This page includes resources, activities, and tools from positive psychology that help you support your mental health and well-being even during challenging times. Do you want support as you experiment with these practices? Connect with a liveWELL Health Coach to get started.

Positive Psychology

"Positive psychology is the study of what constitutes the pleasant life, the engaged life, and the meaningful life." - Martin Seligman, founding father of Positive Psychology

Positive Psychology can help you foster a more positive mindset, buffer negative emotions and stress, protect your mental well-being and build positive self-growth during challenges.

The PERMA model is a framework developed by Martin Seligman, and it describes five essential elements of well-being: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment.

joy

Positive Emotions

Activities that encourage positive emotions.
paint

Engagement

Activities to help you practice flow.
  • Participate in an activity you love. Remove distractions so you have more energy to focus and engage. 
  • Explore your character strengths. You can take the free VIA Character
    Strengths Survey.
  • Bonus: Find an activity that you love that requires you to use your character strengths.
  • Practice mindfulness and being in the present moment.
  • Spend time in nature.
connect

Relationships

Invest in your social connections for enhanced well-being.
  • Connect with family or friends regularly. Get to know your coworkers. Ask them to share a favorite accomplishment or story from their life.
  • Message a loved one and tell them how much you appreciate them.
  • Invite friends, family, or coworkers to share a meal or refreshment. 
  • Join a class or group that interests you.
  • Volunteer in your community.
  • Express gratitude. 
meaning

Meaning

Reflect on your sense of purpose and direction.
  • Journal and reflect on your personal values and life goals.
  • Spend your time with people you care about.
  • Be curious on how you can share your passion with others.
  • Identify a cause or organization that matters to you. How can you help?
you got this

Accomplishment

Keep track of your progress towards your goals.
  • Write down SMART goals for what you want to accomplish. Make sure they are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. 
  • Reflect on a previous challenge and how you overcame it.
  • Celebrate your accomplishments.
recharge logo

Recharge+

Looking for tips and strategies to help build resiliency? Sign up for Recharge+, a text-based resiliency-boosting program! Recharge+ is designed to help you identify and build the skills you need to bounce back from whatever life throws your way.

Campus Resources