why do we have emotions? so-called ‘negative’ emotions – like anger, panic & anxiety – prepare the body-mind to deal with specific short term threats by narrowing down our thought-action choices so-called ‘positive’ emotions – like joy, contentment & curiosity – broaden the thought-action repertoire by promoting bonding, play, exploration & integrative, creative thinking to build resources for future survival adrenaline & dopamine Ashby, F. G., A. M. Isen, et al. A neuropsychological theory of positive affect and its influence on cognition. Psychol Rev 1999; 106: 529-50.

... improving problem solving positive emotions have been shown to help people think & problem solve with more speed, creativity, flexibility, curiosity, efficiency and organization Isen A M, Johnson M M et al. The influence of positive affect on the unusualness of word associations. J Pers Soc Psychol 1985; 48: 1413-26 Isen A M, Daubman K A et al. Positive affect facilitates creative problem solving. J Pers Soc Psychol 1987; 52: 1122-31 Isen A M, Rosenzweig, A S et al. The influence of positive affect on clinical problem solving. Med Decis Making 1991; 11: 221-7