The Positive Impact of Flowers on Mental Health
- May 21, 2025
- 6 minutes read
A conversation with Ludmila Woodruff
In celebration of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we sat down with life and relationship coach Ludmila Woodruff, who offered an insightful and heartwarming conversation about the power that flowers, rituals, and emotional presence serve as anchors within our routines.
Our modern-day hustle culture is driven by demands and constant pressure to do well. Woodruff reminds us that the path to positive mental health and emotional connection is rooted in the simple, intentional, and beautiful details that we can add between the deadlines of daily life.
Small rituals, lasting routines
Mental health implies more than just “relaxing” on vacations or booking an occasional massage session. According to Ludmila, it’s our daily rituals that directly impact our mental wellbeing:
Doing big things a few times a year is always amazing. But it’s even more important to do small things for ourselves every day, this is how we really keep our mental health and overall well-being supported and in a good place.
Whether it’s a mindful morning routine, a quiet walk, or simply checking in with our feelings, daily rituals help us slow down and regulate our emotional state. Ludmila introduces the concept of “anchoring”. Anchoring is the practice of grounding ourselves through sensory awareness, connection, and consistency. This allows us to pause the chaos and reconnect with what makes us feel safe and supported. It can be as simple as noticing the warmth of a mug of coffee, the scent of flowers, or the sound of your own breath. These small moments hold us steady amidst all of the uncertainty we face.
Flowers as an Anchor
Flowers are one of Ludmila’s favorite and most meaningful forms of anchoring. Beyond aesthetics, flowers offer powerful emotional cues that symbolize presence, joy, and self-worth. Buying bouquets or arrangements is a practice that’s more than self-care; to Ludmila, it’s an intentional ritual that affirms her own value and nurtures emotional safety.
I always have fresh flowers in my house. I don't even wait for my husband. I will buy flowers for myself.
You don’t need a special occasion to bring flowers into your home or gift them to someone you love. You can order unique arrangements from a local florist directly through BloomNation.com, a marketplace that supports independent floral artists across the country.
Flowers help people come into the present moment as a gentle yet consistent reminder that beauty and softness have a place in even the most demanding lives.
Creative Play and Healing Expression
In today’s busy world, many people lose touch with their inner sense of play, spontaneity, and self-expression. Ludmila believes this disconnection contributes significantly to emotional fatigue and lack of fulfillment. Creativity, she explains, allows us to explore aspects of ourselves that might be buried under routine and responsibility. Activities like dancing, painting, or flower arranging help unlock emotions and energy that words alone can’t always access. This creative freedom not only boosts mood but builds emotional intelligence, reconnecting us to our core needs and desires.
When you engage in different activities, different parts of you come up to the light... You get to meet yourself over and over again.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence.
Flowers for Him: Expanding Emotional Norms
For generations, flowers have been viewed as a feminine gift. Ludmila is helping to rewrite the narrative. She emphasizes that flowers should be for everyone, regardless of gender, because the emotional benefits they offer are universal.
Sometimes I do buy flowers for my husband and sons... and they enjoy it!
This simple act is transformative. It invites men to connect with beauty, softness, and emotion in a way that many were never encouraged to do as they were growing up. Ludmila sees this as a crucial step in raising a new kind of generation. By modeling these behaviors with her own sons, she’s helping shape a future where emotional expression and appreciation are normalized for men. It’s not about replacing masculinity, but expanding it to include connection, sensitivity, and beauty.
We are raising a new kind of generation of boys that will be emotionally intelligent people.
The Inner Work Behind a Beautiful Life
Promotions, financial wins, and accolades feel like markers of achievement, but they are not the only indicators of success. Ludmila believes that mental wellness and fulfillment come from within ourselves.
Money is amazing... but just making more money isn't going to make you feel great in life.
Ludmila’s work with high-achieving professionals consistently reveals a surprising truth: many outwardly successful people feel overwhelmed, unsupported, or emotionally stuck. This disconnect is often rooted in neglecting to understand our feelings, expressing our needs, and creating rituals that nurture joy and regulation. With this mindset, success becomes sustainable, not suffocating. The journey isn’t about abandoning ambition. It’s about balancing it with self-compassion, presence, and play.
The Healing Power of Flowers
Multiple studies have shown that flowers aren’t just beautiful—they can also have a meaningful impact on our emotional well-being. These findings support the idea that something as simple as a bouquet can play a gentle yet powerful role in emotional healing.
For more information:
Meet Ludmila Woodruff
Ludmila Woodruff is a Life and Relationship Coach who helps executives, entrepreneurs, and entertainers develop the emotional and relationship intelligence to succeed in their professional and personal lives. She is the co-author of the bestseller “Slaying Tampa Bay, Stories of Powerful Women Leaving Their Mark”, host of the “Deeply Connected” podcast, and an international speaker.
To learn more about her work or connect directly, visit:
- Official Website
- Listen to the Deeply Connected podcast on iTunes or Spotify
- Explore insights and interviews on YouTube
- Connect on LinkedIn
- Join the conversation on Facebook
- Follow along on Instagram
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, support is available.
Visit the National Institute of Mental Health Help Page to find resources, treatment options, and guidance for seeking professional care.
