A Stressful Couple of Weeks Inspired This Post ~ we hope you find it helpful!

Today is Going to Be a Good Day ~ by Monday Morning Flowers.

In today's Monday Morning Flower blog post I'm not doing the usual floral post. Flowers and Positivity - they really do go hand in hand, so todays post is going to have a little spin.

Have you ever noticed that when you drive by a field of flowers that you can't help but look and smile? That's why at this time of the year we flock to farms to pick apples, pumpkins and walk through fields of Sunflowers. The photo below was taken on a trip that the hubby and I took to California. These flowers are called Stock and I tell you they smell like heaven on Earth. 

Have you noticed that many health facilities have live plants in their lobbies and floral related paintings on the walls? That's because studies show that looking at nature, including plants and flowers, uplift the spirits and aid in healing. Well, that's not really the reason for my post today, it is just a jumping point from which to talk about positive thinking. Most people think that working in a flower shop is very relaxing and stress free and although it can be an amazing work environment, we often are dealing with customers who are under an incredible amount of stress. Sometimes they are dealing with the loss of a loved one, planning a large event or trying to squeeze in personal tasks during their busy work day... No matter who we deal with, very few are in a totally relaxed state when we are helping them with their gift giving or event planning needs. 

This brings me to the picture below - Today is Going to Be a Good day. How often do we start out our day thinking that today will be better, that it's all rainbows and sunshine, only to get into the car and hit traffic, get to work and have an angry boss or customer, or just something goes wrong before we even leave the house. Let's face it, today's world, with all it's wonders and advantages, is a stressful place to be. 

Have you found a good way to deal with stress that really works? I've tried many methods including meditation,  setting daily intentions and jotting down some notes in a gratitude journal but I have found deep breath to be a miracle worker on me. You might laugh because everyone has heard "calm down and take a few deep breaths" but as with many old remedy's, this really works. Did you know that when you become stressed your breaths become more shallow. It's as if your mind is telling your body that you are going to have to run for your life. You'll notice that athletes take several shallow breaths before they need to fun fast. It's just how our bodies are designed. By slowing down your breathing and making your breaths very deep and fully exhaling, you are sending a signal to your brain that everything is good, that nothing stressful happening. After a few very good breaths, your brain says "It's all good" and then your anxiety level goes down.  

In closing, I can't help but bring flowers back into the conversation. Living with flowers in your work and home environment is truly a stress reliever. Picking some up at your local farmers market or florist is a small price to pay for a little beauty in your life. I sincerely hope you see the value and by doing so you support both farms and small businesses. I hope you found this blog helpful!! Make is a Good Day Everyone!!