Charlie Shoten

I hope you enjoy reading my columns about identifying, reducing and eliminating stress. It fascinates me because it is the most important least understood topic in the world. It goes under the radar while it is our most destructive force we ever experience. It determines whether we feel good or bad, are healthy or sick, happy or sad. I refuse to put up with it anymore because I finally found a way to eliminate it.

In the last issue in PPN I started sharing how I notice and let go of the cause of all of the devastating diseases I have ever suffered from. That cause was "STRESSFUL FEELINGS." We all wish to feel better. To feel better we need to diminish our stressful feelings. If I am right, stressful feelings are caused by poisonous memories, ideas, thoughts and beliefs (PMITB). I have shared many times that these have been implanted in us (mind control), or we have created them in response to neglect or abuse.

Who do you THINK you are? Did someone ever angrily say that to you when you were growing up? I heard it a lot.

Let's face it. Thinking too much is high on the list of our most destructive addictions. If we stop thinking many of us are afraid we would feel lost. We meditate to help us stop thinking so that we can achieve a state of peacefulness, be in the zone. An idea can be the result of thinking, but before we can begin to act on it and create, we need to stop thinking.

I recently played a No-Limit Hold'em tournament on the Internet. This was a real eye opener. I have won four of these tournaments and I am now familiar with how they play out.

The following tournament gave me some very special insights into how players wind up with all the chips. Five hundred players put up $109 each. The prize pool was $50,000 with $4,500 going to the site.

This question searches very deeply into the essence of human life and perhaps all existence. Maybe all that really exists are feelings, and that is the answer we overlook when we ask: What is the very nature of LOVE, and what and where does it fit into what we identify as feelings?

In my continuing efforts to clear my mind at the poker table I am always on the lookout for thoughts that float through my mind and cloud my ability to make my best decisions. What is going on in my mind either allows me to consider all of my choices and their consequences and make my best choice, or diverts me to being a victim of stressful feelings that cause me to act prematurely without taking into account all of the information available.

These stressful feelings that are caused by thoughts that don't serve me are my biggest enemy at the poker table and in all other areas of my life.

Hiding your feelings and playing your cards close to the vest are necessary to succeed at poker.

Living your life, hopefully, should be very different.

Expressing your true feelings and being honest and open with your friends and those in your life you love are the traits that make your life rich and worth living. I have made the conscious decision, at my ripe young age of 68, to step out of my poker mode and share from my heart my life, my hopes, my dreams and my ideas in this article. I do ask for an exception to this when you meet me at the poker table.

My last article was about the mental part of poker and the traits the best players exhibit at the table. I gladly share with you my own personal roadmap, step by step, of the ideas and concepts that have lifted my game to higher levels. This involves life changing attitudes and perceptions improving my life and my poker game. A shift in perception is my key to a happier life. It is either easy or impossible, and is your choice.

Less ego, less expectations, less demands, less lies, less resentments, less jealousy and less 'BS' means MORE MONEY.

BEING PRESENT is the ultimate blessing in poker and life. Just get rid of those distractions that keep you from being who you really are. If you are not who you really are, you are no one and nowhere. Call Mapquest for driving directions. Without your current location, they cannot help you.

IMAGINE LOVING PARENTS who hold no judgments, resentments, anger, jealousy, frustration, depression, resignations, expectations, etc.; whose memories, thoughts, ideas and beliefs that create stress are banned from their being; who are open vessels with clear, confide nt, and compassionate outlooks on life.

I hope the meaning and significance of this is clear. Even more important is the belief that we can work towa rds this goal and make meaningful progress in this direction.