Amazing take on the psychological side of chess. The competitive nature of the game can be very taxing on the mind sometimes. I am currently on a losing streak and the game doesn't feel fun to play right now, YET I find it hard to stop playing everyday. What helps me mainly in these situations is forcing myself to take a few days off and play when I really want to play. Just for the fun of it! I play way better then, but it's so hard to do sometimes! Anyways, loved the video! Subbed :-)
Glad you enjoyed it ;) thanks for the sub! Yeah losing streaks are very difficult - I lost 4 games straight last night and of course it didn't feel good. But like you said, so long as you're able to respond to it in a way that doesn't plummet you into a downwards spiral and keeps your love for the game alive, then all is well. I have a friend in the club I play in, he's older and started chess already into his 40's. He loses all the time but he is just the nicest most positive guy and you know what I envy him more than anyone else because he truly just loves and enjoys the game. Cheers!
Nice. I study every day, but a lot of days I don't play because I don't feel optimally sharp and I suppose I fear losing... which is absolutely ridiculous.
I feel the same way and then when I do play and review the games I end up doing better than I thought I am and gain elo with my confidence. It's funny how much of a mental game chess is outside of moving the pieces!
Crazy how chess can feel like a miraculous tool for self improvement, endlessly fascinating and enabling you to connect with people in a special way - while at its worst it turns you into one of those old folks sitting in front of the slot machine pooping and peeing on the spot because they are transfixed to the point of not leaving even when they have to use the bathroom
The biggest revelation I had with chess was when I thought my performance had to match my rating, and I realised that it's exactly the other way around. I don't play at the level of my rating, I just play at MY level and my rating reflects that.
And even when you reach the rating the elation from it is nothing compared to the soul crushing defeats. I realised years ago that chess is just like gambling from my experience working in a bookies when i was 18. The wins feel good or okay, but the loss is painful and you dont stop even when you are losing your mind with it. You make a good point in this video, and I agree with what you said entirely
Yep exactly! When I say it’s similar to a gambling addiction it’s from experience (not from gambling, never have) but from recognizing addiction as just that. I think the online aspect, void of any real social interaction can make it worse
Great combo of insights of Alan Watts and Eckhart Tolle. Chess has forced me to be more patient, disciplned, fix my relationships, optimize my activities in an organic way, quit alcohol, quit smoking weed daily, exercise more often and i realize meditation is next on the list. its as if to steadily raise your chess rating you have to raise youre overall life rating and constantly evolve the way you see things. to get over losing i always remind myself that i get more "experience points" from a loss than a win and that you cant beat the probability of wining more than 52% of your games over time. sometims i say to myself before a game "alright lets see how this person beats me"
Ahh you spotted some Eckhart Tolle as well. That's pretty amazing the impact Chess has had on your life! I would recommend it! A lot of us think it's the need or desire to win that makes us better but actually someone who is detached from all results (which is very central to Zen for example), is much more of a weapon because they can be utterly focused and enjoying what they do just to enjoy it. And I like your phrase before the games. Cheers!
First time seeing one of your videos, and i think you make a lot of great points here. I'm going to try and adopt this mentality, and hopefully it will help with my elo anxiety. Ithink what's been most discouraging for me is, i think my elo should be way higher than what it is, but I'm so focused on that somewhat arbitrary number I'm not allowing myself to enjoy the game as much as i should be. That is really taking away from the experience, and i didn't even realize that until watching this. Thanks for the video and insights goodsir, subscribed. 🙌🏻
Glad it helped! Yeah I think if you're really wanting to progress, then pour more time into simply studying (which let's be honest is never making you feel awful), and then just trust that in time the results will show in your rating and forget about all of that when you're playing. Ironically, the more you accept losing the better you will probably play.
that could probably explain why I do so bad when I feel my focus is peaking. maybe I'm actually fixating on winning. and the tilt that ensues... oh, my lands
also, as a pre-med, this was the year I studied the hardest in my entire life. I'd never had test anxiety, I've always sucked at studying, but I'd always just have fun (yeah, I'm weird) and do decently in them. this year I've studied most of the math I'd neglected during my middle school years. I never felt more ready. last year I studied a little and scored 75.5% of the math portion of the test I needed to pass. this year I managed my time horribly, got stuck in the hardest questions without even realizing it and failed terribly (26.6%). I hadn't felt anxious in months (even though I've struggled with anxiety a lot for the past decade), only after a few days of wondering what'd happened I realized I'd nearly had a full blown panic attack mid-test. oh, and the humanities and language portion of the test for which I didn't study at all? 90% 💀
@@99bskr Yeah it can cripple you in tests! Best thing to do is to breathe...If you don't know an answer you don't know it. Same thing that applies to Chess applies to tests - the more you accept the possibility of "failing / losing", the better you will perform.
Thanks for the breakdown! A bit off-topic, but I wanted to ask: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?
