Life Cheat Code?

[Sacred Fool]

And why are we playing poker in the first place?

It's a good metaphor for consciousness which has reached the 3D level of social competition.  Moving beyond that is the path of the heart.  And I'll underscore what's been said above: for those of us who have heavily invested in personal well being at the expense of heartfelt openness, there are no clever short cuts.  Also said above: flipping the cards over and revealing self--embracing vulnerability--is a whole lot harder than it sounds.  It's about transformation of identity, but by incorporating elements of self hitherto ignored (for most of us).  Integrating an element of self which has hitherto has been worked around complicates the entire process because the entire structure must them be adjusted to accommodate the newly needed flow of energy.  Because one is basically working in the dark to do all this, there is much confusion....obviously!  ha ha