The new ‘Live Happy’ iPhone application is the product of collaboration between Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at UC Riverside as well as author of the book ‘The How of Happiness,’ and Signal Patterns, developers of psychology based Web and mobile applications.
This application is the first of its kind and is based on key points from Lyubomirsky’s book. This application aims to enhance users’ short and long term happiness by taking them through a set of daily activities.
According to Lyubomirsky’s research, in order to become more happy, satisfied and fulfilled, one is required to take deliberate steps to promote optimistic and grateful thinking, pursue important goals, invest in relationships, live in the present, and get rid of negative thoughts. She analyzes what makes people happy, how people can continue and increase their happiness, and what type of advantages are produced from a more positive outlook.
There are a few simple activities in which people should engage to enhance their overall mood. This application encourages users to engage in goal setting, evaluating, and tracking. Users should keep a gratitude journal in addition to expressing gratitude directly. Replaying happy days in their minds, as also keeping a savoring photo album is helpful. Other activities given were that users should visualize their best possible self, nurture relationships and remember acts of kindness.
This application will remind people to express gratitude by sending e-mail or text message to someone in their contact list. Additionally, users can practice savoring the moment by clicking a picture.
The application utilizes traditional happiness programs which were earlier only found in books. The Live Happy app offers users a comprehensive program on the go that engages users on an interactive platform, thanks to the iPhone’s ability to email and text-message, write notes, and take photos.
This application is currently available on the Apple App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch. There is a free version available for download which features a limited number of activities. There are unlimited activities featured in the paid version and it has the added benefit of the “Ask Sonja” feature that allows people to send questions to Lyubomirsky.