{"id":236,"date":"2020-05-01T06:13:16","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T06:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/balanceandblooms.com\/?p=236"},"modified":"2019-10-03T17:18:39","modified_gmt":"2019-10-03T17:18:39","slug":"harvard-living-with-flowers-strengthens-feelings-of-compassion-and-decreases-anxiety-and-worry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/balanceandblooms.com\/harvard-living-with-flowers-strengthens-feelings-of-compassion-and-decreases-anxiety-and-worry\/","title":{"rendered":"Harvard: Living with Flowers Strengthens Feelings of Compassion, and Decreases Anxiety and Worry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
With people\u2019s desire for tranquility and stress relief stronger than ever, fresh research takes an insightful look at flowers and the important role they may play in our daily lives. A behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, reveals that people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when fresh cut flowers are present in the home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOther research has proven that flowers make people happy when they receive them,\u201d Etcoff says. \u201cWhat we didn\u2019t know is that spending a few days with flowers in the home can affect a wide variety of feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Flowers feed compassion. 2. Flowers chase away anxieties, worries and the blues at home. 3. Living with flowers can provide a boost of energy, happiness and enthusiasm at work. \u201cAs a psychologist, I\u2019m particularly intrigued to find that people who live with flowers report fewer episodes of anxiety and depressed feelings,\u201d Etcoff says. \u201cOur results suggest that flowers have a positive impact on our well being.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Study participants who lived with fresh cut flowers for less than a week felt an increase in feelings of compassion and kindness for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Overall, people in the study simply felt less negative after being around flowers at home for just a few days.Participants most frequently placed flowers in their kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms, where they spend a lot of time at home. They reported wanting to see the blooms first thing in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Having flowers at home can have a positive carry-over impact on our mood at work, too. The study found that people were more likely to feel happier and have more enthusiasm and energy at work when flowers were in their home living environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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