[ptangptang]

PERMA is the acronym used by prof Martin Seligman to define the state of being happy with your life. P...positive emotion (ie optimism) E..engagement (taking part in society)....R(relationships)....M(meaning:do you feel your life has meaning)....A(accomplishnents)
Out of 5 what do you think you score.
I'd struggle to get to 2.
P...0.5
E...0.5
A...0.5

[splitimage]

I like Seligman, but haven't run accross this before. Do you remember which book it's in?

Thanks
splitimage

[Onward2wards]

Based on that model, no wonder I feel so down and hopeless. The reality is, people sometimes get depressed because sometimes life actually does suck (at least, compared to what we would strongly like it to be). I'm not quite sure what my score is, since it is quite subjective, but I know it's lower than I would like.

[ptangptang]

Originally Posted by splitimage

I like Seligman, but haven't run accross this before. Do you remember which book it's in?

Thanks
splitimage

I don't know. I'm sure he has written books, obviously they will be listed on his wiki entry. I found his lectures on you tube, so that would be a good place to start.

[ptangptang]

Originally Posted by Onward2wards

Based on that model, no wonder I feel so down and hopeless. The reality is, people sometimes get depressed because sometimes life actually does suck (at least, compared to what we would strongly like it to be). I'm not quite sure what my score is, since it is quite subjective, but I know it's lower than I would like.

Thats what I thought. You're right. For a lot of people,me included, for all sorts if reasons life DOES suck and there isn't a lot you can do about it unless you want to stare at a candle and think about nothing

Zero ... Zip ... Zilch ...

Nada ...

Nah - Dah!

[Onward2wards]

I've read some of Dr. Seligman's books, and his theories make a lot of sense to me. Using his own terminology, I could say that I have a lower than desirable PERMA score, and what keeps me from deliberately raising it is (partly) my learned helplessness regarding specific aspects of it.

If anyone is interested in reading some of Dr. Martin Seligman's books, I googled a list:

Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being

Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment

The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression And Build Lifelong Resilience

What You Can Change and What You Can't: The Complete Guide to Successful Self-Improvement

[Lookn4mylife]

Huh, I've never heard of PERMA before. That's pretty cool, although I don't really want to know my score at the moment.

I'd say I have 4 out of 5 these days, in the past it's been a lot less.

[unaluna]

Okay Ptang this time next year - at the top of the Empire State Building - you and me! Or in front of the restored Globe Theatre. And try to not get hit by a cab on the way there, okay? (I keep forgetting who's the pretty one in this relationship!)

[ptangptang]

Originally Posted by unaluna

Okay Ptang this time next year - at the top of the Empire State Building - you and me! Or in front of the restored Globe Theatre. And try to not get hit by a cab on the way there, okay? (I keep forgetting who's the pretty one in this relationship!)

Soft now, me thinks she doth propose congress within the environs of the Globe theatre in Southwark. She knowest not that time hath blunted my sword and the performance would be not so much 'as you like it' but more 'much ado about nothing'.

[unaluna]

The sweet encounter less a midsummer's night dream and more the taming of the shrew!

[ptangptang]

Originally Posted by unaluna

The sweet encounter less a midsummer's night dream and more the taming of the shrew!

Haha, touche. Brilliant

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by ptangptang

Haha, touche. Brilliant

You inspire me

[TiredPilgrim]

I think that some of those who struggle with mental illness like depression are actually some of the more optimistic people out there, oddly enough. It takes a lot of determination and buried optimism to keep going when what you really feel like doing is hanging yourself from the nearest rafter. So while a lot of us have trouble seeing the good in our lives, I think it takes a lot of optimism on a very deep level to keep going anyway.

P...positive emotion (ie optimism)
E..engagement (taking part in society)....
R(relationships)....
M(meaning:do you feel your life has meaning)....
A(accomplishnents)