Who couldn’t use more happiness in their life? What is happiness anyway? What does it mean to be happy? It means something different to everyone, but the dictionary defines it as good fortune, pleasure, contentment and joy. Whether you call it bliss, exhilaration, delight, enjoyment or something else, happiness is something that most of us strive for. The pursuit of it is even included in the Declaration of Independence along with life and liberty as inalienable rights.
A lot of research has been done into what makes people happy. According to Psychology Today, one thing that helps people be happy is having a sense of purpose, a meaning to their lives. Exercise, enjoying culture, having pets, volunteering and having a positive mindset have all been identified as things that help people to be happy. Of those, having a purpose and a positive mindset are the hardest to pin down, but like almost everything else today, there’s an app for that!
10% Happier
When ABC news anchor Dan Harris had a panic attack on national television, he knew he had to change his life. His book, 10% Happier, is the story of his journey to mindfulness meditation and tips on meditation for beginners. This app goes deeper into the meditation journey with guided meditations and programs. The accompanying free podcast features Harris interviewing some of the biggest names in meditation, as well as people who’ve successfully integrated mediation into their lives and careers. From newbie to expert, there’s something for everyone.
Happify
With science-based games and activities, Happify lifts your mood, changes your focus and generally picks you up in no time. The programs are developed by behavioral scientists and researchers and provide tools to take control of your emotional well-being, whether you’re feeling stressed, anxious, depressed or dealing with negative thoughts.
Happier
Your personal mindfulness coach is here! Happier is meant to help you stay positive and present throughout your busy day. Do you need to take a pause and focus on something positive? Do you want to lift your mood through access to inspirational quotes? Happier does all that and more and even allows you to share your own happy moments with the Happier community, helping make others happier too.
Zen Sand
Zen Sand is a relaxing game that is easy to play but hard to master. Place bamboo stalks to guide the flowing sand into the vases. Sounds easy, right? Zen Sand has 16 levels of increasingly complex play for free and up to 64 levels in total. You’ll play while listening to soothing sounds in a zen-like atmosphere, unlocking ancient Chinese proverbs while you play. It reduces stress and anxiety by giving your brain something to focus on. Players say it is addictive!
ThinkUp: Positive Affirmations
We all know what positive affirmations are. ThinkUp provides you with affirmations to overcome challenges like motivation and self-esteem issues and lets you record your own voice saying them to make them even more powerful. You can select affirmations from a provided list or provide your own, adding music if you like. The app also provides daily motivation and relaxation features and allows you to track your meditation practice.
All of the apps listed are free with in-app purchases and subscriptions available. Looking for more tools to help you meditate? Check out our article on apps to help with that too!
If you’re looking to make other changes to bring more happy to your life, we have some other articles you might like to read:
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