Always BHappy – Happiness Through an App

What put that smile there?

People constantly seek happiness, and while happiness is different for different people, we are all on the same quest. We wonder as we watch others who have smiles glowing on their faces, “What put that smile there?” We constantly question our very existence to understand why it is that certain things make us happy, while others easily get us down.

Psychologists have done studies and understand just what makes different people happy. App innovator, Ana Isabel Chimeno has pulled from the expertise of communication experts and psychologists to make self-awareness of happiness a game in the iOS app, Always BHappy. This app offers up a series of proposals in which a person can take on a challenge or exercise that is designed to be conducted either individually or in a group setting. Each proposal is an exercise of sorts that, when completed, earn the player points. Points turn into trophies and open paths to happiness.

The user can choose which proposals to accept and which to skip. There is no pressure. Users can move their way up proposal packs by scoring high enough in the current level to advance. Each proposal is uniquely designed to increase happiness. Upon initial download of this free app, the user gets 30 free proposals. Users can work on them, with invites offered one per day, to see how they like the app and how they feel after 30 days. Score enough points from the starting 30, and move up into the next pack. There is also the option to purchase packs of 30 from within in the app itself, if need be.

Proposals range from random acts of kindness to taking bold steps to do something good for you. Examples include:

• I’m the boss of my life. I am going to take the day off.
• Make a child smile, a lollipop may help you.
• Practice your smile on the mirror.
• Call this relative you never talk to and wish him or her to have a good day.
• If anyone tries to bother you, smile no matter what.

These proposals pop up in the app, spread out on a daily basis, so users have a chance to take part in an action that reaps multiple internal rewards of happiness. Paying it forward is such a powerful feel-good drug, and is easily executed by using this app. After receiving a proposal, a user can complete it whenever. There is no pressure to complete a proposal before getting the next one. Remember, this app is supposed to make people happy, not stressed out!

After completing the suggested act, it’s marked as complete and points are awarded. Randomly proposed suggestions are put before participants in a way that makes the entire exercise interesting. You actually look forward to the next proposal. The only downside to the app is the sometimes incorrect English. It seems to have been designed and written in Spanish, and then translated to English. The wordings are sometimes not grammatically correct and could use some editing. However, the proposals are still easy enough to understand.

Just for fun, Always BHappy is a great way to add something meaningful to your life and add some happiness. People often think they need to do something for themselves in order to be happy, but that is not always the case.