PERMA model or theory of well-being: what does it consist of and how does it help us?

In other articles I talked to you about the importance of accepting emotions, whether positive or negative, to end the obligation to be happy. However, I also think It is important to make known all those tools that can help us increase our satisfaction and well-being. One of these tools is the PERMA Model, by Martin Seligman.

What do you think if I tell you that By increasing the quality and quantity of 5 specific factors, can your level of well-being change drastically? It seems incredible, but Seligman developed this model for that purpose. Let’s find out what it is and how it can be put into practice so that you can check for yourselves whether it fulfills its purpose.

Discovering the PERMA Model

The PERMA model, also called well-being theory, is a theory of unforced choice, which was developed by Martin Seligman, who has been considered the father of positive psychology. It consists of a description of what people freely choose to be happier.

It seems that this model is an extension of the three ways to happiness model. According to this model, Seligman considered that there were three ways from which to begin the path to happiness. and that, as we will see, are quite similar to the factors of the PERMA model.

The pleasant: aims to increase positive emotions in the present, past and future. engaged: it is about putting our potential to work to achieve experiences of flow.The significant: refers to the meaning of life and the development of objectives beyond one’s own or personal ones.

PERMA is the acronym for the 5 factors on which this theory is based and which we will now see in more detail. Working and developing each of them will help increase levels of optimism, motivation and satisfaction. However, these elements or factors must meet the following conditions:

They must contribute to well-being. They must be chosen for the person’s own good and not as a method to achieve any of the other variables. They must be measured and defined independently of the rest of the variables in the model.

As Seligman says, they should not all be worked on equally and the work of developing them should never be an obligation. We must focus more “deeply” on those with which we feel most identified. He explains that This model is a mere description of what happy people do, but never a prescription.

P- Positive Emotions (Positive emotions)

Consists in increase positive emotionsnot to camouflage the negative ones, but to be used as tools to overcome them.

positive emotions they allow us to experience satisfaction with life and be able to remain positivedespite the adverse circumstances. Some examples may be: love, tranquility, plenitude, pleasure…

AND- Engagement (Commitment)

It’s about a pact that we must make with ourselves, with our power and our strengths, in order to achieve harmony and enter a state of flow or optimal state of activation.

This state of flow The feeling of flow is what we usually achieve when we get involved in activities, we focus on them and we really experience a kind of “stoppage of time”. Therefore, It is about committing ourselves to the search for activities that lead us to states of flow.

R- Relationships (Positive relationships)

As social beings, One of the irreplaceable sources of well-being and satisfaction are social relationships, since they constitute a source of support and protection.

Having satisfactory relationships is necessary for adequate development, so we must take care of relationships with family, friends, co-workers…. Within this factor, which implies the improvement of social relationships, we must also include the improvement of our social skills and tools.

M- Meaning and purpose (Meaning and purpose)

This point is about finding meaning and meaning in life that goes beyond our own individual goals, that goes beyond ourselves. Is he “What can I give to the world?”.

In this way, all our goals, our objectives and our achievements will have a much more transcendental background that will give them great social and moral value.

TO- Accomplishment (Success and sense of achievement)

Is about set goals that, as they are achieved, our feeling of competence and level of autonomy increase.

Putting the PERMA model into practice

To work on the positive emotions module, we can do a imagine a situation capable of generating those positive emotions.

In the case of commitment, the most effective thing is to make a list of the activities that usually make us enter into flow and then commit to carrying out these activities weekly, monthly or annually (depending on the possibility of doing so) that allow us to flow.

To do a good job of improving social relationships, the first thing is to see how they are. Therefore, exploring the quantity and quality of our relationships should give us clues as to what requires more attention and work.

A good way to find meaning in our lives is to ask and answer simple questions every day such as: What is my role in the world? Why have I come? Can I improve my way of being in the world? As we respond to ourselves, our desire to engage in meaningful activities is also likely to awaken.

Be aware of our achievementsno matter how small they may be, is a great way to feel fulfilled and motivated, which encourages us to continue setting goals and strive to achieve them.

As you can see, it is an easy model to follow and whose benefits seem numerous and important. Now it’s your turn to put it into practice and discover them for yourself. And remember…

Work on you. You will thank yourself.

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