By Lynnie Stein / November 13, 2018

Pedal In

“Pedaler dans la choucroute”

The French have a wonderful expression for those days when you have trouble getting ahead, the days you feel as though you are stuck in mud, and you “pedaler dans la choucroute,” or pedal in sauerkraut.

Let’s get out of the sauerkraut or the shit as my dear dad would often say.

Ask “What am I grateful for?” No answers? Doesn’t matter. Just searching helps.

Label those negative emotions. Give it a name and your brain isn’t so bothered by it.

Decide. Go for “good enough” instead of “best decision ever made on Earth.”

Hugs, hugs, hugs. Don’t text — touch.

So what’s the dead simple way to start that upward spiral of happiness?

Just send someone a thank you email.

This really can start an upward spiral of happiness in your life.

UCLA neuroscience researcher Alex Korb explains:

Everything is interconnected.

Gratitude improves sleep.

Sleep reduces pain.

Reduced pain improves your mood.

Improved mood reduces anxiety, which improves focus and planning.

Focus and planning help with decision making.

Decision making further reduces anxiety and improves enjoyment.

Enjoyment gives you more to be grateful for, which keeps that loop of the upward spiral going.

Enjoyment also makes it more likely you’ll exercise and be social, which, in turn, will make you happier.

So thank you for reading this.

And send that thank you email now to make you and someone you care about very happy.

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