PERMA model: what it is and what it says about psychological well-being

Everyone is chasing happiness, but very few know how to achieve it. Becoming happy is a complex task, because not everyone has the same idea of ​​what happiness is and there are many ways to understand it.

The PERMA Model or theory of well-being describes how people choose what makes them happy. freely. It includes those elements of well-being that contribute to feeling good, having an optimal state of mind and facing day to day in a positive way.

This model was developed by Martin Seligman, who is considered the main founder of Positive Psychology. Its objective is to make it easier for people to consider a future and move towards it, in order to achieve the much-desired happiness.

• Related article: "Martin Seligman: biography and theories in Positive Psychology"

Characteristics of the PERMA Model

Seligman raises 5 components in his model, which contribute to well-being. When the person develops and improves each of these components, he approaches happiness, satisfaction and motivation. The PERMA Model has a cone objective

help give meaning to our lives and work toward goals that contribute to feeling fulfilled.

Each of the five components that make up the model fulfills three properties:

• Contributes to well-being.
• It must be chosen by the people for their own good.
• It is measured and defined independently from the other components of the model.

Components

These are the components of the PERMA model:

1. Positive emotions (Positive emotions)

Although it seems the most obvious part of the model, working on positive emotions is essential to be able to feel well-being. It does not only mean smiling at life, it also means being optimistic about the future and be positive every day.

Life is a process in which there are ups and downs. If the focus is only on the bad and the good is underestimated, it will give the feeling that there is no hope and that there is no way to move forward and be happy.

It is very important to be aware that although things do not always turn out as expected, knowing how to deal with them in the best possible way allows you to move forward.

Satisfying basic needs of the organism, such as thirst, hunger or the need to sleep, provide physiological pleasure, but the enjoy tasks that bring intellectual and artistic benefits emotionally satisfying and give a sense of self-fulfillment.

Feeling pleasure from daily tasks and maintaining an optimistic vision of life allows us to persevere and face the challenges of everyday life.

2. Commitment

When something is really enjoyed, time flies by. The pleasure that a hobby offers, such as sports, dance, playing an instrument or being a member of an interesting project favors staying committed and constant.

Everyone needs some activity that allows them to get away from the daily routine, something that will be positive as long as it does not isolate you from the rest of society. Putting aside work stress or routine momentarily helps to clear up and regain energy.

Pleasant activities can absorb the person who performs them, feeling a sensation of flow or "flow" that gives them peace of mind.

• You may be interested in: "Flow State (or Flow State): how to maximize your performance"

3. Positive relationships (Relationships)

According to the PERMA Model, Relationships are a crucial element in leading a full and meaningful life..

Many people believe that happiness depends mostly on what one does oneself without taking into account one's social circle, that it is not necessary to turn to others to achieve a fulfilling life. The Seligman model considers it to be just the opposite. Since humans are social animals, it is necessary to interact with other people in order to survive and thrive.

Maintain relationships with family, friends and partner or even with co-workers, he contributes to having a social network that provides emotional support. When difficult situations arise, being able to ask other people for help makes it easier to reach a solution quickly and efficiently.

The feeling of loneliness is one of the most serious problems in society since, although it is not a psychological disorder or a disease, it causes damage. Also, despite feeling alone, there are people who isolate themselves even more. The individualism that has been promoted in recent decades is truly counterproductive, especially considering that human beings have survived for years by cooperating.

4. Meaning

According to the PERMA Model, It is important that people ask themselves what their life purpose is, or what they can offer the world. Going from day to day without having a long-term goal isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can make you one feels somewhat lost and may have the feeling that he is not going to be a person of advantage.

Searching for a meaning to one's existence can seem like a very philosophical and even intimidating task, but Doing so already contributes to feeling in a certain way towards a goal and allows you to try different options.

During this process you can try being a volunteer in a charity, help a family member in need, write a book, reorient yourself at work...

5. Achievements

Setting goals doesn't make much sense if you don't try to achieve them. The objectives must be realistic but they must also have something ambitious. Developing a plan towards the goal will always help to get closer to achieving it.

How to apply it to our lives?

Knowing the components of this model and what they refer to helps to understand Seligman's proposal, but this does not mean that it is an easy task to integrate it into our lives. a good start is look for what makes us happy, what motivates us every day or even what sometimes takes us out of the monotonous routine.

Once you have found pleasant activities, ask yourself what they offer us and why we have been doing them frequently. Set yourself acceptable challenges. Focus on your personal relationships and look for ways you can make more meaningful connections with them and build new ones.

Bibliographic references:

• Bolanos-Dominguez, R. AND. and Ibarra-Cruz, E. (2017). Positive psychology: a new approach to the study of happiness. Reason and Word, 21(96), 660-679.
• Goodman, F. R., Disabato, D., J., Kashdan, T. b. and Kauffmann, S. b. (2017). Measuring well-being: A comparison of subjective well-being and PERMA. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(4), 321-332.