(701) 893-5819 jill.r.nelson@ndsu.edu

PERMA

PERMA

A Theory of Well-Being

Positive Emotion

Developing feelings of contentment and joy.

Engagement

Being absorbed, interested, and involved in an activity.

Relationships

Feeling loved, supported, and valued by others. Other people matter!

Meaning

Having a sense of purpose, feeling life is valuable and worth living, or connecting to something greater than ourselves.

Accomplishments

Working toward and reaching goals and feeling able to complete tasks and daily responsiblities. Feeling of mastery and acheivement.

More About PERMA

 

PERMA is an acronym for a model of well-being put forth by a pioneer in the field of positive psychology, Martin Seligman. According to Seligman, PERMA makes up five important building blocks of well-being and happiness:

  • Positive emotions – feeling good
  • Engagement – being completely absorbed in activities
  • Relationships – being authentically connected to others
  • Meaning – purposeful existence
  • Achievement – a sense of accomplishment and success