101 – Tommy Angelo – Making Meditation a Daily Habit

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Summary:

In this episode, Tommy Angelo, poker and meditation coach, discusses his new book Dailyness: How to Sustain a Meditation Practice. He shares what meditation means to him and why, if you commit to making it a practice, you need to go all-in. Elliot and Tommy explore the common excuses and challenges people face when they meditate. Listen in to hear an expert share how meditation gives players an edge at the table and why you’re already better at it than you think.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

[01:30] – Introducing Tommy, a poker and meditation coach

• 01:40 – He has a new poker training program and has recently released two books; the most recent is Dailyness: How to Sustain a Meditation Practice
• 02:30 – Poker has become a meditative practice to Tommy; he remains aware of his breath and posture at the table

[03:30] – How meditation affects mindset at the table

• 03:32 – It resets the mind and provides an awareness despite the emotional whirlwind

[04:24] – On how he has grown

• 04:30 – Annoyances are more easily brushed away

[05:04] – Tommy’s inspiration for Dailyness

• 05:18 – People were asking for advice and coaching; he learned about people’s hurdles and obstacles and collected notes
• 06:27 – He decided to write a book for people who know they should be meditating but want to know how; the book consists of a 3-point takeaway
• 07:20 – Other books tell you how little you can get away with; his approach is opposite and tells you the most you can do to better yourself

[08:15] – The book’s takeaways

• 08:20 – Do it every day and do it a lot; make it a priority
• 09:30 – Wake up an hour earlier and meditate; it acts as a tune up for your day
• 11:22 – Design your practice so it’s desireable

[13:00] – The predictable pushback

• 13:15 – People come up with excuses; Tommy doesn’t push back because if they really want a practice, they’ll follow the rules
• 13:30 – Any meditation is better than none; it’s a lifelong path
• 15:00 – The desire to meditate comes from meditating; it’s an internal choice and commitment

[16:00] – Comparing exercise and meditation

• 16:16 – Both are painful at first and difficult to turn into a practice at the beginning; after a while it’s desireable and necessary

[16:45] – Changes in poker players after consistent meditation practice

• 17:00 – You become aware of your own insanity and confusion; it allows you to think clearly in moments where you would’ve lost control
• 18:15 – It eliminates fog during and between hands and allows you to control tilts and come back to center; it requires training

[19:22] – On the wandering mind

• 19:40 – The point of meditation is the intention, not the performance itself; your mind is supposed to wander
• 20:07 – Focus on intention, set the time aside, and do it; if you didn’t do exactly what you wanted, you’re still successful
• 21:14 – Stillness is an essential component of meditation and can happen everywhere

[22:30] – Tommy’s YouTube videos

• 22:45 – They’re about poker strategy and the series is called Poker Simple; they’ll talk nuts-and-bolts poker stuff aimed at mid to low stakes players
• 24:15 – They’re melting complicated aspects of the game and simplifying it into actionable steps to take to the table

3 Key Points

1. Make meditation a priority you enjoy.
2. Use meditation to reduce fog and tilt.
3. Meditation is about the intention, not the performance itself.

Contact/Resources

• A-Game Poker Masterclass – Website
• Tommy’s newest book – Dailyness

Credits

Podcast Production by Podcastily

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