Past research demonstrated that responding active-constructively to positive news (i.e., with enthusiastic support) raises positive affect for the sharer of the good news, which in turn relates to more positive affect of the responder. For the first time, we investigate whether and how the action of responding active-constructively raises responders’ positive affect independently of the following interaction with the sharer. Drawing from associative network and basic needs theory, we propose that positive thinking and need satisfaction could serve as mechanisms relating active-constructive responding to positive affect of the responder. To test these assumptions, 244 university students randomly received either an active-constructive responding intervention or conducted a control activity. While all participants were asked to respond to positive news of an alleged sender in an electronical communication, only participants of the intervention group were instructed to respond in an active-constructive way. As dependent variables, we assessed participants’ thoughts, their need satisfaction, and positive affect. Series mediations revealed that the active-constructive responding group responded more active-constructively than the control group which was associated with more positive thinking and feelings of autonomy which in turn was related to more positive affect. Implications for theory and practice of active-constructive responding are discussed.