As of now the iPhone app you suggested, Live Happy, isn't out yet.

As for the negative news. I've switched to reading general news less frequently. In fact weekly summaries are my preference to stay up to date while not getting hammered with constant negative statistics, gloomy projections, or other crises updates. And without watching TV this has been working very well for me.

Thanks for your interest in the new iPhone app...we expect "Live Happy" to be avail w/i the next week or so.

Hi I will remain annoymus I am soso confused in life really don't know which way to turn anymore. Trust is a big issue esp Now Dealing with a menatl illness child As a mom MY god I feel so Helpless AND blame me It's Hertitary Michael I am so sry.........My life hmmmmmmmmmmmm just don't kno

Hi Prof. Lyubomirsky,

I myself have been thinking about the same issue from quite a few months now. It is more like we are living in an age of Media-created Social Depression. And it might not be wrong to fear its long-term consequences, and actually try to take some societal level action to counter its adverse effects.

Best regards,
PsyRaw

This is a great article. I have done remarkably well regardless of the economy. I provide Executive Coaching/Anger Management for Physicians. Most of the anger experienced by physicians is related to unrecognized and untreated stress.
The healthcare industry is not currently impacted by the economy and all of the news causes readers to experience anger.

Interesting article you have written. Although some of your conclusions are incorrect, despite their idealism.
I would agree that much of the media is negative. But it is for good reason: Obama is killing the United States piece by piece. Interesting, despite the media’s glowing praise and adoration of Obama, you still view it as negative. I suspect you are one of those people who will only consume media stories soaked with feel goods, despite how they SO distort the truth (and have done so for over 4 decades) .
You may think otherwise, but I am not saying these things to be harsh. But I think you are being delusional in not recognizing the horrible changes being wrought by the administration. Yes the economy sucks, but traditionally Americans have picked themselves up by their boot straps to forge head. Thus what gives me fear is not the economy, a cycle which occurs periodically in a capitalistic society, but that the zealots’ aims to destroy America in favor of government controls. Raum Emanual has stated, “never let a crisis go to waste waste, “ so he advises Obama to continue destroying America bit by bit by bit.
As for you good news, I have made some corrections based on fact if you don’t mind.
• Less stuff means less trash. - possibly
• Less stuff means more simple time with friends and family. – as long as no one blogs, e-mails, twitters, etc. But they do this out of choice and to take these away would anger people even more
• Less stuff means a smaller carbon footprint. - possibly
• Fewer real estate developments means less traffic, less pollution, and fewer animal species threatened by extinction. – but where will increasing populations – especially Mexicans live? Or do you want them not to live?
• Less expensive homes mean the middle class and others (such as artists) can now buy into previously unaffordable communities. – if people don’t have money, who will buy the art?
• Lower stock prices mean terrorist organizations like Al Queda have less cash. – Ignorant and plain stupid, quite frankly

thanks for the post. interesting.

came across a somewhat more lighthearted approach to happiness here...

http://undercoverpsych.blogspot.com/