Discover how flowers can induce positive emotions to those who see or receive them.
Taking time to stop and smell the roses may sound cliché to most people. However, this saying underscores the important role flowers play in a person’s emotions. It can bring joy and rejuvenation to an otherwise hectic day, hope and comfort to a sick friend or a simple way to let someone know that you care and think about them.
Some studies show that receiving bouquets or floral baskets may have positive effects on the emotional well-being of a person. The mere sight of them could trigger happy emotions and feelings of satisfaction. There is a potential link between a person’s moods and emotions as a response to receiving floral gifts.
An immediate impact is evident as recipients of floral gifts smile and demonstrate much delight and gratitude upon receiving the gift. This is believed to be a universal reaction that occurs in all age groups. Positive emotions as expressed by decreasing feelings of depression, anxiety and agitation are likewise recorded from persons receiving flowers.
A behavioral study of senior citizens has shown positive impact on memory retention and socialization whenever floral arrangements were present. Elders performed better in memory tasks and re-engaged with other members of their immediate community. Consequently, seniors who participated in this study reported decreased feelings of depression following the receipt of floral gifts.
Floral arrangements displayed in homes, even those that are bought and not given as presents, are found to stimulate sharing and other positive emotions to those who enter the room. Floral arrangements are normally placed in areas that are open to everyone, such as living rooms, dens or dining rooms. This denotes an attitude of generosity and receptiveness and suggests that flowers are a symbol of sharing and welcome among family, friends and acquaintances.
People who have cutflower arrangements present in their homes feel more compassionate, worry-free and enthusiastic. People who frequently see these arrangements inside their homes demonstrate greater kindness and compassion to others, and seem to experience less worry and anxiety from their everyday activities. These people carry this positive emotional impact to their workplaces.
Workers who maintain fresh floral décor at home are likely to feel happier, energetic and enthusiastic at work than those who do not. Worker productivity in terms of generating innovative ideas improve substantially in work environs consisting of plant and floral species. Workers are also found to be more adept at problem solving and are more confident when developing creative solutions to work issues.
The link between workplace productivity and the presence of floral and plant decorations in the work setting seems to vary between male and female workers. Men are likely to register substantial increases in idea generation. Females, on the other hand, did not necessarily generate a greater quantity of ideas but when they did, resulted in more innovative, creative and flexible solutions to problems.
In a similar context, hospital rooms containing flowers or potted plants use less pain medication for patients compared to those rooms devoid of plant life. These findings demonstrate that the presence of floral objects in various settings contribute significantly to a more positive mood and behavior to the people surrounding them. Likewise, receiving floral pieces as presents also results in a generally happier and less anxious feeling.
There seems to be no downside to giving a gift of flowers, whether valentines day flowers, mothers day flowers or even a single stem just to show your care and appreciation for someone. Floral gifts may not necessarily be a cure-all for a person’s emotional well-being, but can affect behaviors and emotions in a positive manner beyond what is normally believed. Sending a posy or freshly cut blossoms is a simple gesture that can trigger happiness, productivity and good health for its recipient.
