The PERMA Model

PERMA has become the de-facto model of wellbeing. PERMA has the basic framework of Positive Emotions, Positive Engagement, Positive Relationships, Positive Meaning and Positive Accomplishments. This leaves plenty of scope to incorporate a broad range of further resourceful elements. At a practical level, it leaves plenty of scope for adapting to the individual’s needs.

The table below summarises my personal take on the model. It is, purposefully, descriptive so does not attempt to prescribe what to do to improve wellbeing. That is addressed further below.

 

Positive Emotions.

May be associated with the present, the past or the future. Those associated with the future include hope, confidence, faith, and trust. Satisfaction, contentment, fulfilment, pride and serenity are some of the positive emotions associated with the past. There are two distinct classes of positive emotions concerned with the present: momentary pleasures and more enduring gratifications. The pleasures include both bodily pleasures and higher pleasures. Bodily pleasures come through the senses. Feelings that come from sex, beautiful perfumes, and delicious tastes fall into this category. In contrast, higher pleasures come from more complex activities and include feelings such as bliss, glee, comfort, ecstasy, and ebullience. Gratifications differ from pleasures in that they entail states of absorption or flow that come from engagement in activities involving using our unique signature strengths.

Positive Engagement.

flow, Wellbeing depends on the degree to which we are involved in engaging, absorbing activities such as sports or skilled work. The experience of being so absorbed in an activity that the sense of self and time are suspended is referred to as being in a state of flow.

Positive Relationships.

We’re social animals: the quality – not necessarily the quantity – of our relationships is hugely influential on our wellbeing. involvement in supportive relationships contributes to wellbeing. In particular, the relationship we have with ourselves.

Positive Meaning.

Having a purpose in life determines our wellbeing. This often involves pursuing highly valued goals or serving something bigger than ourselves such as community, charity, work organisation, political party or religion. This gives us the feeling that life is valuable and worth living.

Positive Accomplishments.

Accomplishments may include completing daily tasks and responsibilities, reaching goals, achieving success, and winning. Accomplishments may be in the domain of work or leisure activity. Accomplishments may give us feelings of mastery and achievement.

 

In the pursuit of wellbeing, the focus may be on one or more elements of the PERMA model. Where we focus predominantly on one element, we can be said to be living a particular type of life. For example, if we primarily pursue positive emotions, we may be said to lead a pleasant life. Where we mainly seek engagement or the flow state, we lead the engaged life. Where we see relationships or serving something greater than ourselves as the most important thing, this leads to the meaningful life. We lead the achieving life when we prioritise accomplishment.

 

PERMA

P E R M A	P                                E                                 R                          M                       A
	Emotions	Engagement	Relationships	Meaning	Accomplishments
	Live your good life authentically by applying your signature strengths to your flow activities, creating meaning for you, value for others and legacy for the future.
summary	The Good Life	Flow	Authenticity		Pillars
Key Themes	Purpose   Gratification   Pleasure   Learned Optimism	Character Strengths       Competence	Trust	Self-Worth	Health
			Purpose		Family
			Identity		Relationships
			Values		Home
			Beliefs		Development
			Competencies		Career
			Behaviour		Leisure
			Environment		Finance
Pioneers	Seligman Frederickson	Csikszentmihalyi Niemiec	Covey Dilts	Frankl Rogers	Dweck Ryan

 

PERMA, So what?

So, with the model being expressed, the next step is so what?

What should I know and what should I do for this model to have any practical purpose?

I’ve articulated this below. It’s important to note that while the individual elements are in their own ‘boxes’, there are large areas of over-lap between the elements. Some elements will be more relevant than others to any individual at any time. Finally, there is no right or wrong starting point or route through the model: there is only where you are right now and what is best for you.

 

	P	E	R	M	A
Behaviour	Live the good life	Apply your character strengths to meaningful activities	Win-Win or no deal	Review authenticity	Progress towards goals
Attitude	Long term perspective	Self-awareness	Build the emotional bank account	Focus on priorities	Create meaning for me, value for others
Skills	Balance the pleasures, gratifications and purpose	Encourage flow	Active constructive	Self-awareness	Prioritisation
Knowledge	The pleasure, gratifications and purpose	Flow characteristics	Trust	Self-worth V’s Self-Esteem	Well-formed outcomes Competence V’s Confidence
Experience	Question your own thinking	Flow	Reflections – who am I	Diary challenge	Desired future
Training	Pro-activity Learned Optimism	VIA character strengths	Who am I	Beliefs	Fixed / growth mindset