When televised poker really hit its ratings peak several years back, I picked up on one of my favorite terms - "On Tilt".  In poker this term is used to describe the situation when a player either gets beat badly or plays right into someone's bluff and loses a big hand.  He then starts steaming, ranting, and muttering about how he shouldn't have been in the hand in the first place or something similar. His attitude shifts, negatively affecting his play, to the point that even the weakest players start to take advantage of him and suddenly he finds himself "on tilt" unable to recover.

Have you ever felt like your life was on tilt?  You're dealt a decent hand, things seem to be going very well, but one thing happens - something happens you did not anticipate, something does not go as planned, someone or something does not behave as you think they should...  Next thing you know - more and more things start unraveling and you can't seem to find the pieces, let alone the peace of mind, to start rebuilding your chip stack and get back to your winning ways...

The top professional poker players can recover fairly quickly, they are only "on tilt" for a hand or two and are then able to right themselves.  In my life, being "on tilt" seems to last days if not weeks.  I become a slave to either the anger, the anxiety, or I fall into destructive thoughts or habits that I can't seem to shake. Once "on tilt" I become agitated at the smallest things which only further delays my ability to break through it.

For other people I know, they've told me that when they go on tilt they tend to experience boredom, restlessness, loneliness, or even depression.  It takes a jolt of excitement or huge momentum swing to get them to shake it all off.

As much as I wish I'd never experience being "on tilt", I do have a huge desire to minimize the the time I spend "on tilt" and grow to the point that I rarely if ever experience this condition.

So, here are some ways I use to either help me stay OFF tilt or recover quickly when those feelings of frustration kick in:

1.  Refusing to give in or give up.  A real professional poker player, much like a prize fighter, doesn't quit.  Hanging tough even when recovering form the anxiety seems impossible or impractical.  I look for a few little wins (win a couple of small hands) as a start and build from there and make sure I sustain that momentum towards a great finish!
2. Forgiveness. I find I can recover much more quickly based on the freedom that forgiveness provides.  I am liberated from wasting energy forming and maintaining a grudge. Energy much better spent on doing what I ought to do for more consistent and level-headed play.
3. Return To Center.  For me that center is Jesus Christ and His word.  I know that through Him and the Spirit he has placed in me, I have everything necessary to shake off the anger and frustrations that have a grip on me.  

When I keep my head down, keep my feet of faith moving, practice forgiveness, and focus on His principles and promises - I find I experience far fewer or much shorter periods of being "on tilt."

Have you ever felt your life was on tilt?

How do you recover?

Tags: momentum | forgiveness