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Applying PERMA in Your Life
Being aware of the PERMA model is the first step to applying this theory to your life. Keep referring back to the 5 elements of the model to help you apply it to each aspect of your life. Remember to think in a positive perspective at home and at work.
Find the things that make you happy and can make you fully engaged. You could even put goals to achieving more and challenging yourself in the activities you enjoy. Focus on your relationships with your family and friends by finding ways to connect and enjoy each other’s company. Find the meaning to your life and what gives you a sense of purpose, it’s different for everyone.
To summarise, the following 7 practises of mentally healthy people seem to be
Express your heart.
Relationships
People who have one or more close friendships are happier. It doesn’t seem to matter if we have a large network of close relationships or not. What seems to make a difference is if and how often we cooperate in activities and share our personal feelings with a friend or relative.
“Active-constructive responding,” which is the ability to express genuine interest in what people say, and respond in encouraging ways, is a powerful way to enrich relationships and cultivate positive emotions.
Cultivate kindness.
Acts of Kindness
People who volunteer or simply care for others on a consistent basis seem to be happier and less depressed.
Although “caring” can involve volunteering as part of an organized group or club, it can be as simple as reaching out to a colleague or classmate who looks lonely or is struggling with an issue.
Keep moving and eat well.
Exercise & Physical Wellbeing
Regular exercise has been associated with improved mental well-being and a lower incidence of depression. The Cochrane Review (the most influential medical review of its kind in the world) has produced a landmark analysis of 23 studies on exercise and depression.
One of the major conclusions was that exercise had a “large clinical impact” on depression. Many studies are proving the ancient adage, “sound body, sound mind
Find your flow.
Flow
If we are deeply involved in trying to reach a goal, or an activity that is challenging but well suited to our skills, we experience a joyful state called “flow.” Many kinds of activities, such as sports, playing an instrument, or teaching, can produce the experience of flow.
According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a pioneer of the scientific study of happiness, flow is a type of intrinsic motivation. In his words, “you do what you’re doing primarily because you like what you’re doing. If you learn only for external, extrinsic reasons, you will probably forget it as soon as you are no longer forced to remember what you want to do.”
Discovering Meaning.
Spiritual Engagement & Meaning
Studies demonstrate a close link between spiritual and religious practice and happiness. Spirituality is closely related to the discovery of greater meaning in our lives.
As the psychologist Martin Seligman emphasizes, through the meaningful life we discover a deeper kind of happiness,
Discover and use your strengths.
Strengths & Virtues
Studies by experts such as Martin Seligman in the field of Positive Psychology show that the happiest people are those that have discovered their unique strengths (such as persistence and critical thinking) and virtues (such as humanity) and use those strengths and virtues for a purpose that is greater than their own personal goals
Treasure gratitude, mindfulness, and hope.
Positive Mindset: Optimism, Mindfulness & Gratitude
Of all the areas studied in the relatively young field of positive psychology, gratitude has perhaps received the most attention.
Grateful people have been shown to have greater positive emotion, a greater sense of belonging, and lower incidence of depression and stress.
