Bring May Flowers: How Do Home Flora Mean Happiness?
Imagine yourself happy. Does the idea sound trite? We’re serious though. What does it take to make you happy? Good relationships, no financial worries, wholesome spirituality, physical health, and a home sized and designed just to your liking? All this and more are common answers. But let’s just say, all is not lined up just right these days. Or even if it is, every day seems to bring new stresses thrown into the mix, lowering the happiness quotient. Is it possible to guarantee happiness, in any way, day in day out?
In a way, yes. Because there’s one little thing that counts big that can up the happiness on a routine basis. And get this: This one little thing is affordable, convenient, and low maintenance. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. So what is it?
Guessed?
It’s…flowers. And specifically – placing them in routine view in various places around your house when you awake in the morning. According to a 2011 Harvard School of Medicine behavioral-research study, Home Ecology of Flowers, managed by psychologist Dr. Nancy Etcoff of Massachusetts General Hospital, “spending a few days with flowers in the home can affect a wide variety of feelings.”
When the study subjects complied with the parameter of displaying prominently in places viewed upon waking, here’s what they reported:
- Increased feelings of compassion
- Higher number of acts of kindness
- Less worry
- Less depression
- Less anxiety
- Increased energy boosts
- Higher enthusiasm and better moods at the workplace
- Overall feelings of happiness
All of this was the result of seeing flowers in the morning. Of starting the day out with bright and colorful signs of life. Flowers symbolize potential, both realized and forthcoming. Flowers provide a sense of appreciation for the abundant beauty surrounding us, and when it’s in our face the moment we wake up, we feel positive about the day and about ourselves.
So now that April showers are over, it’s time to bring May flowers. And you don’t have to wait for someone to buy them for you, but if you want to buy them for someone else, by all means. Happy May days, everyone.