ran into my old enemy againg tonight, it got ugly.

G

getsome01

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
ran into my old enemy again tonight, it got ugly.

i was playing an ahead set tonight, when guess who showed up, my inner demon.he was saying how lucky my opponent was and how unlucky i was. i went from playing jam up to screwing up. anyone know how to kill this bastard once and for all?
 
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getsome01 said:
i was playing an ahead set tonight, when guess who showed up, my inner demon.he was saying how lucky my opponent was and how unlucky i was. i went from playing jam up to screwing up. anyone know how to kill this bastard once and for all?
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Take up golf!
 
yep

getsome01 said:
i was playing an ahead set tonight, when guess who showed up, my inner demon.he was saying how lucky my opponent was and how unlucky i was. i went from playing jam up to screwing up. anyone know how to kill this bastard once and for all?
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Yep! It is ridiculously simple, decide you are a winner! Once you decide that anything that happens along the way to the win you are bound to get is just a minor bump in the road that little negative Esso Bee disappears. Build a strong positive self image and competition becomes a dozen times easier. Doubt is the demon that derails many a potential winner. I see many people with the physical skills to win events that never quite get there. They simply don't believe. We bend reality to our beliefs for better or worse. I have won events with six to twelve, maybe more, people that should have finished ahead of me. They blinked under pressure, I didn't. Often that is what it is all about.

Hu
 
true

ShootingArts said:
Yep! It is ridiculously simple, decide you are a winner! Once you decide that anything that happens along the way to the win you are bound to get is just a minor bump in the road that little negative Esso Bee disappears. Build a strong positive self image and competition becomes a dozen times easier. Doubt is the demon that derails many a potential winner. I see many people with the physical skills to win events that never quite get there. They simply don't believe. We bend reality to our beliefs for better or worse. I have won events with six to twelve, maybe more, people that should have finished ahead of me. They blinked under pressure, I didn't. Often that is what it is all about.

Hu
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Thats good advice Hu. Also, after you decide you are a winner, BELIEVE IT!!!
 
getsome01 said:
i was playing an ahead set tonight, when guess who showed up, my inner demon.he was saying how lucky my opponent was and how unlucky i was. i went from playing jam up to screwing up. anyone know how to kill this bastard once and for all?
Click to expand...



I am retired US Army and there was a duty assignment that I always wanted only one problem, I had to go to Airborne School which wasn't the worst part, I was afraid of heights!!!!:eek:

Every time I was more than about 10 feet off the ground my knee's became very weak and that inner Demon told me that I was going fall. I found out the best way to deal with the guy is to laugh at him, you see fear is a two way street. It can be an a Friend or a foe it all depends how you use the emotion and the energy created by it.

Most people do not realize that fear can make you very alert and increase your concentration. But for any of this to work to have to stand up to your fear and kick it in the ass, once you do this you are in control and that little Demon will never show his face because you are in control.

Well anyway, I went to FT. Benning, Georgia and did graduate from Jump School. The first time I was suppose to Jump I froze at the door of the Aircraft, and the instructor kicked me in the Ass and right out the door:D
After that I never had a problem dealing with heights or jumping again, I would still get excited but, I was able to control my actions and emotions. I mean I think it is normal to get a little excited Jumping out of a perfectly good Aircraft:smile:

You can do the same thing, first you have to figure out what your afraid of, is it loosing the money, what people will think if you miss, or the others players reputation. Once you are certain what is causing the Demon to show his face and you start to get that feeling just sit down and laugh at yourself. Then stand back up and make the shot, and kick the other players ass, once you do that you have nothing to be afraid of, and sitting down and laughing will more than likely cause your opponent to have a little fear of his or her own.

Good Luck
 
When competing view your actions as maximizing your opportunities to win and not to lose
 
Yes

getsome01 said:
i was playing an ahead set tonight, when guess who showed up, my inner demon.he was saying how lucky my opponent was and how unlucky i was. i went from playing jam up to screwing up. anyone know how to kill this bastard once and for all?
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Practice! and More Practice... will kill him.
 
Here's what I do, and it works for me. Recognize that it is an "Inner Voice" which means you can't run away from it. You will never "loose" it or hide from it.

So, you become friends with it. You listen to it, and ask it questions like, why do you think you are playing poorly?

Get up from your stance, chalk your cue, talk to the inner voice on friendly terms, and it will soon become your partner and make you stronger. It may even become your mentor.

The point is, it exists, come to terms with it rather than fighting it. After all, it is only "you" trying to tell you something.
 
