What makes life worth living?

PERMA is a theory raised by Martin Seligment (elected President of the American Psychological Association for 1998), that helps us redirect our thoughts into a more balanced way. Under normal circumstances, we are more likely to look back on negative experiences than positive ones. Therefore we tend to be more aware of some relative

ly unpleasant news, experiences and information.

• Positive Emotions are the capstone of PERMA where they can fill us with energy through positive thinking.

• Engagement is when we enter a state where we forget about time passing, difficulty and fully utilize our own potential and skills, called ‘Flow’.

• Relationships are a must for social networking. Effective communication can encourage us to build a stronger connection within an intimate relationship.

• Meaning of Life should be determined to achieve well-being, suggested by Snyder.

• Accomplishment, equipped with a growth mindset that can work us towards success which is suggested by Dweck. Brain is like a muscle which can be trained (neuroplasticity). Development can only be facilitated when repeatedly encountering challenges.

Gratitude Journal is a tool that allows us to get back on the right track, often practiced with PERMA. Identifying 3 things that are worth remembering for their positivity, then internalize them with your own emotion and experience and translate your unique thoughts into words for your future references, and re-experience it whenever you want.

PERMA(幸福理論) 是由正向心理學創始人 Martin Seligment (於1998被選為美國心理學會會長)提出的工具。在正常情況下，我們容易將更多的注意力放在負面的事情上。這是因為負面信息會導致大腦關鍵信息處理區域的活動激增。因此，我們往往會更偏向了解一些相對不愉快的新聞、經歷和信息。

• 正面情緒是 PERMA 的基石，可以通過正向思考讓我們充滿活力。

• 全心投入是當我們進入一種忘記時間流逝、困難並充分利用自己的潛力和技能的狀態時，稱為“心流”。

• 人際關係是社交網絡的必要條件。有效的溝通可以鼓勵我們在親密關係中建立更牢固的聯繫。

• 生命意義應該通Snyder提出的“希望模式”設定目標來確認。

• 成就感，配備成長心態，能助我們走向成功，這是 Dweck 所說，大腦就像肌肉一樣，是可以透過訓練成長的(神經可塑性)。只有不斷接受挑戰，才能快速發展。

感恩日記是一項讓我們回到正確軌道的工具，常與 PERMA的理念配合。先找出3 件任何值得感恩的事物，然後用心感受其正能量。

“感恩不是讓人忘記身處逆境中，而是在逆境中仍能擴闊你的心眼，在苦難之中仍然可以看到美好，值得欣賞的事物”