Flowers are Happy Things

A team of researchers explored the link between flowers and life satisfaction. During a 10-month period they studied participants’ behavioral and emotional responses to receiving flowers. The study revealed that flowers are a natural and healthful moderator of moods.

The three key findings of the study are:

Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. All study participants’ expressed “true” or “excited” smiles upon receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. This reaction was universal, occurring in all age groups.
Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.
Flowers make intimate connections. The presence of flowers led to increased contact with family and friends.

Common sense tells us that flowers make us happy. Now, science shows that not only do flowers make us happier than we know, they have strong positive effects on our emotional well being.

The study also explored where in their homes people display flowers. The arrangements were placed in areas of the home that are open to visitors — such as foyers, living rooms, and dining rooms — suggesting flowers are a symbol for sharing.

Flowers bring about positive emotional feelings in those who enter a room. They make the space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere.

As the research shows, flowers are a really simple way to improve emotional health. The presence of flowers triggers in us happy emotions, heightens our feelings of life satisfaction, and affects our social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed.

2020 Week #25

Blog, Monday Moments

Little Flowers of Hope

There is so much hope in a little flower and so many flowers in a little hope!
Mehmet Murat Ildan

The little blue Forget Me Not. Tiny and easily overlooked but hopeful.

According to German legend, when God created all the flowers he started to name each one of them. After God named all the plants, one tiny plant was still unnamed. He called out to God saying, “Forget me not, O Lord!”. When God looked back at the tiny plant, He told the flower “This will be your name, so no one will ever forget you”.

The version of a second legend states, when God was busy giving all the flowers their colors, he missed one. He heard a tiny whisper saying, “Forget me not!” It came from a tiny little flower. God had only a little amount of blue color left, so He gave that color to this tiny little flower. Upon receiving the blue color, the flower was delighted with joy.

These legends of the Forget Me Not fill me with such warmth. A little flower not giving up on hope.

There is still hope. There is hope for mercy. There is hope for compassion. There is hope for respectfulness. There is hope in trusting. There is hope for joy.