Budgets are tight and splurging a bit to buy yourself a beautiful bouquet may seem out of the question. Experts agree, however, that it isn’t just about the flowers. It is about being willing to invest in yourself and your happiness.
In an article by Kelly O’Brien in “Mind, Body, Green,” she points out the therapeutic benefits of being gentle with yourself, treating yourself to something special and delighting in the joy of giving to someone very important – yourself! One of her suggestions includes pampering yourself. If someone gave you a handful of money, what would you buy? What would make you happy? Are flowers on the list? If not, they should be!
Spending a small amount of money on flowers offers a big return on happiness. In fact, research conducted at Rutgers points to a definite link between happiness and receiving flowers. The study established three things:
- 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 or 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.
Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Rutgers and lead researcher on the study said, “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.”
With their proven mood-boosting properties (plus they are beautiful!), a simple bouquet is definitely worth the price every once in a while. So, go for it. You don’t need to wait around for someone to give you a bouquet to enjoy all of the good and happy benefits of flowers. Find that perfect bouquet and give the gift of happiness to someone who truly deserves it – you!