Be a prick and be better for it.

Yeah! Suck it up you happy freaks! I'm bitter and grumpy, and because of it, I'm better than you!

An Australian psychology expert who has been studying emotions has found being grumpy makes us think more clearly. In contrast to those who operate on a happy basis, miserable people are better at decision-making and less gullible, his experiments showed. While cheerfulness fosters creativity, gloominess breeds attentiveness and careful thinking

Professor Joe Forgas from the University of New South Wales says a grumpy person can cope with more demanding situations than a happy one because of the way the brain "promotes information processing strategies".

"Whereas positive mood seems to promote creativity, flexibility, co-operation and reliance on mental shortcuts, negative moods trigger more attentive, careful thinking, paying greater attention to the external world."

The study also found that sad people were better at stating their case through written arguments, which Forgas said showed that a "mildly negative mood may actually promote a more concrete, accommodative and ultimately more successful communication style".

And it doesn't stop there - all you happy freaks in Perth, Brisbane or Darwin have been shot down again - Melbourne is making me smarter every dreary day. His earlier work shows the weather has a similar impact on us - wet, dreary days sharpened memory, while bright sunny spells make people forgetful.

via BBC