How Associative Thinking Transforms Mental Health
Have you ever tried to solve a problem at work while you were feeling depressed or anxious? You may have found it challenging to come up with solutions.
That’s not on you: It’s a fact of neuroscience. Your brain and your mood are intertwined and influence each other.
When you're feeling down, your thoughts may circle around and around, almost in a closed loop. In contrast, when you're in a good mood, your m
How simple games can train your brain for a brighter outlook.
The connection between mood and thought patterns
The link between thinking and moods may be based in evolutionary science. Early humans needed to concentrate on threats, producing what we know as the “fight or flight” response to danger. They needed their thinking to become very focused on dangerous situations so they could survive.
However, in modern life, when focusing becomes persistent and repetitive, it often leads to rumination — repetitive, unproductive thoughts that trap you in a cycle of worry. This can worsen depression and anxiety.
ind seems to open up, making it easier to think creatively or notice opportunities you’d usually miss.
As it turns out, the mood-mind connection is a two-way street. How you think can affect your mood, too. In this blog, we'll explore:
How broader thinking patterns can enhance your mood.
The science behind it.
On the other hand, positive moods expand your cognitive scope and increase your mind’s flexibility. Research shows that people in a good mood are more capable of "big-picture" thinking that allows them to generate novel solutions, solve problems, and feel more optimistic when faced with challenges.
Rewiring your brain with simple exercises
Prof. Moshe Bar is a renowned neuroscientist and one of the founders of Hedonia. His research over many years shows that practicing broader, more associative thinking can help us break free from depressive and anxious thought patterns.
This isn’t merely about generating clever connections; it’s about rewiring our mental habits. Studies show that training your brain in expansive thinking activates areas responsible for cognitive flexibility and perspective-taking, fostering resilience and optimism.
For instance, exercises that expand associative scope — like connecting seemingly unrelated concepts — help disrupt rigid mental loops and encourage global thinking. This shift improves mood and builds a sense of agency over how we experience the world.
Training your mind to think differently requires persistence and practice. Neural pathways can be quite entrenched. Yet, there are ways to do it. Simple, regular activities like word-association games or imaginative tasks can be transformative.
This intentional redirection prevents negative thought loops and nurtures a mental environment where optimism and creativity thrive.
Wonder how? Try this word association game
Here’s a simple word association game that’s inspired by the Word Chains therapeutic game in Mood Bloom. You can try this easy activity by yourself to practice associative thinking, or play it with others.
Start with a word: Pick any random word, like "river."
Build a chain: Think of a word closely related to "river," like "water." Then think of a word connected to "water," such as "ocean," and continue the chain (e.g., "ocean" → "waves" → "beach" → "sun").
Push boundaries: As you progress, challenge yourself to make looser connections, like "beach" → "jungle" → "concrete." The goal is to keep the chain going while exploring more abstract links.
Reflect: Once you finish, look back at your chain. Notice how your thoughts evolved and expanded.
Our Word Chains game is built on the Facilitating Thought Progression (FTP) approach, which helps train your brain to think more flexibly and quickly. Each step in the word chain nudges your brain to explore new connections, much like how conversations in real life naturally shift topics.
This process makes you more creative and helps you build a healthier, more positive mindset.
Download Mood Bloom today!
Your mood shapes how you think, and how you think shapes your mood. By using these techniques, you can improve your emotional health, break free from negativity, and find new ways to approach life's challenges.
Mood Bloom is a mobile therapeutic game that makes these brain-training activities fun and accessible!
Download Mood Bloom today and start playing your way to sell!
Sources:
Bar, M. (2009). A cognitive neuroscience hypothesis of mood and depression. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 13(11), 456–463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2009.08.009
Mason, M. F., & Bar, M. (2012). The effect of mental progression on mood. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 141(2), 217–221. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025035