Dopamine: Dopamine is a brain chemical that is trigged when an individual has an expectation of a reward. Historically, flowers have been a reward signal as well as a sign of abundance. Vibrant colors were a signal to our ancestors that the food they were gathering was high in nutrition. Today, we still are attracted to those vibrant and bright colors that you see in many flowers.
Oxytocin: Oxtocin, known as the “bonding hormone,” helps the body to create those feel good hormones. Flowers can easily stimulate these hormones. Flowers signify trust in many ways, and they communicate an intention to invest in a relationship. We feel the impermanence of flowers, and it reminds us that care is necessary to sustain life.
Serotonin: We often talk about serotonin in the context of anti-depressants, but researchers also found that the good feeling of serotonin is released when a mammal advances its social importance, and flowers can help to achieve that. Flowers help stimulate serotonin and that sense of pride that your brain is looking for. Many of our social behaviors exist to satisfy our natural urge for social importance in a healthy way, and flowers are a way to support these behaviors.
Researchers have found that the heightened feeling of positivity when you have fresh flowers lasted long after the flowers were received or purchased, signifying that having plant life can significantly enhance your well-being. Whether you give them, receive them, or buy them for yourself, flowers help you feel important and happier. Aside from adding a beautiful splash of color to your home, flowers boast an abundance of benefits. Flowers do in fact induce happiness.
This post was created by St. Louis Magazine Partner Studio on behalf of Ken Miesner’s Flower Shoppe.
Visit his website to learn more about all of your floral options—and enter your email below for the chance to win one free bouquet of flowers!
Enter your email for the chance to win one free bouquet of flowers from Ken Miesner’s Flower Shoppe. The giveaway ends August 1 at 7 p.m. The winner will be selected on August 2.
