channel
• Back to full energy
• Quitting caffeine

[Artiekee]

When I made the last post I had the feeling I was getting back to full energy again, well, that was not the case haha. I wanted to start working on the mental coaching course I bought, but last 2 weeks I spend a total of 2 hours on it. 

So the productivity was not at all what I wanted. I did have quite some social activities though, so that's also worth something. 

Still some interesting developments

• Finished my 90-day affirmation/visualisation challenge (20 minute every day, not skipping a single day)
• Got my first youtube video online, it's a short trailer about what the channel is gonna be about.
• completed the chinese exam with good result

Focus Points:

• Scheduling!
• Mental Coaching course
• Unique Ability book

I'm grateful for:

• Yoga place is open again
• Social activities
• first video posted

 

[Artiekee]

Getting back in my old yoga rhythm, really happy with it. The yoga place took good measurements to keep if safe. The idea for now is to go 3/4x week.

I used to read books and do meditations from Rupert Spira on a very regular basis, but for some reason I stopped doing that for a while. Now I have started it again, and I really wonder why i didn't do it for a while. Really love all his material, his way of speaking and writing is a form of art. 
 

A couple of months ago I signed up for 2 events of Rupert Spira later in the year (september and december), I hope they won’t have to be cancelled.

Quote

Have a mind that is open to everything and attached to nothing - Tilopa

Focus points

• Mental coaching course
• Rupert Spira books
• Unique ability

I’m grateful for

• Rupert Spira
• Yoga
• More motivation

[Artiekee]

Time flies lately. I thought I didnt post here for 3 or 4 days, but its already 10 days haha. Had some nice social activities; visited an amusement park with my boyfriend and two other friends. Played some darts and pool, had some nice dinners. Really nice those activities are possible again. Although, the covid numbers seem to be rising again in Europe, so I'll mentally prepare myself for less of those activities.

ToastMasters reached out to me, and hopefully I can attend my first meeting soon. 

For the gamers here, I wrote a lengthy post about tilt in gaming: https://www.reddit.com/r/summonerschool/comments/ht2otf/gamers_guide_to_tilt_what_is_tilt_how_and_why/

I will write more of these posts in the future. It helps me to better understand these topics, and I can use the content for my youtube channel. 

Quote

The true value of a human being can be found in the degree to which he has attained liberation from the self. - Albert Einstein

Focus points

• Mental coaching course
• New chinese course
• Unique ability

I’m grateful for

• Many positive responses on the post about tilt in gaming
• Social activities
• Feeling good

 

[Artiekee]

Attended my first ToastMasters 3 days ago. I like the concept and will probably become a member.

Tomorrow my new chinese course will start, it will be twice a week for 2 hours, and some homework. 

I also found a practice partner for the mental coaching course, this will be about 1 hour a week.

Currently writing a new article, the topic is warm-up routine for gamers.

I bought a detox program, it starts tomorrow and is 4 days long. So only certain juices and soups for 4 days. And also only specific food (vegan, non-processed, no wheat, and so on) starting 2 days before the detox and till 2 days after.

Quote

“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.” -Eckhart Tolle

Focus points

• Mental coaching course
• Chinese course
• Article about warm-up routine

I’m grateful for

• Starting detox
• Managing worrying thoughts better
• feeling relaxed

[Artiekee]

Getting more and more into a productive working mood. I think it's mainly because of a more structured routine.

I'm really happy with the chinese class. Compared to the previous class this one is much better. We are with only 3 people in the class, so it's very interactive. 

I wrote an article about having a warm-up routine for gamers (see here if interested). Again lots of positive responses, and about 25 new subscribers to my channel!

I did the 4 day detox, and I have to say, it wasn't that big of a change for me. I had a bit of a hunger feeling all days, but other than I didn't notice to much of a change. I will try another detox in a while, a bit more intense one.

