Is an Ultra Competitive Nature Counterproductive for a Poker Player?

[Reel Deal]

I’ve been thinking about this question a lot lately… I’ve always been very competitive and while that’s helped me in some areas like sports and law school, I think it might be a hindrance as a poker player. I really don’t like to lose, actually, I fucking hate it, and in poker you’re going to “lose” a number of hands, it’s inevitable. I think my competitive nature can sometimes take me off my game when some moron sucks out and takes away a pot. I wouldn’t say I really go completely on tilt, but I do notice sometimes that I’ll loosen up some to go after the joker that sucked out. Also, it does make it difficult to enjoy the game at times. If you’re not enjoying it and are loosening up, that’s obviously not a good thing for your game.

Anyone else feel like it’s an issue for them? How do you deal with it? I’m trying to continue to tell myself “decisions, not results,” but are there any other ways that people have used to quell their competitive nature? Or, does anyone think a competitive nature is a good thing for a poker player?