PERMA has become the de-facto model of wellbeing. The basic framework is 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 – comprising three sets of emotions. Firstly, the pleasures: rapture, ecstasy, warmth, comfort, pleasantness. The pleasures can be externally stimulated, can often be bought, tend to require little effort. They typically experience diminished returns and their pleasures are short lived. Secondly, gratification: that feeling of time stopping, being totally absorbed in an activity as we effortlessly lose our self-consciousness. Finally, purpose: belonging to and serving something we value and perceive to be bigger than ourselves – often involves creating a legacy.

Positive Engagement – flow, being in the zone, being totally absorbed in doing something you value for its own sake.

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

Positive Meaning – belonging to, and / or serving a cause bigger than our-selves which we, personally, value.

Positive Accomplishments – those outcomes we cherish, that we’re proud of having achieved, that are meaningful to us, that we are motivated to achieve.

P E R M A	P                                E                                 R                          M                       A
	Emotions	Engagement	Relationships	Meaning	Accomplishments
	Live your good life authentically by applying your character strengths to your flow activities, creating meaning for you and value for others
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

 

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