In this post you will learn about what color therapy is, what is the therapeutic effect of primary colors, and how I’m using this knowledge to help my clients and myself.
Join the Wellbeing Tribe! Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more free content on Psychology, Food, Fitness, Work Design & Spirituality!
I guess it all started when ‘color therapy’ started to come to my head almost every day. Then I also started to follow someone on YouTube whose work is partly related to the use of colors as a healing method. Next I bumped into someone in my department who was wearing a beautiful and colorful headband. It was yellow, orange, pink, and a little bit of blue and green here and there – it definitely caught my eye and, more importantly, it made me smile! And while I was telling my colleague how beautiful her headband was, my mind also whirled around with thoughts:
Isn’t that interesting, the power of colors? I should explore that. It’s such a beautiful way to even positively influence other people’s mood. If that headband made me smile and feel playful, I wonder what other effects colors could have.
So I started doing research. There’s a lot of things on about the psychology of colors, which has been used in Marketing to elicit a specific action from you. I was more interested however on how color could influence our mood and psychological states. Here are some of the things I discovered, for instances, about primary colors:
- yellow – helps with memory, encourages communication, boosts confidence, and stimulates the nervous system. It is associated with happiness, energy, and optimism;
- red – elevates blood pressure, stimulates the libido, boosts metabolism, and increases your level of enthusiasm, energy, and confidence;
- blue – helps you relax and deal with stressful situations, boosts open-heart communication, and enhances your intelligence and intuition
From here I began studying other colors and different tones of color, and I decided to apply this knowledge first in myself, because based on my research I realised I had been unconsciously picking clothes whose colors clearly mirrored and reinforced my low mood. For instances, some of the colors I was wearing everyday included black, dark grey, and dark olive green which are associated with less positive feelings and sensations such as depression and fogginess. Hence, my outside window was a clear reflection of what was going on inside. So I thought I should find a way to reverse this by changing the colors I was choosing to put on myself.
Buying new clothes at this point in time, however, was out of question. Instead I decided to recycle some t-shirts, transform them into fashionable scarfs, and color them based on what I studied about colors and their therapeutic effect. I first created a scarf in blue tones, because I needed to relax and reduce my anxiety levels. Guess what, it worked! Then I decided to create another scarf to induce some calmness allied with some playfulness as well. And guess what, it worked just as I intended, and now I can’t stop making experiments!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoRnXafg38-/?taken-by=thewellbeingblogger
I’m super excited about this creative spur because I believe other people might feel empowered too through connecting with the magic properties of color. The next batch of scarfs will be in pink tones. As October is fast approaching I feel impelled to create some pinkish scarfs not only to raise awareness of breast cancer but also to invite women to accept and re-acknowledge their feminine divine energy. In the meantime, and if you are curious, you can have a look on the scarves that are available so far by clicking here.
This is a wonderful post, Vanessa. I agree with you completely.
And wow; your scarves are truly gorgeous! π
xoxoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Carolyn, glad it resonated πβ¨ More colours will come to bright up the days ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice post, great seeing people having fun with colours as well as benefiting overall healthπ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ππ
LikeLike
Wow ! I never knew about power of colours π€
And that is really beautiful scarf ππππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ππ Yeah, try out to change your mood through colours and let me know how it goes π
LikeLike
Nice post!! In Hindu religion color play and important part.. the colors you wear, the colors you eat thru food and the colors of our festivals.. every color effects our body and plays an important part in our well-being!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s super interesting! I didn’t know it was such a highlight – I would love to know more! Thank you for sharing πβ₯οΈ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure .. will soon come up with a post on significance of colors and food on our mind and body!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! I’m looking forward to read it! I tried to visit your link but it says ‘no longer available’. Could you leave us your link? Would love to pop by. Wishing you a great Sunday! π πΊπΊ
LikeLike
This is very interesting! I didn’t realize how colors affect you in so many different ways. Your scarf is beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Michelle! I was not aware of how it impacts us until I realised all my closet was a reflection of my mood. β€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this! But I wear a lot of black & dark colors myself, whoops! But itβs very stereotypical of the region I live in the U.S. New Yorkers are kinda known for their all-black outfits, but that being said, I do know plenty of people that wear bright colors too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe I like NY style, we can always add colour with some nice accessories and use bolder make up π₯° I loved your glitter series, made me want to get some sparkle for New Yearβs Eve π€©
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thank you! β€οΈ
LikeLike