🦃 Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

Hi everyone,

There is no newsletter this week, as we are all enjoying this fantastic Thanksgiving holiday of the year. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend and finishes 2024 with a blast! 🦃🍁🎉

Before you go, I just want to quickly share two keys to happiness.

☝️ Be Grateful and (Fake the) Smile

Gratitude isn’t just about being polite; it’s a powerful tool to enhance well-being. When we show gratitude and appreciation, we avoid taking things for granted and create deeper connections with those around us. Research from the Journal of Positive Psychology shows that expressing gratitude strengthens relationships, boosts mental health, and fosters a sense of fulfillment.

Often, the absence of expressing gratitude can be misinterpreted as indifference, even when we genuinely feel thankful. So, it’s essential to show appreciation openly. A simple “thank you” or a small gesture can have a profound impact on others—and on us.

And don’t forget to smile! When we smile, whether genuinely or even when “faking it,” our brain releases dopamine, the happiness hormone, which can elevate our mood. This phenomenon, known as the facial feedback hypothesis, suggests that our facial expressions influence how we feel internally. Smiling, therefore, isn’t just a reaction to happiness—it’s a tool to create it.

☝️ Assume Positive Intent

Assuming positive intent is a mindset that can transform our relationships and daily interactions. Reciprocity—the idea of treating others as they treat us—is a common dynamic in human interactions, famously studied in game theory. While it often leads to fairness, it can also result in a cycle of retaliation or mistrust.

A better approach is what experts call “reciprocity with forgiveness.” This involves responding to others with kindness, even when their actions might seem hurtful or thoughtless. By breaking the cycle of negativity and choosing forgiveness, we create the potential for a virtuous cycle of trust and goodwill.

Research in social psychology supports this: when we assume others have good intentions, we foster collaboration, reduce unnecessary conflict, and build stronger bonds. Kindness begets kindness, and positivity can create an upward spiral in our relationships.

Takeaway: When someone’s actions upset you, pause and ask yourself: “What positive reason could explain this?” Often, giving others the benefit of the doubt opens the door to understanding and connection.

If you are looking for a new system to boost your productivity, I can recommend Akiflow, a time-blocking + todos + calendar tool that is backed by Y combinator. I have been using it for more than a year now, and I can recommend it!

Enjoy the holiday weekend. : )

Best.

Anthony