As someone who suffers from misophonia, during chess tournaments I am constantly triggered by people’s heavily breathing, sniffling, gulping sounds etc… And earplugs are no better because I also have tinnitus (yeah I know what are the odds💀💀💀). So I think that being able to block out my surroundings and focus solely on the game would be a superpower
That does sound challenging. I'm not particularly familiar with Misophonia, but I assume that "triggering" comes in the forms of thoughts + unpleasant bodily sensations, yes? The techniques I mentioned in this video are pretty basic and surface level, but there are other very powerful techniques that deal with reactions to stimuli, sort of peeling the layers of what's really happening in the moment (and what's imagined and causing us suffering) which could help or even fix it entirely.
@ yeah from what is known about misophonia (not much unfortunately) it seems to be a strong emotional reaction that can feel almost physical. My reaction is something that I was trying to work on in therapy but since it is deeply rooted into an irrational processing of the sounds, it is very hard and I don’t know if I’ll ever truly be able to overcome it… Most times I end up doing intervals of covering my ears during the games and uncovering them. Thanks for your words, very interesting video and very smartly approached👍🏻
@@Zannablu12 I see…Therapy in my experience is very useful for some things and can be ineffective for other things. There are certain practices of, let’s just call it mindfulness or inquiry, that look at your sense perceptions and your thoughts and I myself have experienced life changing results (mostly in regards to depression and anxiety). So If ever you find yourself wanting to “get rid” of that or at least try, I might be able to help.
I suffer from those chess anxiety’s, the way I try to handle it is when I play rated games I will only play three a day and I’ll stop after a loss in any of the three. If I feel that I’m not playing well ( missing moves or leaving pieces unprotected) I won’t continue. On those days I’ll just practice or play casual games. I really appreciated your advice. Thank you
@@frankbrown6305 That's great you came up with a plan. It sounds like there's still quite a lot of anxiety about losing if you're quitting right when you lose. Maybe you can try setting yourself just a set number per day. In other words, a successful day is when you play all 5 games or maybe even 10 games and focus on that rather than winning or losing. Because if you take time to analyze your mistakes, and you play that much and don't worry too much about the wins or losses then the results will show. Otherwise, I would recommend the meditation techniques and do that before playing.
Amazing take on the psychological side of chess. The competitive nature of the game can be very taxing on the mind sometimes. I am currently on a losing streak and the game doesn't feel fun to play right now, YET I find it hard to stop playing everyday. What helps me mainly in these situations is forcing myself to take a few days off and play when I really want to play. Just for the fun of it! I play way better then, but it's so hard to do sometimes! Anyways, loved the video! Subbed :-)
Glad you enjoyed it ;) thanks for the sub! Yeah losing streaks are very difficult - I lost 4 games straight last night and of course it didn't feel good. But like you said, so long as you're able to respond to it in a way that doesn't plummet you into a downwards spiral and keeps your love for the game alive, then all is well. I have a friend in the club I play in, he's older and started chess already into his 40's. He loses all the time but he is just the nicest most positive guy and you know what I envy him more than anyone else because he truly just loves and enjoys the game. Cheers!
@@Zenmindchess That's awesome to read, your friend is the true winner with that amazing attitude, even if he loses! Thanks for the pin btw!
@@jurrgames309 Absolutely ;)
Nice. I study every day, but a lot of days I don't play because I don't feel optimally sharp and I suppose I fear losing... which is absolutely ridiculous.
I feel the same way and then when I do play and review the games I end up doing better than I thought I am and gain elo with my confidence. It's funny how much of a mental game chess is outside of moving the pieces!
You're not the only one! Happens to me all the time too
Same here buddy.
I study chess a lot and I never feel ready for a game. I have usually forgotten some line that needs a refresh. I feel i'm in a refresh loop.
Same! Sometimes you just gotta play and do your best. I'm constantly saying in my videos "I really need to go over my openings again".
Crazy how chess can feel like a miraculous tool for self improvement, endlessly fascinating and enabling you to connect with people in a special way - while at its worst it turns you into one of those old folks sitting in front of the slot machine pooping and peeing on the spot because they are transfixed to the point of not leaving even when they have to use the bathroom
Yep! It can become an unhealthy addiction like many other things. My concern is mostly in regards to online chess
The biggest revelation I had with chess was when I thought my performance had to match my rating, and I realised that it's exactly the other way around. I don't play at the level of my rating, I just play at MY level and my rating reflects that.
Very good point!
And even when you reach the rating the elation from it is nothing compared to the soul crushing defeats. I realised years ago that chess is just like gambling from my experience working in a bookies when i was 18. The wins feel good or okay, but the loss is painful and you dont stop even when you are losing your mind with it. You make a good point in this video, and I agree with what you said entirely
Yep exactly! When I say it’s similar to a gambling addiction it’s from experience (not from gambling, never have) but from recognizing addiction as just that. I think the online aspect, void of any real social interaction can make it worse
Great combo of insights of Alan Watts and Eckhart Tolle. Chess has forced me to be more patient, disciplned, fix my relationships, optimize my activities in an organic way, quit alcohol, quit smoking weed daily, exercise more often and i realize meditation is next on the list. its as if to steadily raise your chess rating you have to raise youre overall life rating and constantly evolve the way you see things. to get over losing i always remind myself that i get more "experience points" from a loss than a win and that you cant beat the probability of wining more than 52% of your games over time. sometims i say to myself before a game "alright lets see how this person beats me"
Ahh you spotted some Eckhart Tolle as well. That's pretty amazing the impact Chess has had on your life! I would recommend it! A lot of us think it's the need or desire to win that makes us better but actually someone who is detached from all results (which is very central to Zen for example), is much more of a weapon because they can be utterly focused and enjoying what they do just to enjoy it. And I like your phrase before the games. Cheers!
