Racing Thoughts Lead to Brighter, More Energetic Moods

Think fast!

...and you just might end up feeling happier, more energetic and more powerful, according to a study published in the September 2006 issue of Psychological Science.

In an experiment by researchers at Princeton University, half of the participants read statements at a pace twice as fast as the speed of normal reading while the other half read statements at a pace twice as slow as normal reading. Additionally, some participants in each group read extremely positive statements ("Wow! I feel great!") while others read negative statements ("I want to go to sleep and never wake up.").

Regardless of the content of the statements, researchers found that a quickened reading pace led participants to experience feelings of power, creativity, increased self-esteem and higher energy levels--feelings similar to those experienced in mania, a psychological disorder often accompanied by racing thoughts.

The study's authors hope that the research will lead to simple methods to provide a boost for people experiencing a down or tiresome day:

"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."

ABSTRACT: Manic Thinking: Independent Effects of Thought Speed and Thought Content on Mood