We all know someone who has a house full of plants. And if you don’t know it, it’s because you are a plant lover. You start by buying a succulent, and you end up with a living room full of colors.aromas and these vegetable companions that keep the environment clean and fresh. But, from the point of view of psychology, what does this passion for plants mean?
This is the question that, from Bodymente, we have posed to the psychologist Leticia Martín Enjuto, who is very clear about it. «Having a house full of plants is usually more than just a matter of decoration. From psychology, This practice reveals much more«explains the expert. Do you want to know what psychology says about you if you are in love with plants? Keep reading to find out.
Self-awareness and connection
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The first thing that the psychologist has made clear to us regarding people who really like plants is that they usually have “a very deep connection, both with nature and with themselvesAnd «for many people, surrounding themselves with vegetation is a conscious — and sometimes unconscious — way of seeking tranquility, well-being and balance in a personal environment, especially in a world that moves quickly and can generate anxiety.»
This point is important, because as the expert reveals, “it is proven that the presence of plants in the home helps reduce stress and anxiety levelslargely because the color green has a calming effect on our brain.”
Hence, those who are more sensitive to their environment usually decorate their homes with plants. It is a natural way to generate “healthier, more orderly and welcoming environments,” explains Leticia. And by filling the house with plants, they make their environment “not only beautiful, but also reflect a inner balance and emotional structure solid.”
Patience and routine
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Plant care is demanding, routine and requires great patience. Thanks to small efforts made constantly, great results are achieved. But they require time.
This is important, the expert explains, because, on the one hand, “taking care of plants introduces a gentle routine that promotes mindfulness and responsibilityinviting us to be present and push away those negative thoughts that affect us so much on a daily basis.”
On the other hand, the fact that you are able to keep so many plants alive reflects that you have “great patience, which is reflected in the daily dedication to caring for each leaf and sprout.” For the expert, it is evident that beyond the gardening zeal, “this act often symbolizes the need to protect«, to be in contact with life and to create a space of personal harmony.»
Psychological benefits of gardening
Beyond what this constant attention and care may reflect on your personality, Leticia Martín Enjuto explains to us that “gardening is even recognized as a natural therapy that improves mental health”, since the routine and patience they require can help us better manage our emotions.
And yes, “the simple act of watering, pruning or transplanting plants,” explains the expert, “can function as a way to channel accumulated tensionstransforming the home into a psychological refuge where positive emotions flourish.”
Although the truth is that gardening is therapeutic per seand not only for its final result. “Watching a plant grow and witnessing its evolution is a source of satisfaction” says the expert, “and reinforces self-esteembecause it is like observing the fruit of our own effort and perseverance.”
Day to day, constant care, also helps us. When we start watering, pruning, transplanting or dedicating any type of care to our plants, we obtain great psychological benefits. “The gardening promotes the restoration of the nervous systemreduces blood pressure and helps relieve physical and mental exhaustion,” lists the psychologist.
Contact with nature
There is another key factor that reinforces the benefits of this practice, and that also gives us valuable information about those who practice it. And, with the growth of cities and the transfer of the population to these large urban centers, which are not always well designed, sometimes It can be difficult to be in contact with nature.
This contact, the benefit of which is proven by psychology, is essential for mental health. The American biologist Edward O. Wilson called it “biophilia,” and it is the innate tendency of human beings to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. We look for pets, we stop to watch birds on the street and, yes, we need our home to have touches of green to feel at peace, as if an ancestral impulse tells us that this means we are safe.
In any case, having plants can be a good way to satisfy this need. And, concludes psychologist Leticia Martín Enjuto, the natural contact that it provides us with is “especially valuable in cities where the connection with green spaces is so limited.”
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