Excellent thoughts on the game. Very enlightening. I'll be tuning in to more of these types of videos.
Thanks buddy! Glad you liked it. There will be many more to come now that I have more time 👍
First time seeing one of your videos, and i think you make a lot of great points here. I'm going to try and adopt this mentality, and hopefully it will help with my elo anxiety. Ithink what's been most discouraging for me is, i think my elo should be way higher than what it is, but I'm so focused on that somewhat arbitrary number I'm not allowing myself to enjoy the game as much as i should be. That is really taking away from the experience, and i didn't even realize that until watching this. Thanks for the video and insights goodsir, subscribed. 🙌🏻
Glad it helped! Yeah I think if you're really wanting to progress, then pour more time into simply studying (which let's be honest is never making you feel awful), and then just trust that in time the results will show in your rating and forget about all of that when you're playing. Ironically, the more you accept losing the better you will probably play.
Gained a sub. This video is awesome dude. This is something every chess player needs to hear
Thanks for the sub, glad you liked it 🙏
that could probably explain why I do so bad when I feel my focus is peaking. maybe I'm actually fixating on winning. and the tilt that ensues... oh, my lands
also, as a pre-med, this was the year I studied the hardest in my entire life. I'd never had test anxiety, I've always sucked at studying, but I'd always just have fun (yeah, I'm weird) and do decently in them. this year I've studied most of the math I'd neglected during my middle school years. I never felt more ready. last year I studied a little and scored 75.5% of the math portion of the test I needed to pass. this year I managed my time horribly, got stuck in the hardest questions without even realizing it and failed terribly (26.6%). I hadn't felt anxious in months (even though I've struggled with anxiety a lot for the past decade), only after a few days of wondering what'd happened I realized I'd nearly had a full blown panic attack mid-test. oh, and the humanities and language portion of the test for which I didn't study at all? 90% 💀
@@99bskr Yeah it can cripple you in tests! Best thing to do is to breathe...If you don't know an answer you don't know it. Same thing that applies to Chess applies to tests - the more you accept the possibility of "failing / losing", the better you will perform.
Thanks for the breakdown! A bit off-topic, but I wanted to ask: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?
Thanks! No idea about that sorry
Good fresh vid 🙌🏻 Thanks
Thanks! Cheers ;)
As someone who suffers from misophonia, during chess tournaments I am constantly triggered by people’s heavily breathing, sniffling, gulping sounds etc… And earplugs are no better because I also have tinnitus (yeah I know what are the odds💀💀💀). So I think that being able to block out my surroundings and focus solely on the game would be a superpower
That does sound challenging. I'm not particularly familiar with Misophonia, but I assume that "triggering" comes in the forms of thoughts + unpleasant bodily sensations, yes? The techniques I mentioned in this video are pretty basic and surface level, but there are other very powerful techniques that deal with reactions to stimuli, sort of peeling the layers of what's really happening in the moment (and what's imagined and causing us suffering) which could help or even fix it entirely.
@ yeah from what is known about misophonia (not much unfortunately) it seems to be a strong emotional reaction that can feel almost physical. My reaction is something that I was trying to work on in therapy but since it is deeply rooted into an irrational processing of the sounds, it is very hard and I don’t know if I’ll ever truly be able to overcome it… Most times I end up doing intervals of covering my ears during the games and uncovering them. Thanks for your words, very interesting video and very smartly approached👍🏻
@@Zannablu12 I see…Therapy in my experience is very useful for some things and can be ineffective for other things. There are certain practices of, let’s just call it mindfulness or inquiry, that look at your sense perceptions and your thoughts and I myself have experienced life changing results (mostly in regards to depression and anxiety). So If ever you find yourself wanting to “get rid” of that or at least try, I might be able to help.
great video!
TY! :)
Please talk to Hanging Pawns.
I don't know the channel too well, why?
@@Zenmindchess Because his need to win robs him of power.
I suffer from those chess anxiety’s, the way I try to handle it is when I play rated games I will only play three a day and I’ll stop after a loss in any of the three. If I feel that I’m not playing well ( missing moves or leaving pieces unprotected) I won’t continue. On those days I’ll just practice or play casual games.
I really appreciated your advice.
Thank you
@@jimmyballer7047 Ohh ok haha I haven't watched too much of his stuff. He wouldn't be the only one
@@frankbrown6305 That's great you came up with a plan. It sounds like there's still quite a lot of anxiety about losing if you're quitting right when you lose. Maybe you can try setting yourself just a set number per day. In other words, a successful day is when you play all 5 games or maybe even 10 games and focus on that rather than winning or losing. Because if you take time to analyze your mistakes, and you play that much and don't worry too much about the wins or losses then the results will show. Otherwise, I would recommend the meditation techniques and do that before playing.