News from Sonja Lyubomirsky

Hi Helen — This is Sonja Lyubomirsky – I love what you’re doing and wish you every great success.

I thought that your readering might be interested to know that a new iPhone app (Live Happy) based on my research (and my book, The How of Happiness) has just launched. It’s very cool, and I hope people will check it out.I’ve been working with a company called Signal Patterns to develop this app.

(Full disclosure: I’m not making any money off of it, but plan to use it for research at some point.)

Basically, the app prompts and encourages users to engage in several happiness-increasing strategies using their iPhone. It will prompt you to measure your happiness on a regular basis, help you identify which strategies are right for you, and then actually lead you through them.

For example, you may be prompted to express gratitude by texting, calling, or emailing someone in your Contacts List. Or you can practice savoring by taking a photo of a person/thing/place you love, or by writing about a photo (e.g., recent vacation) from your Photo Album.

The strategies that Live Happy allows you to do easily on your iPhone include:-
Setting and Pursuing Goals-
Expressing Gratitude Directly to Someone-
Keeping a Gratitude Journal-
Replaying Happy Days-
Savoring -
Envisioning Your Best Possible Self (i.e., practicing optimism)-
Nurturing Relationships-
Recalling Acts of Kindness

Here’s more info on the app: www.livehappyapp.com Link to download the free trial version: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=317894323&mt=8

I’d love to hear people’s feedback.
All my best, --Sonja


Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D.Professor and Graduate AdvisorDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiverside, CA 92521

My academic web site: www.faculty.ucr.edu/~sonja/ The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want (Penguin Press, 2008)

Book web site: http://www.thehowofhappiness.com/
My blog at Psychology Today: blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-how-happiness

BBBH

Hi All,
Here's a question for starters..... find someone you know who you think is really optimistic & resilient.......what other qualities do you notice about them?

(PS. It would be best to anonymise anything you write on this blog).
Helen

BBBH3 Mary Gordon

Well what a day! Last of the 3 BBBH Conferences, and we were all knocked out with Mary's presentation. Evaluations are fabulous ranging from 'its the best training I've had in 15 years' to 'wasn't feeling broody before, but I am now'.
Many have said how much they want to follow up this work with C&YP and families in the NE.

Mary kindly left me a signed copy of her book & I'm wondering how best to use it for all of us.
I'll write some excerpts from time to time.

Has anyone had a success story of building empathy with a specific child? Or like Mary, by using babies as a teacher for older pupils? What was the result? (No details to identify anyone please, or will be removed).

Mary would you like to make a comment?
Helen

BBBH

This blog has been created to enable all those who've attended or participated in the series of Bounce Back Be Happy conferences. Its also for anyone out there wanting to help children and young people in the North East achieve high aspirations, optimistic thinking and stategies for developing resiliency and a sense of 'I can' (self-efficacy).

Its an opportunity to continue networking on 'what works', share success stories and support for colleagues working with families in the North East.

If anyone wishes to give any feedback or ask questions about the three strategies within the book I gave out at the conference, it would be great to hear what's happening for you (or not).
The book gives questions and a framework for you to reflect and personally build the three strategies for yourself:- 1) hope & aspiration 2) develop optimistic thinking 3) resilience using a resume of Seligman's ABCDE, resulting in 4) self-efficacy (I can make things happen). Am happy to answer questions or take feedback on any section.

Also, some school teachers in Newcastle & I are visiting Australian schools in Melbourne in Autumn '09 (including Geelong, where Martin Seligman has worked extensively) with a view to developing resilience and optimism for children & future leaders. We'll also use this blog to share some ideas (& hopefully upload some photos of our trip!).

Carol (Hotspur Primary) & Dominic (Beech Hill Primary) are both outstanding teachers who spoke at the first BBBH conference- I'm going to invite them to share some of the strategies they're using with their children.

Let us know what is working for you or if there is anything others can help you with!
Helen

Welcome

Welcome to Bounce Back: Be Happy!
Did you enjoy the series of the 3 conferences recently in Newcastle?