Present Moment Awareness

Abstract Present moment awareness (PMA) is one of six interrelated processes that facilitate psychological flexibility within acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The process of PMA (1) brings deliberate attention to inner experiences such as thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations in the service of building psychological flexibility, and (2) increases the opportunity to come in contact with valued outer experiences. Thus, PMA can be considered a foundational process upon which other ACT processes rest, making it difficult to clearly distinguish PMA from the other ACT processes and study the unique impact of PMA in ACT interventions. This challenge is further complicated by inadequate measurement tools for PMA or mindfulness. The growing literature on the potential neurophysiological mechanisms of mindfulness in general suggests that this is a worthy area of study within ACT. Future studies should examine the potential benefits of formal mindfulness meditation practice in the context of ACT and capitalize on ecological momentary assessment and other technology to measure and support PMA and other ACT processes in real-world and real-time settings.