Think Fast!

It may be that accelerated thinking can improve your mood.  Six experiments at Princeton and Harvard universities in 2009 found that fast thinking "made participants feel more elated, creative and, to a lesser degree, energetic and powerful".  So, things like brainstorming or quickly doing a crossword or other puzzle  can boost a person's mood.  Small bursts of feeling good can lead to upward spirals in general mood.  The key here, though, is that the thoughts must be not only fast, but varied as well. People generally believe that one's ability to think fast indicates a positive mood.  This, in itself, may be the cause for the findings.  (Remember, too, that the simple act of smiling can have a positive effect on one's mood as it seems to trick the brain into thinking we must be happy if we are smiling.)  Or, it may be that thinking quickly triggers the brain's novelty-loving dopamine system.

Be wary, however, of fast, repetitive thoughts.  These can trigger anxiety. Repetitive thoughts which accompany slow thinking tend to sap a person's energy and cultivate depression.  Slow, varied thinking tends to lead to the kind of calm repose and peaceful happiness associated with meditation.

D.