What Is the PERMA Model?

Life is made of tiny moments of choice.


  • Should I go to the movies or watch at home?
    Apple or baklava?
    Rest now or take a walk first?
    Wear blue or white?

These small choices quietly create the rhythm of our lives.
And well-being is hidden inside these ordinary moments.

When you choose what nourishes your body, mind, and soul,
well-being begins to grow — gently, quietly, consistently.

P – Positive Emotions

Positive emotions open the very first door to well-being.
But first, they need to be noticed.

Follow these feelings:

  • gratitude

  • joy

  • pleasure

  • hope

  • interest

  • curiosity

  • play/fun

These emotions aren’t “nice extras.”
They are a biological “healing kit” that softens the body and calms the mind.

E – Engagement / Flow

Ask yourself:
“When do I feel time stop?”

While painting?
Organizing your home?
Cooking?
Walking in nature?

Sometimes we say,
“I got so absorbed… I didn’t even notice time passing.”
Those moments when you are fully absorbed —
that is flow, and flow is one of the strongest roots of well-being.

R – Relationships

Humans are wired for connection.

A spider cannot live without its web.
And we cannot live without our relationships.

The people you spend time with,
the ones you share energy with,
the ones whose presence shapes your days…

They quietly determine the quality of your life.

Strong relationships = strong well-being.

M – Meaning

Why do you wake up every morning?
What is the meaning behind the things you do?

And one of the most powerful questions:
“What do you think God might have intended for you?”* I heard this quote one of the Sinan Canan’s video. He mentioned that this quote is belong to Kierkegaard.


Meaning doesn’t always appear in big, philosophical thoughts.
Sometimes it’s in the warmth of a cup of tea.
Sometimes it’s in helping someone.
Sometimes it’s simply in showing up for your own life.

Meaning is the invisible thread that gives life direction.

A – Achievement

Well-being grows when we feel:

  • Competence — “I can do this.”

  • Autonomy — “This is my choice.”

  • Relatedness — “I am connected.”

These are the pillars of Self-Determination Theory,
one of the deepest foundations of coaching.

Small steps → small wins → inner strength → real confidence.

Achievement is never about the size of the goal.
It’s about movement — gentle, honest, consistent movement.

This is both the starting point and the destination of coaching.