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.

A healthier and happier person is automatically a better poker player. Poker has been a staple all of my life. Whenever my aunts and uncles got together, the poker table came out. It seemed an oasis. At the poker table there was togetherness and conversation in my home where all was usually unsaid and unexpressed. I learned everything I could about poker and played in school, the army, and at home games. While playing poker we all had something in common.

These are some of the reasons the whole world is now discovering poker. It brings people together from all places and walks of life. My article made a case no one could argue with. Be who you really are, be present, live in the moment, and maintain your focus throughout an entire poker tournament. Have a joyous mind-set and a radiant contagious smile. A friend came up to me and said, " I liked your article and agree with it". " I'd love to be more present, and be who I really am with a joyous mind-set and a radiant smile, but no matter how "Hard I Try", it's "Hard To Do".

A light went on. "Hard To Do" and "Trying" are mind-sets. We harbor those mind-sets as facts because they are our life's experience. This is where I got the idea of the poisonous memories, ideas, thoughts and beliefs that I was harboring that I now call Thought Terrorists.

A newborn baby never "Tries To Do" anything or holds the mind-set "Hard To Do". We have created those mind-sets because we attempted to do something and were unsuccessful. We were disappointed or even in despair because something we passionately wished to accomplish we deemed " Hard To Do". This is a subtle issue that is rarely noticed and is hidden under our radar. If you listen to yourself, you will often find yourself thinking, "Hard To Do" and saying you will "Try To Do" something. How can you happily engage in any activity that you have delegated "Hard To Do", but you will "Try To Do" it? I have just brought up a subject that few ever consider. The terrible effect these mind-sets have on our happiness has gone on far too long. They do more damage to us than anyone could possibly imagine.

"Hard To Do" and "Trying" lead me to discover all of the other mind-sets I have been harboring that have been killing me. It has become clear to me that the most important thing a person can do for their own health and happiness is to notice and let go of their poisonous thoughts that cause such mind-sets.

I went on to discover the relationship between thoughts and feelings. Thoughts, like mind-sets, cause our feelings. Only when we embrace our feel- ings can we identify the thoughts hidden behind them that create them. This is the KEY that allows me to free myself from hurtful feelings I have endured all my life. Embracing hurtful feelings to notice the hidden thoughts that create them is going where "Angels fear to tread".

It is the only path to personal freedom from stressful feelings like irrational fear, resentment, resignation, vindictiveness, hopelessness, rage, shame, anger, greed, jealousy, anxiety and depression, etc. Letting go of "Hard To Do" and "Trying" brings you into a world where all of your deepest hopes and dreams can come true.

What would your world be like if you were engaged in accomplishing all your passionate desires in a state of "Doing" with no "Hard To Do" mind-set? You will certainly be more effective at the poker table.

Being unattached to outcome you will be happy and at peace with your efforts and embrace and find your prize in any and every outcome. William Shakespeare's quote "Our Remedies oft in Ourselves do lie" gave me the clue to look inside myself at the poisonous memories, ideas, thoughts and beliefs that I was harboring and do something about them before they destroyed me.

Noticing and Letting Go of them is what I needed to do. I hope others don't wait to start this process until age 65 like I had to.