Although serious psychologists sometimes bash self-help books as "vast oversimplifications," there’s a reason that New York Times’s best seller list includes an entire section of “advice” books. Who wouldn’t rather believe that they can help themselves? Forget the $100 an hour couch session with your psychiatrist — the path to a new you fits in the palm of your hand.

These eight apps can help you take your best shot at self-directed transformation.







According to the makers of this app (and Oprah), writing down what you are grateful for every day can change your life. In fact, the folks who made the app promise that if you do this for one month, "your life will change forever."

The app keeps your daily bulleted list protected by passcode, and you can flip through the days, e-mail your list, and add photos. There’s also a function that allows you to rate how you’re feeling so you can record your life improving as you complete the exercise.

Price: $0.99







Anybody who has read the back cover of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has heard that changing your habits is an effective way to change your life. The Habit Factor is designed to manage the habits you are trying to create.

The first step is to set up goals and deadlines. After your goals are set, you set up habits that can help you achieve them. If your main goal is to complete a marathon, then one of your habits might be to drink more water. When you drink your targeted number, you can check that habit off your list for the day.

The app tracks what percentage of your habits you are maintaining, thus creating the occasion to celebrate (or mourn) your progress. Try tracking one goal first using the free Habit Factor Lite, which allows you up to three active habits, before springing for full version.

Price: $6.99 or limited free version







Sand is fun, but messy. Achieve the beauty and benefits of a Zen garden without having to vacuum afterward by using iZen Garden, a digital version of the soothing sandbox concept.

While raking around your garden, you can choose between seashells, stones, leaves, and more than 100 other objects to add to the design. Decide if you prefer the sound of ocean waves or forest life in the background, add fluttering butterflies, or change the color of the sand. When you’re done, you can set your garden design to your wallpaper or share the Zen you’ve achieved through e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter. iZen Garden Lite is also an excellent free option for those who can live with just 10 stones and one color of sand.

Price: $2.99 or limited free version







When your friends can’t relate to your relationship issues, or are just tired of hearing about them, it’s nice to be able to turn to complete strangers who aren't regulars at your favorite watering hole. BreakkUp lets you submit your relationship issues and posts them on a “latest drama” list that the 20,815 other registered users can access via the web or the app. The community can then respond with advice and vote your drama up or down in importance.

Price: Free







As long as your life dilemma fits into one of the 75 options that myinstantCOACH has laid out, this app can give you the crucial advice you need to make big decisions. Simply choose the category where you need coaching: Relationships, finance, career, or well being. Then select the life scenario that best matches your own, like "I hate my boss."

MyinstantCOACH will give you the lowdown on your situation, offer specific actions you can take to improve your problem, and allow you to set up reminders that check in on your progress.

Price: Free







LiveHappy puts the exercises that University of California Riverside professor Sonja Lyubomirsky suggests in her book, The How of Happiness, into app form. Her theory is that by engaging in certain activities on a daily basis, anyone can change his or her mindset. Some of these app activities include evaluating goals, keeping track of happy days, keeping a gratitude journal, thanking people directly, and remembering random acts of kindness. The app also includes a personality analysis and science of happiness content.

Price: $0.99







The power of positive thinking has become a mantra for many self-help books. Though psychologists are still debating its merits in relation to overall well being, most other people find it hard to argue against looking on the bright side.

This app keeps positive thoughts flowing in accordance with which category you select. The font, transitions, and background are all customizable, and users can add their own positive affirmations to the collection of 10,000 thoughts, but it’s hard to top phrases like, “Unlimited abundance and prosperity radiate through me, creating infinite opportunities in all areas of my life.” The free version contains 100 different affirmations.

Price: $1.99 or free version







This app provides several stress management activities including reading an inspirational poem, pondering encouraging quotes, laughing at “stress jokes,” and rating your feelings. There’s also a “reframe thoughts” function that aims to help you to identify and change negative thoughts with a relaxation exercise.

I personally prefer the iShatter approach to stress relief, where $0.99 allows you to simulate the destruction of your screen, various glass objects, or a photo of your choice.

Price: $0.99

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