Change Your Colors

March 2021

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher a storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” — Rabindranath Tagore

What color do you think of in March? If you’re like most people, we associate green shamrocks and leprechauns seeking their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow this month. The whole spectrum of color is represented in the rainbow, thus March has been designated as Color Therapy Month. Every day, our world is infused with color, some of our own choosing and the rest from the elements around us, such as what the seasons bring. Have you ever noticed how those colors make you feel? Color Therapy is a holistic practice that uses the visible spectrum of light and color to affect a person’s mood and physical and mental wellbeing. There seems to be a connection between the brain and body through the use of color, hue, and tint. Businesses spend millions of dollars studying the effect of color to get just the right combination to influence consumers.

Think about the ways colors are historically “assigned”. White signifies purity and that which is spiritual, black may be mysterious or mournful (and slimming!), while red represents love but can also alert us to danger. Beyond that, however, are a myriad of color connections that can prevent illness and promote healing. Color Therapy has proven to be effective in the treatment of chronic pain, vision problems, learning disabilities, autism, emotional issues, and to stimulate oxygen flow.

In other words, color can literally jump start a weary body. That same red that may alert us to danger can energize the organs and all five of our senses. It also energizes the heart and promotes blood flow.  Green evokes peace, rest, hope, comfort, and harmony. It can stimulate growth hormones and reduce anxiety. Blue can reduce stress and soothe ailments associated with speech, communication, or the throat. And, pink lends itself to healing grief and sadness.

Color can also invoke strong emotional reactions. For instance, the leaves changing in the fall, combined with the coolness of the air, might add a briskness to our step and energize us. The small pink buds of flowers and tiny shoots of green grass can fill us with hope as we remember that spring returns, lifting our spirits after the grayness of winter. A dose of sunshine is usually associated with cheerfulness and optimism, but contrarily, yellow rooms make babies cry more often and people in yellow rooms are more likely to lose their temper.

What are the ways you use color in your life? Is your bedroom a sanctuary in soothing neutrals? Does your neon green toothbrush make you smile every morning? Do you like to eat cupcakes with a pretty pastel frosting? Just think of the ways we can lift ourselves, in whatever way needed, by being intentional with seeking color. How about visiting an art gallery where muted and soft watercolor paintings create a pastoral calm? Like anything that grows us, introducing different colors into our daily routine can be of great benefit. For instance, one of us may not be partial to blue, but a willingness to integrate it into our wardrobe might surprise us, in the best way. Becoming blissfully aware of color in our lives can help maintain our health and keep us in harmony, and that is a much-needed balm these days. Imagine yourself in a safe haven, surrounded by color that feels just right as it blankets your body… exhale any negative energy you are feeling.

The painter Georgia O’Keefe said, “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” And think of the numerous references to color in songs and poetry. It’s Not Easy Being Green tells us exactly what we need to know; that being different can be challenging.

What’s your Rainbow Connection?

Be Well …

Arkansas Hospice Employee Wellness Council (EWC) Keeping you Well – Mind, Body, & Spirit

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