Quote

"Happiness is simply to allow everything to be exactly as it is from moment to moment." - Rupert Spira

Focus points

• Book Psycho-Cybernetics
• Mental coaching course
• Finding a topic for next article

I’m grateful for

• Great weather
• productive mood
• Chinese class

[Artsu]

I play poker sometimes. Just play chips because real money is banned online in Australia.

I just had a game of blackjack, myself as dealer. I tripled up then lost it in 2 hands there was a cool moment though where i raised my bet to 7, then put down three 7s! I like the synchronicity of cards, slots etc.

[Artiekee]

On 6-8-2020 at 0:37 AM, Artsu said:

I play poker sometimes. Just play chips because real money is banned online in Australia.

I just had a game of blackjack, myself as dealer. I tripled up then lost it in 2 hands there was a cool moment though where i raised my bet to 7, then put down three 7s! I like the synchronicity of cards, slots etc.

haha oke, that sounds pretty rare yeah

[Artiekee]

Some very interesting developments this week. A good friend of me contacted me if I'm interested to mental coach a group of people that are playing poker for him. I'm not at all finished with the mental coaching course, but I do have 10 years of poker experience and I'm aware of all the ups and downs poker brings.

This is a great oppportunity to practice with mental coaching. I still very much like poker, and this way I can combine it with my other interests. This also fits perfectly in the idea of "making small bets" from the life purpose course.  And if things go well and i really like it, this might turn into a long term project.

Friday I will have my first appointment, monday the second one. Last week I've spend the majority of my time researching and writing about the mental aspects of poker and preparing for the appointments.

 

Quote

"The law of attraction states that whatever you focus on, think about, read about, and talk about intensely, you’re going to attract more of into your life." –Jack Canfield

Focus Points

• Prepare mental coaching poker players
• Chinese
• Mental coaching course

I'm grateful for

• Waking up earlier
• Mental coach opportunity
• Being productive despite the current heatwave

[Artiekee]

A couple of times a year I have a period of about 1 or 2 weeks with migrain. It's a bit random when and why it happens. I guess it usually happens when I focus on too much stuff or feel a little stressed. For the last 2 weeks I had this migrain but since a couple of days it starts feeling better, and it seems to be almost totally gone now.

So what did I do last 2 weeks:

// Still doing a chinese course every tuesday and thursday, and an extra practice hour with the other two students every sunday.

// I had two mental coaching appointments. I recorded the calls and relistened it to analyse how it went. Overall happy with it.

Improvement points: 

• More structure
• Allow more time for clients to formulate their thoughts
• Using less terms that can be viewed as an opinion from my side
• More open questions, less steering
• Consider using videocall instead of normal call. Normal call misses the option to use and read non-verbal communication

// Wrote another article, about taking short breaks while gaming.

// Continued with the mental coaching course. The first part of the course was a bit boring; rules, laws, ethics and so on, but it starts getting interesting now.

Quote

“Fear is excitement without the breath.” - Fritz Perls

Focus points

• Practicing with making youtube videos
• Continue with book Unique Ability
• Mental coaching course (6/20 finished)

I'm grateful for

• Migrain seems gone
• Mental coaching calls went well
• My lovely boyfriend

[Artiekee]

Long time since last post!

My main activity every day is studying the mental coaching course. This is about 2-3 hours a day. I really enjoy the material and understand how it can be useful for others. 

In the meantime I can practice what I've learned with a group of poker players I'm coaching. Currently doing about 3-5 calls a week.

My other activties consist of learning chinese and creating a youtube channel. Chinese is about 4 hours of class and 4 hours of study every week. My main focus is to start spending more time on doing work for the youtube channel, mainly with getting better at presenting (enthusiasm, tonation, articulation etc), learn video editting, research and writing content.

Quote

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.”  -Henry Ford

Focus Points

• Youtube channel
• Completing mental coaching course (12/20)
• Reading books

I'm grateful for

• Enjoying the mental coaching course
• Waking up early
• Getting more clients to coach