To control your emotions - you need to remove all expectations (for example: I have the last money - I need to urgently win - this is an expectation - and if there is an expectation, then you will have a lot of emotions) - Remove your expectations - and you will always be cold-blooded
Oh if only that were true. If I remove all expectations how do I understand
expected value?
Seriously though, its not that easy to just remove all emotions and never get upset over a bad beat or a big loss, like getting knocked out right at the bubble, or before the final table.
I just had a hand where UTG preflop raiser holding 34suit called my lead out on a flop of 28J, and then reraised my turn bet, putting me and my pair of 8's all in. Turn was a 5. And yes, the 6 came on the river. I was defending my big blind against this guy who I had watched play loose and aggressive. Had him at 95% to 5% on the flop, and 80% to 20% on the turn. Those type of hands can really put your mental toughness to the test, and it is important to try to focus only on the part of the hand where you made a solid read and a good call. If you let those negative thoughts creep in and take over your mindset, you will not be able to continue to focus on the task at hand.
Mental toughness is very important in this game. Some people are naturally talented at controlling themselves and their emotions, and for them I would imagine that poker is much easier in the long run. But for everyone else it takes practice, just like practicing everything else about the game, in order to become proficient in the ability to shrug off past bad beats and mistakes. Learn from the mistakes and forget about the bad beats. You do not have control over anything else.
Also, meditation can help you develop some of these skills in mental toughness and focus. If you practice it a lot it can help you step outside of your own mind and thoughts, and help you calm down to where you are ready to put whatever it was that aggravated you in the past and move forward.