“Positive psychology is the scientific study of human strengths and virtues. The study of what constitutes the pleasant life, the engaged life, and the meaningful life.”
— Dr. Martin Seligman —
SKILL
In life, we measure what matters — height, temperature, blood pressure, time, weight, money. But we often forget to measure what matters most — WELLBEING. That’s where the PERMA+ Snapshot comes in.
Grounded in the science of positive psychology, The PERMA+ Snapshot is a simple tool that helps you track where you are in each aspect of wellbeing and point to areas where you might want to make changes. This tool can monitor your wellbeing over time and empowers you to make more informed decisions to benefit your wellbeing. Just as you might track your blood pressure or weight, the PERMA+ Snapshot tool lets you quickly check in on your unique wellbeing status. Wherever you are in your wellbeing journey, know that wellbeing is dynamic; it changes over time and can be positively impacted by practicing the skills of wellbeing.
SCIENCE
Positive psychology is the scientific study of human strengths and virtues — exploring who we are at our best and what makes life most worth living. After 30 years of researching what constitutes “the good life,” positive psychology founder Dr. Martin Seligman developed The PERMA Theory of Wellbeing — which includes five core elements critical to human flourishing: Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments (PERMA). We believe in the mind-body connection and have added +Health to reflect that physical health — sleep, nutrition, and movement — is a vital element of wellbeing. And, a growing body of research has found that measuring these critical elements can significantly impact and improve wellbeing. The PERMA+ Snapshot provides a lens to not only understand wellbeing, but to actively strengthen it.
Click on each tab below to learn more about the core elements of wellbeing.
Positive Emotions
We can increase our wellbeing by enhancing how we experience positive emotions and pleasure in both frequency and intensity. Positive emotions such as love, joy, gratitude, pride, inspiration, hope, interest, serenity, amusement, and awe. We have the capacity to increase our positive emotions about the past, present, and the future.
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Engagement
An optimal human experience, which has been referred to as “flow,” is when we are truly absorbed and engaged in a situation or task by using our skills, strengths, and full attention. We lose a sense of self, lose track of time, and concentrate intensely on the present. The more we are able to experience this type of engagement, the more likely we are to experience wellbeing.
Relationships
As innately social beings, relationships are fundamental to our wellbeing. Connections to others can give us purpose and meaning, increase motivation, boost our positive emotions, and support us during our hard times, increasing our resilience. We have the ability to cooperate, show empathy, the capacity to love, offer compassion and kindness because the bottom line is ... other people matter.
Meaning
A sense of meaning and purpose comes from serving a cause and connecting to something bigger than ourselves. Whether this is family, science, politics, religion, a social cause that helps people or the planet, having a deep sense of purpose increases our wellbeing. Purpose motivates us, protects us from setbacks and failures, and provides us with a greater connection to the world and those around us.
Accomplishments
We tend to pursue competence, success, achievement, and mastery in a variety of domains. Whether we are seeking to better ourselves through healthy routines and self-care, master a hobby or skill, achieve a valuable goal or promotion at work, or win a competitive event, accomplishment is an important element of wellbeing.
+Health
Although health was not included in Dr. Martin Seligman’s original framework of wellbeing and flourishing, we know that it is a vital element of wellbeing. Nutrition, movement, and sleep fuel our bodies and minds to get us ready to pursue each of the other elements of PERMA, enhancing our wellbeing!
Positive Emotions
We can increase our wellbeing by enhancing how we experience positive emotions and pleasure in both frequency and intensity. Positive emotions such as love, joy, gratitude, pride, inspiration, hope, interest, serenity, amusement, and awe. We have the capacity to increase our positive emotions about the past, present, and the future.
Engagement
An optimal human experience, which has been referred to as “flow,” is when we are truly absorbed and engaged in a situation or task by using our skills, strengths, and full attention. We lose a sense of self, lose track of time, and concentrate intensely on the present. The more we are able to experience this type of engagement, the more likely we are to experience wellbeing.
Relationships
As innately social beings, relationships are fundamental to our wellbeing. Connections to others can give us purpose and meaning, increase motivation, boost our positive emotions, and support us during our hard times, increasing our resilience. We have the ability to cooperate, show empathy, the capacity to love, offer compassion and kindness because the bottom line is ... other people matter.
Meaning
A sense of meaning and purpose comes from serving a cause and connecting to something bigger than ourselves. Whether this is family, science, politics, religion, a social cause that helps people or the planet, having a deep sense of purpose increases our wellbeing. Purpose motivates us, protects us from setbacks and failures, and provides us with a greater connection to the world and those around us.
Accomplishments
We tend to pursue competence, success, achievement, and mastery in a variety of domains. Whether we are seeking to better ourselves through healthy routines and self-care, master a hobby or skill, achieve a valuable goal or promotion at work, or win a competitive event, accomplishment is an important element of wellbeing.
+Health
Although health was not included in Dr. Martin Seligman’s original framework of wellbeing and flourishing, we know that it is a vital element of wellbeing. Nutrition, movement, and sleep fuel our bodies and minds to get us ready to pursue each of the other elements of PERMA, enhancing our wellbeing!
BENEFITS
People who measure and track their wellbeing are more likely to practice the skills of wellbeing that lead to:
- More resilience in times of challenge & stress
- Higher levels of satisfaction with work & their career
- Deeper and more meaningful relationships
- Increased social support
- Greater meaning in their community & day-to-day lives
- Increased performance and higher achievement
- Better sleep quality
- Less depression and anxiety