“Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.”
Pablo Picasso

There are a million reasons to be in a bad mood and feel drained. Listening to the news often depresses our mood because there is a lot of negativity going on in the world right now. Being tense or having a tough confrontation with someone can bring us down. Old memories and nostalgia might affect our moods, and of course, daily life challenges and even the weather can influence how we feel.

You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t swing between highs and lows. Sometimes when you’re in a bad mood, it just feels like too much work to make yourself feel better! Colors are an easy way to improve your mood without a lot of work.

Because colors are a reflection of your emotions, you can use colors to consciously change your mood and uplift your spirit.

My love story with colors

Years ago, I was fortunate enough to live in Europe and attend the Aura Soma Institute of Accredited Color Therapy (ASIACT) in England. These studies opened the door for me to a whole new world, the world of color. Throughout the years, I’ve worked with colors in many different ways, realizing again and again that colors have power, and if we only learn to incorporate them into our lives we have an easy “go to” tool we can use when we need some uplifting. Recently in my Chakra Balancing Bootcamp, I enjoyed watching the participants develop curiosity and openness to the use of colors and saw tangible results during the 7 weeks we worked with colors. There are endless ways to enjoy the power of colors. Let me share a few ideas, and you choose whatever looks the most fun for you and give it a try.

The science of colors

Our modern understanding of light and color begins with Isaac Newton (1642-1726) who was the first to discover the rainbow – he refracted white light with a prism, resolving it into its component colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
Objects do not possess inherent colors of their own. We perceive objects as colors because our brains tell us to. Dark objects absorb more light rays and reflect less light, while objects that look light are reflecting more light and absorbing less. Colors, like light, are a source of energy. Each color is carried on a different frequency. The different colors are created by light waves of differing lengths. The reason why using colors can uplift our spirit is because their frequency raises our vibration.

What colors should I use to uplift my spirit?

The best way to choose which colors to invite into our lives is by trusting our intuition. The guidelines I’m going to share with you are just recommendations. If you feel attracted to a color that isn’t mentioned here as an uplifting color, go with your gut and find creative ways to use it.

Some colors are more vibrant and energizing than others. Red, orange, yellow, and their different hues are the best “pick-me-up” colors. Red and yellow are primary colors, while orange is a mixture of red and yellow. Pink, coral, peach, and gold are all shades of those three important colors and you can still receive their uplifting energy by using brighter shades. Let’s understand the characteristics of each color.

Red

At the hot end of the spectrum, red is the energizer, the stimulator, the color of passion, pride, and strength. Red lifts depression and tiredness. Red arouses the senses, quickens the pulse, and excites the emotions. You can also use it to stir the life force and the sex drive, but be aware – too much red can overexcite the passions and lead to rage.

Yellow

Yellow is the color of the sun, and just like the sun it is warming and energizing. Yellow symbolizes acquired knowledge, sense of humor, lightness and fun. It is associated with youth, happiness, and cheerfulness. It is a “pick-me-up” color, and because it is the intellect color, yellow encourages detachment from our emotions, giving us the strength to distance ourselves from our feelings and to rationalize what is going on around us. Many people don’t like yellow, but it is actually a very important color that can affect our mood positively. Consider inviting more yellow into your life and be creative with how to do that.

Orange

Orange combines the physical passion of red with the lightness and fun of yellow. Orange positively uplifts, bringing happiness and enthusiasm to life. It helps you connect to your emotions and inner wisdom, raise your self-esteem and confidence level, and bring you not only energy but also joy. Orange is the spice of life.

How should uplift my spirit with colors?

Be creative! There are no rights or wrongs when it comes to using colors. Choose any of the guidelines below or come up with your own unique way to uplift your mood with colors.

• Wear colorful clothes.
• Brighten up your accessories and use them. Wearing red jewelry, a yellow scarf, or an orange belt makes you feel better, and you’re likely to get compliments from other people. Be brave! Give it a try!
• Visualize bright colors to uplift your spirit.
• Place a sheet of red acetate over a table lamp and sit with the colored light shining on you for ten minutes a day.
• Place colorful papers or items on your desk and focus on them from time to time throughout your day.
• Add colors to your food: red and orange peppers, tomatoes, berries and strawberries, yellow pineapple, banana, grapefruit, oranges, carrots, and pumpkin. They not only look good, they are healthy!
• Find red, yellow, and orange items in your closet, on your shelves, or in your basement and place them together on a small table in your space so you can look at them from time to time.
• Accessorize your home with color. A red candle, yellow flowers, and an orange pillow are all you need to uplift your spirit!

Some people call colors the “natural anti-depressant”. Whether you use them in your living space, wear them on your body, or add them to your food, welcome more colors into your life and notice their effect. You might be surprised to see that not only will people notice your good mood, but you will find yourself engaged in lively conversations and feeling more positive, even when things around you don’t look so bright! Not only that you uplift your spirit with colors but you actually uplift other people’s spirit as well!

If you have questions, please post them in the comments area. Let’s have a fun conversation about colors!