Previous characterizations of rumination do not account for why a reflective style of ruminative response to negative mood, as opposed to a brooding style, is linked with greater creativity--especially when indecision is high. Moreover, less is known about ruminative responses to positive mood. The purpose of this investigation is to demonstrate the utility of a new conceptualization of rumination styles that explains their differential effects across negative and positive moods. Using tenets from psychological self-distance theory, reflective and brooding styles were respectively characterized as "self-distant" and "self-immersed," and they were measured with the Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), a commonly used indicator of ruminative responses to negative mood. Self-distant and self-immersed responses to positive mood were measured with an RRS adaptation. In this sample, only a self-immersed response to positive mood predicted creativity when indecision was high. Results demonstrate contrasting links between creativity and self-perspectives when responding to negative and positive moods.