Meaning

The fourth letter in the PERMA model (Seligman, 2012) is M, for “Meaning.” Martin Seligman described Meaning as “belonging to or serving something that is greater than ourselves.” This is accompanied by a sense of purpose, having value, and feelings of self-worth. Meaning is an important part of human life because it yields greater life satisfaction and can even be tied to a decrease in health problems.

A sense of meaning is different for everyone however, and can be pursued through professions, social or political causes that one is passionate about, a creative hobby, or through spiritual/religious beliefs and practices. Meaning is guided by personal values; discovering what is important and following those passions.

A key take away about the power of meaning is its ability to foster resilience. Those who are able to find meaning in the challenges they face are better able to take a positive approach to adversity, and increase the chance that they will experience growth following a traumatic event, rather than feeling trapped in the trauma itself.

Thank you to Leslie J. for creating this infographic!