Guesstimate

[vexvelour]

Hi. I've been playing poker for quite a while successfully. My major soft spot in my game is that I don't understand the math of figuring and applying odds. I've read several books on the subject, and I still find it quite confusing. I have come up with a sort-of figuring system for myself while I'm at the table, like an educated guess at my odds. However, I find myself folding winning hands sometimes when my "odds" tell me to fold. I hardly ever find myself staying in a pot too long, but this guesstimating is costing me some major pots.

Anyway, my question is this: without having to run equations through my head, is there a better way to sort of guesstimate? Am I just retarded for not learning how to figure the correct odds? If I am retarded, is there a simpler way to learn? Thanks for your help.