or any other doctrine imploring people to be still.

I used to be more aggressive personality wise. But it was to my detriment, so I worked on applications of Buddhism, gaining fulfillment along with better control of my emotions. Becoming a wave instead of the storm wasn't a big deal. I'm curious what approaches to consider to balance this out at times. Example - seeing a girl I like and instinctively "working"* her so there'd be a good chance of seeing her again. It applies to poker too. Sure, I could spend a lot of time doing the math and learning to accurately identify good check/raise bluff spots...I can find some of them on my own now- but pulling the trigger is something I am weaker at than before.

*- healthy behavior...lacked a propper term.

Zen is ok. I like Tao better. My favorite line from the book of Tao:

"Attack at your enemies slightest yield, but yield at your enemies slightest attack."

Ok that's enough mumbo jumbo.

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More poker related:

With value hands, I'm only thinking of whether or not I can profitably value bet. Then I act on the information that I've learned through the course of the hand.

With bluffs, I'm only thinking of whether bluffing or checking or calling are more profitable. Then I act.

With bluffcatchers, I'm only thinking of whether calling is profitable. Then I act.

With junk, I'm looking for my opponent to check it down to the river, which I'll probably bluff depending on the showdown value of the hand.