Nov 15, 2025
Beyond 'personal & professional life': Why every creator needs PERMA
Every creator, entrepreneur, builder needs a way to manage their mental wellbeing, but they often realize it too late. Here's a framework to never fall in that trap.
I often sit back and think of what to make of life. What can give more peace, more consistency (not joy or happiness), and I realized I needed a more comprehensive approach to looking at different segment, beyond just personal and professional space.
I looked back at something I read during my college days, a writer well respected in the positive psychology space and his key model - PERMA.
The Entrepreneur Mental Health Crisis
The numbers are staggering: 72% of entrepreneurs face mental health challenges compared to 31% of the general population. As solopreneurs dealing with uncertainty, isolation, and constant pressure, we need better tools than "How am I doing?"
Why think PERMA?
PERMA breaks well-being into five areas:
Positive Emotions: Find joy in small wins – a great customer message, learning from failures, or simply appreciating your courage to build something from nothing.
Engagement: Protect your flow state. Schedule peak energy hours for work that truly engages you, not just administrative tasks.
Relationships: Loneliness kills entrepreneurs. Actively invest in connections with other founders, mentors, and supporters. Your network isn't networking – it's survival.
Meaning: Remember your "why." What problems are you solving? What impact are you making? Revenue matters, but purpose sustains you through the tough times.
Achievement: Celebrate holistically. Yes, hit your metrics, but also acknowledge learning new skills, overcoming fears, and showing up consistently.
My Weekly Check-In
Instead of asking "How am I doing?" I now ask:
Am I experiencing enough positive emotions?
Am I spending time in flow states?
Are my relationships nourishing me?
Do I feel connected to my purpose?
Am I celebrating progress, not just perfection?
The Result?
I've moved from reactive survival to intentional well-being. I feel more assured, more aware and that’s all we can aim for sometimes, no big promises, but just good old consistency in life.
Your Turn
The entrepreneurial path is hard enough. Don't navigate it without a mental health framework.
Which PERMA element resonates most with you?
Need an OS to try and execute this method in your life, try this
