Created by the king of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, the PERMA model is a framework for achieving happiness and well-being. PERMA stands for:
P – Positive Emotions
E – Engagement
R – Relationships
M – Meaning
A – Accomplishments
So, how do these five elements contribute to happiness?
Positive Emotions: This one is pretty straightforward. Feeling happy, joyful, content, and other positive emotions contribute to our overall well-being.
Engagement: When we’re fully absorbed in an activity, we experience a state of flow, which leads to a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Relationships: Strong social connections and a sense of belonging to a community are essential for our happiness.
Meaning: Finding meaning and purpose in our lives gives us a sense of direction and motivation.
Accomplishments: Setting and achieving goals, no matter how big or small, gives us a sense of accomplishment and boosts our confidence.
In a recent podcast, Prof Seligman however changed up his M for Meaning to M for Matter. Do we matter when we are gone? How to ensure that we matter? By helping others. That’s what to strive for. That will in turn bring the M for Meaning according to him. Pretty cool!