Hi and

every week I'm your host, Dr. Ellen Hendrickson,

and every week I'll help you meet life's challenges with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

Sometimes hanging in there actually means you're just hanging on and on.

An advice about moving on and letting go often gets metaphorical, even existential, but I'm a pragmatist.

And as they say, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. So today we'll focus on

those first steps. Here are five in the moment concrete tips for when you suddenly

realize your gaze is focused squarely on your naval.

Tip number one, make a decision to move on.

Realizing you get to choose whether or not to dwell is empowering.

When that gray cloud starts to settle above your head,

say out loud, I choose not to let this bring me down.

Or I have more important things to do.

You can even stand up and brush that dirt off your shoulder,

and then re-engage in whatever it was you were doing. Make this decision as many times as necessary.

Tip number two, think of the good things in life.

Okay, I know this sounds totally cliche,

so hear me out.

A study in the prestigious Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that when study

participants were induced to ruminate, their memories of other old hurts were

magnified. So the researchers asked participants to judge how often 20 different life experiences happen to them.

From the bad, like you have an argument with a friend or you receive unfair treatment,

...