The Proven Benefits of Thinking Fast
by www.SixWise.com
Manic behavior is typically thought of as a bad thing. It
can include abnormally high excitement (usually because of
tension), extreme busyness, impulsive behaviors, excessive
physical activity and rapidly changing ideas.
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Thinking fast has been proven to
make you happy ... even if you're thinking about
something sad.
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But there's at least one aspect of mania that is beneficial
for you (and your mood in particular): manic thinking.
If you've ever lain in bed at night with thoughts racing
through your mind, you've experienced manic thinking. Likewise
if you've been brainstorming or just thought of a great idea,
and your thoughts seem to be coming in at lightening speed.
Manic thinking (also sometimes called fast thinking or racing
thoughts) is also a symptom of the clinical psychiatric disorder
bipolar disorder, or manic depression.
During a manic episode people tend to feel extremely alert,
energetic and even euphoric. The problem is that the euphoria
soon gives way to depression -- and feelings of hopelessness,
guilt and fatigue.
As it turns out, healthy people who are able to take part
in manic thinking -- without the corresponding crash -- have
much to gain emotionally.
Fast Thinking Can Make You Happy
A study by Princeton University psychologist Emily Pronin
and Daniel Wegner of Harvard University found that fast thinking
impacts your mood -- in a very good way.
In the study, they asked participants to read a series of
statements, then manipulated the pace at which they were read.
Half of the group read the statements at twice the normal
reading speed, while the others read at a pace twice as slow
as normal reading speed.
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How can you accelerate your thinking? Brainstorming
is an excellent way to speed up your thoughts, as is
consciously speeding up the rate of your reading. You'll
also experience it anytime you think of a great idea,
or are excited about planning something (like your annual
holiday party).
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When the participants were asked about their mood, energy
level and more, the fast readers felt:
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Happier
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More energetic
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More creative
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More powerful
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More grandiose
Interestingly, some of the participants also read statements
that were either very depressing or very positive.
It turned out that the speed at which they read the statement
impacted their mood just as much as the content of the message.
So even when they read something very sad, if they read it
quickly it made them happy.
"The results of our experiment suggest the intriguing
possibility that even during moments when people feel stuck
having depressed thoughts, interventions that accelerate the
speed of such thoughts may serve to boost feelings of positive
affect and energy," the researchers said.
So the next time you're feeling down, try this out for yourself.
Speed up your thoughts, read faster, and avoid thinking slowly.
The researchers feel confident that such simple manipulations
could improve your:
And, the next time a light bulb goes off in your mind and
your thoughts begin to accelerate, go with it. It should leave
you feeling great about yourself, and you'll likely accomplish
something grand.
Recommended Reading
How
to Get Over Being Indecisive Once and For All. Maybe.
Why
Your Income Has Very Little to do With How Happy You Are
Sources
Psychological
Science Volume 17 Issue 9 Page 807-813, September 2006
Science
Daily September 27, 2006