Insanity

I wrote a blog a week or so ago titled "Gut Check".  It basically assailed the virtues of persistence.  A lot can be said for persistence.  Thomas Edison finally invented the incandescent light bulb after trying hundreds of filament materials.  The now common product WD-40 was the 40th attempt at a water displacement solution.  The tortoise finally won the race after persistently putting one foot ahead of the other until he made the finish line.

In my case, I was in the middle of one of my longest tournament losing streaks and I was affirming to myself that I had no intentions of giving up.  Well, the losing streak is over but I've learned something along the way.

It's one thing to be persistent but quite another to keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  Someone once said that was the definition of insanity.

I had slipped back into some old habits.  We all have weaknesses and some poor tendencies.  I won't bore you with the details of my bad habits and poor tendencies.  Part of the reason I won't delve into those details is because I don't want you to use my weaknesses against me.  Let's just leave it at that.  I have some bad habits and some poor tendencies and slip back into them from time to time without realizing it.  That's what had happened to me.

So yes, I will be persistent but I won't continue to make the same mistakes over and over again.  I've identified my shortcomings (or at least part of them) and will be making some immediate corrections.  Meanwhile I will be persistent.

I wrote the above comments several weeks ago.  Since then I have finished in the money in four of the eight tournaments I've entered.  I've also played a couple of cash sessions and ended up in the black both times.  I've quit making the same mistakes and it shows.

When things get tough hang in there but always look for improvement and stay on the lookout for slipping back into bad habits.

See you at the tables.