PERMA model by Martin Seligman, a pioneer in positive psychology, explains how owning or rescuing a dog can contribute to your happiness and flourishing.
If you are looking for a way to improve your mental health and wellness, you might want to consider getting a dog. Dogs are not only adorable and loyal companions, but they can also provide you with many benefits that can enhance your well-being. In this article, we will use the PERMA model by Martin Seligman, a pioneer in positive psychology, to explain how owning or rescuing a dog can contribute to your happiness and flourishing.
The PERMA model consists of five elements that are essential for: Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. Let's see how each of these elements can be influenced by having a dog in your life.
Positive emotion
Positive emotion refers to the ability to experience and appreciate positive feelings, such as joy, gratitude, love, and satisfaction. Dogs can help you increase your positive emotion in many ways. For example:
Dogs can make you feel less alone and more loved. They offer unconditional affection, emotional support, and constant cuddles that can reduce loneliness and isolation.
Dogs can make you laugh and smile. They are entertaining and funny, and they can brighten up your mood with their antics and expressions.
Dogs can make you feel good about yourself. They can boost your self-esteem, confidence, and sense of purpose by showing you appreciation, loyalty, and trust.
Engagement
Engagement refers to the state of being fully immersed and absorbed in an activity that challenges your skills and strengths. Dogs can help you increase your engagement by providing you with opportunities to do things that interest you and stimulate you. For example:
Dogs can encourage you to exercise and be active. They need regular walks, playtime, and training, which can motivate you to move more and enjoy the outdoors.
Dogs can inspire you to learn new things and develop new skills. You can teach them tricks, enrol them in classes, or try out different sports and activities with them.
Dogs can challenge you to overcome difficulties and cope with stress. They can help you face your fears, deal with your emotions, and adapt to changes in your life.
Relationships
Relationships refer to the quality and quantity of your social connections with other people. Dogs can help you improve your relationships by enhancing your social skills and expanding your social network. For example:
Dogs can make you more attractive and approachable. They can act as conversation starters, icebreakers, and wingmen when you meet new people or go on dates.
Dogs can make you more empathetic and compassionate. They can teach you how to understand others' feelings, needs, and perspectives, and how to care for them.
Dogs can make you more loyal and trustworthy. They can show you how to be faithful, reliable, and supportive of your friends and family.
Meaning
Meaning refers to the sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself that gives you direction and purpose in life. Dogs can help you find meaning by connecting you with something that matters to you and aligns with your values. For example:
Dogs can inspire you to make a difference in the world. They can motivate you to get involved in causes that benefit animals, such as volunteering at shelters, fostering dogs, or advocating for animal rights.
Dogs can enrich your spirituality or faith. They can help you appreciate the beauty of nature, the wonder of creation, and the power of love.
Dogs can reflect your personality or identity. They can express who you are, what you like, and what you stand for.
Accomplishment
Accomplishment refers to the pursuit and achievement of goals that give you a sense of mastery and competence. Dogs can help you attain accomplishment by helping you set and reach realistic and meaningful goals that challenge you and reward you. For example:
Dogs can help you improve your health and fitness. They can help you lose weight, lower your blood pressure, reduce your stress levels, and prevent diseases.
Dogs can help you enhance your career or education. They can help you improve your productivity, creativity, performance, and learning abilities.
Dogs can help you celebrate your successes and milestones. They can share your joy, pride, and gratitude when you achieve something important or overcome an obstacle.
As you can see, owning or rescuing a dog can have a positive impact on all aspects of your well-being according to the PERMA model. Of course, having a dog also comes with responsibilities and challenges that require commitment and patience. But if you are ready to welcome a furry friend into your life, you will discover that the benefits far outweigh the costs. Whether you choose to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder or adopt a dog from a shelter, you will gain a loyal companion that will make your life happier and healthier.
Comments