{"id":20473,"date":"2025-01-29T21:30:03","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T21:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/?p=20473"},"modified":"2026-04-12T18:55:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T18:55:45","slug":"pm2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/2025\/01\/29\/pm2\/","title":{"rendered":"Premeditatio malorum (2) – my practice and thoughts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A little Ted Lasso .gif clip to set the stage here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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What is – Premeditatio malorum? A definition of sorts to start<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Premeditatio malorum : “The exercise of imagining things that could go wrong or be taken away from us. It helps us prepare for life\u2019s inevitable setbacks. We don\u2019t always get what is rightfully ours, even if we\u2019ve earned it. Not everything is as clean and straightforward as we think they may be. Psychologically, we must prepare ourselves for this to happen.”<\/p>Ryan Holiday<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here is a link to some more thoughts on the subject from Ryan Holiday’s perspective – link to Ryan Holliday’s thoughts at his Daily Stoic blog<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Life. It is hard. It is messy. It is beautiful. It is life!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t mean it won\u2019t happen or it will happen! Life isn\u2019t really fair, so what? So, if it does happen, it does. If it doesn\u2019t happen, it doesn\u2019t! The practice of Premeditatio malorum helps me in adapting and responding. Does it make it easier to accept the difficulties or evils or hardships that I may encounter? Not at all! What it does do is help me shape my disposition and responses to difficult things. Life is full of many interactions which I have no control! So, I seek and strive to focus on what I can control. My response to the stimulus! Further, it exercises the systems required mentally and physically to adapt – especially in circumstances where what one imagines is drastically over simplified. January 2025 immensely illustrated my personal need to recalibrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A huge observation and challenge I often see is over-thought! Paralysis Analysis and lack of action (FREEZE!). It is my observation that over intellectualizing and not including action is destructive and often leads to APATHY. So while I may anticipate to have a generally good day, I try to be ready in case it isn\u2019t and try to maintain a cheerful disposition either way. January 2025 is pushing my limits!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another way to spell perfection is \u2018paralysis\u2019!<\/em><\/p>Winston Churchill<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Premeditatio Malorum – CASE Example <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pathological Demand Avoidance and its effects — CAN’T Not Won’t!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Something interesting to include here is the example of Pathological Demand Avoidance<\/a>. Two of my children experience this condition, and unlike many of us who can pause and choose how to respond between stimulus and reaction, they often move straight into fight-or-flight<\/strong> mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While most current resources emphasize behavioral strategies, these approaches frequently fall short when PDA is present\u2014because the root of the disruption is neurological and biological<\/strong>, not simply behavioral. PDA challenges the conventional pathways that allow neurotypical individuals to regulate responses logically or reasonably. Instead, it bypasses those systems entirely, leading to responses such as Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn, Flop, Funster, and Fib<\/strong>\u2014a growing framework that reflects the complexity of these reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is hope, however, in the brain\u2019s capacity for neuroplasticity<\/strong>, which opens the door for meaningful dialogue and future research. PDA is often accompanied by intense anxiety and other dysregulated responses, making the journey one of deep learning, resilience, and adaptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the outside, many people struggle to understand the unique challenges\u2014and the unique strengths\u2014within our family. We navigate a landscape filled with aspirations, setbacks, breakthroughs, and growth. It\u2019s exhausting and exasperating at times, but we remain hopeful and committed to evolving, learning, and advocating for better understanding and support.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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PDA INFO – Zentriathlete Link<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Looking for info about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 <\/strong>Definitions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 <\/strong>PDA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 <\/strong>Story<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 <\/strong>Parenting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 <\/strong>Accomodations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 <\/strong>Disability<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 <\/strong>Support<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2713 <\/strong>Fears<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Podcast by Sage Family and Casey Ehrlick<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Life. It is hard. It is messy. It is beautiful. It is life!<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Marcus Aurelius approaches I employ<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n