PMA
You have to have it…to feel happier! So, what is PMA? It stands for “present moment awareness” – or being aware of and present in the moment. It helps you stay connected to your truth versus getting caught up in the possible “painful” stories of your life.
Used In Ancient & Modern Times
Ancient wisdom traditions say that the highest form of intelligence is being a witness or an observer of your life (in other words, being aware of your life).
In modern times, research also reinforces the benefits of having present moment awareness or being mindful (i.e., paying attention to the moment). It brings a sense of peace and sanity to life.
But, I know practicing PMA can feel hard to do. Some days, I feel bombarded by daily life and the thoughts and feelings that come along with my life’s circumstances. So, I practice PMA as often as possible. That wasn’t always the case. Being human (and a Sicilian human at that), I often used to react (shall we say, at times, a bit overly “passionate”) to my life situations. Just ask my nieces and nephews about what they call the “Rosebud Incident of 2003.”
What if:
- we could experience equanimity and see that every moment was in service of our higher good?
- everything in life didn’t have to be perfect to feel like perfection in the moment?
How is this possible?!
Learn the Secret of Practicing PMA…
It’s to not judge what is occurring. And, to accept whatever emotions, thoughts, and sensations are showing up in the moment for you. This approach to your life can help you experience emotional agility by helping to monitor and regulate your thoughts and feelings. With this kind of mastery, you can make better choices about what you want to think, feel, or do next.
Remember, you give meaning to everything that happens in your life. Feeling happier OR suffering comes from the interpretation of what happened and not the actual experience.
For example, the other day I felt overwhelmed by all that I needed to get done in various areas of my life (from meet with clients and strategic partners to fix my stove so I can eat a warm meal again:-). I began to feel self doubt about what to do next. And, on the deepest level, I felt fear that it wouldn’t all get done. After identifying those thoughts and feelings, I decided that everything I’m doing and the decisions I’m making are perfect for me. (Doesn’t even matter if they were not.) I created a new interpretation of what was happening in my life. That decision (or new thought) immediately relaxed me.
How It Works
When something seemingly upsetting is occurring, we revert back to automatic reactions out of habit. But, if we can remain present in the moment (i.e., focused on our thoughts, feelings, and any sensations in our body), our minds can’t ruminate about what happened in the past or worry about the future. So, if something happens in your life and you’re noticing a reaction, just pause and practice PMA.
If I didn’t practice PMA (as I mentioned in my example above), I might have allowed the feeling of overwhelm and fear take over. I would have remembered times in the past when I felt that way OR continued to worry about not getting everything done (a thought about the “future”). So, if I let my mind wander outside of the present moment, my body would actually feel the upsetting emotions associated with not getting things done.
And, this is when the automatic reaction bubbles up inside of me. But, when I practice PMA, I can can pay attention to what I’m noticing in the moment (i.e., my habitual response), understand what isn’t serving me well, decide to change any thoughts or feelings, and then move forward with a more mindful or purposeful action (instead of a negative, unhelpful “re-action”).
Science Confirms It Works
Science even supports that my revised “reaction” (i.e., more positive response) to overwhelm and fear can occur. With the new story (or thought) about my situation, I released chemicals in my body that calmed me (and my mind) down. With a greater sense of emotional balance, I remembered to read a saying I keep near my desk. It states: “I give thanks for this perfect day, miracle shall follow miracle and wonders shall never cease.” After reading it, I actually felt excited about the challenges ahead and started whizzing through my projects all day long.
So, PMA helps me to live an inspired life daily, moment by moment. If you string together all of the happier moments you experience, you’ll feel like you flow through your life with more ease and grace.
If you want to check out additional tools and resources to learn more about PMA, check out another blog post “How To Be in the Present Moment.“
