I think in order to PMA you need to take minimal notice to negative comments said by other people. Every day you hear more negative comments than positive, probably because you drown out the positives or give negative things more attention. Normally, this is what I would do.
I reflect on what happens, think about it and sometimes I do let it get too me, I suffer with overthinking, I think everyone does at some stage. It's all a way of giving someone else control of emotions - this winds me up even more, therefore giving them even more control, by not reacting to any negative comments or just brushing them off can simply change the way think and therefore giving more of a PMA.
Imagine setting up a dart board and pinning a perfect, crisp, white piece of paper in front of it. You give everyone else a single dart to throw, each dart that hits the piece of paper will leave a mark. This is basically what's happening when you pay attention to the negative comments and insults. Now, imagine you have just put a piece of plastic in front of a new sheet of paper on the board and let people throw the darts, what will happen? Depending on how thick you are going to let the plastic be and how strong you want it too be is down too you. Starting from the beginning like everything else is best. - you can't bake a cake without mixing all the ingredients in order first, can you? If you can please enlighten me and tell me this magical recipe. - The thinnest bit of plastic could probably sustain more than you think, but seeming as it's only the start, it will leave a mark and possibly a crack within the surface (your emotions) it could maybe even penetrate the piece of paper. Learning not to let comments and more negative things get too you will increase the size and strength of that single bit of plastic.
Right now, I'm training my mind to build a net. Only let in the positive comments, letting them stick in my mind and letting the negative comments fly straight back out. Reacting will probably make the situation worse. Normally I try brushing it off instead, I will change the subject, possibly frustrating the person even more. I aim to keep to positive things, remember not everyone is perfect and as a generation we are all learning, we will never stop. Even when we become the older generation, becoming a parent, having new responsibilities, adjusting yourself to simply expand your mind and knowledge and what you think is best for not only yourself but others around you and possibly your future children.
Your mind will work wonders, train it into what might suit your life better, learn what you want to learn and make the best opportunity for your life and it will reflect in other's, give it time and make your imprint in the sand, don't wait for the sea too keep washing it away, you deserve to have the best for yourself, believe it and live it.
~Soph.
