EDIT: Thank you all so much for your thoughtful input. It means so much to me.
Hi, all. I’m looking to change my nasty tendency to be a sore loser, particularly when playing games. I tend to personalize losses that are of no consequence. When the game starts to shift against me, I often stop trying as hard because it feels hopeless. My partner is much more proficient at board games than I am, and I don’t want this toxic trait of mine to make games less fun for us. What are some things you all tried to lessen this train of thought, if you’ve experienced it?
For fun, I recommend challenging your partner to a “most talented loser” set of games. Set up rules (like, you can’t just immediately tank and end the game) and play like you make the worst decision each opportunity. If you have choices between smart moves and really dumb moves, choose the dumb ones. That way, one of you ends up accidentally winning.
As a kid, my brother had really awful sportsmanship but whenever we played to lose, it was far more fun and silly