Last month, I played in the WPT World Championships at the Wynn, Las Vegas. Of course, there were other events around the globe—The Bahamas and Prague, to name a few—but I was in the US, and I really enjoy Las Vegas. I had heard great things about the Wynn venue and how well-organized their tournaments are.
Poker events like these were once a regular part of my routine, but as time passes, I found myself needing a way to reset and regain my focus. Poker is such a mental game, and getting into the right mindset can be difficult if you’re out of practice. I realized that to give myself the best chance at success, I would need to find the time and space to sharpen my mind and focus.
Finding Mental Clarity
So where could I go to clear my mind and think deeply, free from distractions? I knew the answer—I had been there before. A meditation retreat, tucked away in the serene mountains of North Carolina.
At the WPT World Championships in December, there was no win at the Wynn this time, unfortunately.
No Talking, No Eye Contact
I attended a retreat with 290 other individuals, each of us there for our own reasons, seeking different things in the silence we vowed to uphold. We even agreed to avoid eye contact with one another.
Being alone with your thoughts is a rare experience in today’s world of constant connectivity, and the shift into such solitude can be jarring. Giving up all distractions like this is not something most people can take on immediately. But as time passed, I was able to explore parts of myself that I had hoped to focus on.
In this stillness, I could truly observe my own mind and the way it works, a luxury that only silence, stillness, and time can afford.
Meditation and Mountains: What’s the Connection?
Is there a spiritual element to this process? For some, certainly. The goal at the retreat was to reach a kind of awakening or realization, to express the inexpressible. Many of the world’s major religions share this aim at their core, though these ideas are often tangled up with beliefs, concepts, and other barriers. For me, I prefer to think of it simply as the search for truth. This journey underscores the differences between contemplation and thinking, a path that anyone can walk if they put in the work.
“The search for truth highlights the differences between contemplation and thinking.”
A Deep Curiosity
The journey into self-inquiry began for me years ago during a guided psychedelic experience. It was then that I realized much of what I perceived as truth, in terms of my thoughts and beliefs, was simply rooted in my own perspective. It wasn’t necessarily based on any objective fact. This sparked an ongoing curiosity, and over the past few years, I’ve immersed myself in reading and exploring to deepen my understanding.
This path has become deeply personal for me, not one in which religion plays a role. It was one of the primary reasons I chose this particular retreat—there, no one was trying to convince me of anything. There were guides and teachers, yes, but their role was simply to help us look within ourselves to find our own answers. If any answers even exist.
Self-Inquiry Over Answers
The essence of self-inquiry doesn’t always fit with the typical pattern of seeking answers. Our minds constantly try to create neat answers to life’s big questions, like “Who am I?” But when we inquire into this question, the goal isn’t to find an answer. It’s about exploring where the question even comes from. Who or what lies at our core?
To answer these questions—or even to get a sense of the answer—requires stillness, silence, and time.
Have I experienced an awakening or profound realization that unveils the truth? Not exactly. But I’ve certainly had indescribable experiences that have convinced me this path is real and worth walking.
Bringing It Back to Poker
You may wonder, what about the poker? The benefits of meditation and this process of self-inquiry are undeniable. They sharpen the mind, allowing you to think deeply and clearly about any important aspect of life—be it a relationship, a career, or, in my case, how to approach a card game.
Poker players thrive on making good decisions, and the foundation of good decision-making is the ability to think clearly. The absence of distractions in retreats like these is something I’d recommend everyone experience, poker players or not. It helps center yourself and approach life’s puzzles with fresh energy.
Conclusion
While I didn’t win at the Wynn this time, the experience of focusing on my mental clarity and engaging in deep self-reflection during the meditation retreat helped me grow. For anyone looking to sharpen their decision-making, I highly recommend finding your own space for silence and stillness—it’s a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.
