Introduction

Over the course of my poker ‘career’, I’ve made countless adjustments in an effort to remain competitive at an ever-evolving game. I’ve shifted emphasis back and forth between tournaments and cash games, experimented with various combinations of looseness and aggression, and played extensively both live and online. But no matter what the format, the stakes, or the arena, there seems to have been one unexpected constant which has accompanied me in all of my strongest poker performances: an uncharacteristically sullen, almost irritable mood.

Epiphany

I hadn’t really given it all that much thought until I saw the movie “X-Men: First Class” awhile back. There is a particular scene in which the character Magneto is challenged to use his magnetic powers to manipulate a massive satellite dish off in the distance. After struggling mightily in his first attempt, it is suggested to him by another that “true focus lies somewhere between rage and serenity.” As Magneto ponders the words, the expression on his face gradually morphs from utter defeat to absolute resolve. He then turns his attention back to the satellite dish and, with this newfound level of focus, successfully moves the enormous metal structure.

‘True focus lies somewhere between rage and serenity.’ Though the words were coming to me from a movie, the concept still struck me as a perfect explanation for why so many of my best poker moments seemingly went hand-in-hand with a somewhat callous disposition. It wasn’t that I had simply woken up on the wrong side of the bed; rather, it turns out that I had somehow managed to eliminate the distractions which might otherwise have prevented me from playing my best poker. I imagine that it’s not all that different from what is commonly referred to in the sporting world as “being in the zone.”

So, stepping away from the poker paradigm, what is it about ‘rage’ and ‘serenity’ that makes them unsuitable for realizing the highest levels of human focus?

Closer Inspection

As defined by Meriam-Webster, rage is ‘a violent and uncontrolled anger’, whereas serenity is a state of ‘utter calm’. But to truly grasp their effects on personal focus, I think it’s important to understand what kinds of things cause them to manifest in the first place. In my experience, rage is generally sparked by circumstances which are not in alignment with the way I feel things ought to be. To put in another way, it is the instinctive human recognition of something being amiss and requiring rectification. Serenity on the other hand is what I experience when I’m mostly satisfied with things as they are; it is a contentedness with the status quo.

When I think of rage and serenity as opposite ends of the same emotional spectrum, it makes sense to me that my focus (and, therefore, the effectiveness of my actions) would suffer the farther I strayed from the center of that spectrum. With rage, action is virtually guaranteed, but it tends to be of the random and irrational sort. With serenity, my actions are generally either understated, untimely, or altogether absent. It’s when I can successfully walk that fine line in the middle that my focus and productivity levels reach their peaks; that’s where I’m able to harness both the relentless drive that comes with rage as well as the rational judgment that comes with serenity.

Finding the Balance

So what it all seems to boil down to is that achieving my most effective level of focus – regardless of the endeavor – depends on my ability not only to manage my emotions, but also to leverage them. When I think of all the television footage I’ve ever seen of athletes while they were ‘in the zone’, two words come to mind: intensity and control. I can’t think of any better example than Hall of Fame basketball player Michael Jordan; his competitive fire was legendary, yet I don’t remember him ever seriously losing his cool. He knew exactly what he was trying to accomplish and was often able to overcome anything that stood between him and his goals. Finding the perfect balance between between rage and serenity allowed him to maximize motivation without sacrificing the quality of execution. And that, I believe, is the most direct path to true focus.

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