Interesting Psychology Team
Martin Seligman Positive Psychology
PERMA is a framework developed by Dr. Martin Seligman, widely known as the founder of Positive Psychology, to describe what it takes to live a flourishing life. See which aspects make you the happiest.
- P: There are proven ways to increase positive emotions, like gratitude, generosity, and mindfulness. What we intentionally focus our attention on will grow. But apart from putting our attention on appreciation and other good feelings, we can also choose to frame the events in our lives in a way that makes sense of where we have been and where we are going, a narrative that supports our goals. What actually happened to us is certainly important, but it is how we interpret those events that determines our happiness.
- E: Engagement is another aspect of flourishing. How great is it to experience total immersion in an activity? Hours feel like minutes and you feel engaged for the love of what you’re doing, not for any external reward.7 This “flow” experience can happen in many ways, from rock climbing to reading, from gardening to going on a run, to losing yourself in a creative project (writing, painting, music). It’s unique for everyone. What is your favorite way to be 100 percent fully engaged?
- R: Relationships are another key to thriving. How you relate to others, the friendships you nurture, the camaraderie, laughter, and sense of closeness all contribute to a happy life. Even having one person (or furry friend) to be with makes all the difference. With self-reported feelings of loneliness now up to 40 percent of adults in the United States alone and loneliness increasing the odds of an early death by 26 percent, so many feel disconnected. We need to know we are here for one another.
- M: Having a sense of meaning and purpose also makes people happier. If you’ve ever asked “Why am I here?” you know the depth of this question. Meaning can be found through connecting with something greater, through the work you do, the people you connect with, or the cause you support. Some good questions to ask yourself are: “What makes me feel most alive? What touches my heart so deeply that I want to help?”
- A: The best type of accomplishment is putting your energy into something that is aligned with your values, something that sits well with you and makes you feel that you are making a difference. That’s your “why.” Chunking goals down to smaller tasks is often “how” to see them through. Working backward to chart the steps you’ll need to take can give you the road map. Finally, rewarding yourself, or at least taking the time to savor the accomplishment (even small steps count) allows you to take it in. Otherwise, even with all the accomplishments, you will never have any satisfaction. Your focus will always be on the next goal, the next mountain to climb, which can lead to burnout. Instead, celebrate the little wins.
Positive Psychology worksheets:
In your journal, give yourself some time to reflect on these questions: Are you the hero in your story, or the victim? What have you learned by facing the monsters along your journey? Rewrite the script to give yourself the strong lead.
You may also like this:
ULTIMATE 7 Daily Happiness Habits to Guarantee a Year of Happiness
