Run a PERMA audit of your current well-being

Rate each of the five PERMA pillars to find which is currently limiting your overall flourishing.

Why it works

PERMA’s multidimensional structure means deficits in different pillars require different interventions. A person low in Engagement needs flow-generating conditions, not more positive emotions; someone depleted in Meaning needs purpose work, not better accomplishment tracking. Without diagnosis, interventions miss the limiting factor and produce disappointing results. A structured audit converts vague dissatisfaction into a specific, addressable gap.

How to do it

1. Rate each pillar 1–10: P (positive emotions), E (engagement/flow), R (quality relationships), M (sense of meaning/purpose), A (progress toward meaningful goals).
2. For your lowest pillar, write three sentences: what is the deficit? What has sustained it? What would a 7 look like?
3. Focus first on the single lowest pillar rather than spreading effort across all five.
4. Re-audit monthly — the limiting pillar often shifts as one improves.

Evidence

The PERMA structure is based on Seligman’s theoretical framework. Measurement instruments (PERMA-Profiler) have been developed and validated in research settings. (observational)

The five-element structure is theoretically motivated; factor analyses show moderate support for the structure but also overlap between elements. The audit format here is a practitioner application.

Sources

• Butler & Kern (2016), "The PERMA-Profiler: a brief multidimensional measure of flourishing," International Journal of Wellbeing

Common mistake

Treating a low PERMA score as a judgment rather than a diagnostic — the point is to find the most improvable gap, not to rate yourself.