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3andstop said:
Here's what I do, and it works for me. Recognize that it is an "Inner Voice" which means you can't run away from it. You will never "loose" it or hide from it.

So, you become friends with it. You listen to it, and ask it questions like, why do you think you are playing poorly?

Get up from your stance, chalk your cue, talk to the inner voice on friendly terms, and it will soon become your partner and make you stronger. It may even become your mentor.

The point is, it exists, come to terms with it rather than fighting it. After all, it is only "you" trying to tell you something.
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I completely disagree. With practice, you can discipline yourself to totally stop mental chattering altogether. Mental chattering is just another distraction you don't need when playing pool.
 
It' s pretty well known, on here, that I love the knife. I'll take this demon out for about a grand. I need pictures and last known location. Wait, God only knows who's reading this. I'm just joking. JOKING.

PM me and we'll chat about the "weather."
 
jay helfert said:
Take up golf!
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lol Jay!!

I have a buddy (a good poolplayer) that is determined to play more golf this year, and wants to shoot in the 80's consistantly (he'd only done it once). Well, first time out this year we played, and I was asked to point out any bad habits that he had....it worked, a tweak here, a try this there, and voila - he shot 86 (and that was after a HORRIBLE start - the first 4 holes). Next time out, putted worse, but still shot 87.

Now for the competition side of things.....

We played with another poolplayer buddy, little stakes on the line, and it seemed like every bit of tweaking that had worked completely escaped his brain!! He was SO caught up in what the other guy was doing (and throwing in barbs and trashtalking a bit), his game fell apart. He did BARELY win shooting a 94 (to the other guys' 96), on an easier course than the one he shot 86 on!!!

Crossover (for both golf and pool) comment - EASY -

FOCUS ON YOUR GAME, AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT YOUR OPPONENT IS DOING!!!!!

I really don't think it was a demon, intimidation, or even added pressure of playing this person or that for this amount or that.....it was a lack of focus in your own play!
 
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Geometry said:
I completely disagree. With practice, you can discipline yourself to totally stop mental chattering altogether. Mental chattering is just another distraction you don't need when playing pool.
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I think mental chatter is a whole other animal. I think that mental chatter is a result of not being sure of what you are doing or even how to do it. And in that case, only time on the table can help.

What I think of when I read the inner demon, is more a voice telling you something doesn't feel right. Shutting that out and just shooting results all to often in missing. Rather, stand up, listen to it and consider other options.
 
really getting confusing

3andstop said:
I think mental chatter is a whole other animal. I think that mental chatter is a result of not being sure of what you are doing or even how to do it. And in that case, only time on the table can help.

What I think of when I read the inner demon, is more a voice telling you something doesn't feel right. Shutting that out and just shooting results all to often in missing. Rather, stand up, listen to it and consider other options.
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I think we are now talking about three different things. The OP's "Inner Demon" which is lack of confidence in your play, mental chatter, and that inner voice that is telling you something is wrong on a specific shot. That inner voice telling you the shot is wrong is your friend, you stand up and try again. The inner demon is your enemy, it's telling you that you can't make the shot no matter how you try to. Mental chatter is your enemy too, causing loss of focus. Of course you can always start arguing with the inner voices out loud, this tends to make the people playing you lose focus! :D

Hu
 
getsome01 said:
i was playing an ahead set tonight, when guess who showed up, my inner demon.he was saying how lucky my opponent was and how unlucky i was. i went from playing jam up to screwing up. anyone know how to kill this bastard once and for all?
Click to expand...

Sure; agree with him. No disagreement, no conflict. No conflict, no inner demon.

Roger
 
getsome01 said:
i was playing an ahead set tonight, when guess who showed up, my inner demon.he was saying how lucky my opponent was and how unlucky i was. i went from playing jam up to screwing up. anyone know how to kill this bastard once and for all?
Click to expand...

Don't feel like the lone ranger, the same hombre has dogged some of the greats, including Louie Roberts.
 
3andstop said:
Here's what I do, and it works for me. Recognize that it is an "Inner Voice" which means you can't run away from it. You will never "loose" it or hide from it.

So, you become friends with it. You listen to it, and ask it questions like, why do you think you are playing poorly?

Get up from your stance, chalk your cue, talk to the inner voice on friendly terms, and it will soon become your partner and make you stronger. It may even become your mentor.

The point is, it exists, come to terms with it rather than fighting it. After all, it is only "you" trying to tell you something.
Click to expand...

I like this, but I would say to become one with it...not friends with it. It is part of you, not seperate from you. It's good to listen, then do what's right in your mind. We all have demons...
 
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