Flowers have always been associated with cheering someone up, showing you care or making an environment feel more inviting. But research shows that this isn’t just a short-term reaction or random association — flowers and plants actually do make us feel happier and more positive overall, with those good effects lasting for days.
“I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t get some kind of good feeling from being around flowers, and it’s one of the easier ways to bring nature into the home,” says Dr. Katherine M. Hanson, Ph.D., a Swedish Covenant Hospital psychologist. “It brings a connection of peace, contentment and generally positive emotion and feeling.”
Several recent studies have set out to find how effective flowers and plants can be. In one study, Harvard University psychologist Nancy Etcoff had flowers delivered to half a study group, while the other half received a candle or food basket.
In less than a week, those who received fresh flowers reported increased feelings of compassion and kindness for others. They also reported feeling less negative and having more enthusiasm, energy and positive feelings at work.
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