PERMA model: what is it and what does it say about psychological well-being?

This model proposed by Martin Seligman explains the processes of motivation and happiness.

Everyone pursues 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 of understanding it.

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

This model was developed by Martin Seligman, who is considered the main founder of Positive Psychology. Its objective is to facilitate people to be able to consider a future and move towards it, in order to reach the much desired happiness.

Characteristics of the PERMA Model

Seligman poses 5 components in his model, which contribute to well-being. When the person develops and improves each of these components, he/she gets closer to happiness, satisfaction and motivation. The PERMA Model aims to to help give meaning to our lives and work towards goals that contribute to feeling fulfilled, satisfied and motivated..

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

• It contributes to well-being.
• It must be chosen by people for its own sake.
• It is measured and defined independently of the other components of the model.

Components

These are the components of the PERMA model:

1. Positive emotions

Although it seems the most obvious of the model, working on positive emotions is fundamental to be able to feel wellbeing. It doesn't just mean smiling at life, it also means being optimistic about the future and being positive every day. and being positive every day.

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

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

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

Taking pleasure in daily tasks and maintaining an optimistic outlook on life allows one to persevere and face day-to-day challenges.

2. Engagement

When something is truly enjoyable, time flies by. The pleasure offered by a hobby, such as sports, dancing, playing an instrument or being a member of an interesting project helps to stay committed and constant.

Everyone needs an activity that allows them to get away from the daily routine.This is a good thing as long as it does not isolate you from the rest of society. Leaving aside the stress of work or routine for a moment helps to clear your head and recover your energy.

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

3. Positive Relationships

According to the PERMA Model relationships are a crucial element in achieving a full and meaningful life..

Many people believe that happiness depends for the most part on what you do for yourself regardless of your social circle, that you don't need to rely on others to achieve a fulfilling life. Seligman's model believes that just the opposite is true. Since human beings are social animals, it is necessary to interact with other people in order to survive and thrive.

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

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

4. Meaning

According to the PERMA Model, it is important for people to ask themselves what their life purpose is, or what they have to offer to the world.. Living from day to day without a long-term goal is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can make one feel somewhat lost and may give one the feeling that he or she is not going to be a useful person.

Searching for a meaning to one's existence may seem a very philosophical and even intimidating task, but doing so already contributes to feeling somewhat on track towards a goal and allows one to try out different options.

During this process, you can try volunteering for a charity, helping a family member in need, writing a book, reorienting your career...

5. Accomplishments

Setting goals doesn't make much sense if you don't try to achieve them.. Goals should be realistic but they should also be somewhat ambitious. Making a plan for 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 to what makes us happy, what motivates us every day, or even what sometimes makes us happy. or even what sometimes gets us out of the monotonous routine.

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

Bibliographical references:

• Bolaños-Domínguez, R. E. and Ibarra-Cruz, E. (2017). Positive psychology: a new approach to the study of happiness. Razón y palabra, 21(96), 660-679.
• Goodman, F. R., Disabato, D., J., Kashdan, T. B., & Kauffman, S. B. (2017). Measuring well-being: A comparison of subjective well-being and PERMA. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(4), 321-332.