The Right Color
My favorite color is yellow. My reason isn’t scientific; but for me it’s sunny, bright and happy! But that said, I can’t wear yellow, nor orange, but depending on the garment, I can wear beige. If you look in my closet you will see I am drawn to medium and dark greens, burgundy, with a splattering of pink, blues, and an item or two of red and other colors; but like the red, only a few.
I read years ago a book about color that said a person is usually drawn to the color which looks best on them. In fact, it even went so far to say there was one boutique the author could not shop in, but was finally surprised when she discovered the ‘why’. The problem was set in the colors. None of the colors this ‘boutique’ typically carried, worked for her.
I know color is important in our world. Some colors work well with others, Some you need to keep separate. But I admit I did not realize until recently that ‘color therapy’ was an honest addition to the way disabilities can be managed! And in truth, the same elements which affects the mood and feelings for the disabled, also affects those who are not in the disabled people group.
Color is defined as being ‘light and energy’. It reflects, bends and refracts as it travels across the wavelengths. During its travel it produces different types of light all along the visible spectrum. Light affects all of us in different ways. When the sun is shining brightly, most people feel warm, positive and happy. Conversely, when there is a storm brewing and it becomes dark and cloudy, some people find their mood follows along.
The Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a good example of how light (or lack of) changes how a person feels during the winter, when the sunlight hours are shorter. Some people experience what is believed to be a chemical change in the brain which leads to, or triggers depression. Antidepressants and light therapy are used to manage this syndrome until the longer days of sunshine are more prevalent.
There are those who love dark rooms. I’ve seen black on walls and am loathe to remain there! Even when black and white are used on floors or for kitchen counters or cupboards, I find myself shuddering!
A similar feeling of anxiety overcomes me when I see a room with the primary color red. I’ve been in both a kitchen and a dining room and while I don’t ‘loathe’ it, neither do I like it. The color red can be for passion, anger, or even just unsettling, depending on the person.
For a child experiencing autism, red could also give a sense of pain, torment or suffering; while orange, pink or other pale colors can create a sense of calm and soothing. Red seems to bring out hostility, tension and a higher energy and is generally considered a color to ‘be handled with care’ for a child with disabilities.
It is also believed that colors not only affect our moods through what we see, but also as it comes directly through our skin. The frequencies and vibrations of a specific color can cause chemical reactions via hormones within our bodies. This influences emotions and in some cases, has healing properties for certain conditions. By managing colors, our moods can also be moderated.
Do you find color affects how you feel?
Photo Credit: https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/color-wheel/2
Photo Credit: https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/color-wheel/3