It’s a Colorful Life!

CEBU, Philippines — On the day-to-day, everyone is faced with a myriad of stimuli that contribute to the quality of his experience. Mostly, these come from the things to which he devotes attention. It can also come from anything that crosses his attention.

A person’s experience can be ‘colored’ by various factors, either one at a time or several at the same time. A single stimulus can even affect different people in different ways. And the same thing may affect one differently at different times.

One boy may rejoice at the sight of red roses, because it reminds him of the joy in his mother’s face when his father gave her red roses on her birthday. Another boy may grow furious seeing red roses, because it was via red roses that someone took his sweetheart away. It’s the same red roses experienced in different ways.

Aside from their association with things or events, colors on their own have certain general effects on people – on oneself and on others. It’s a long-held belief that colors affect people’s moods and emotions. Christine Dion, at www.danceinforma.com, cites that for centuries colors have been used to influence, to heal, and to guide – a practice called chromotherapy.

This is perhaps how the word “color” has come to be a metaphor for persuasion and bias. According to Dion, studies have proven that certain colors influence the way others feel about a person. Therefore, a person may manage others’ perception of him by using the right colors.

When choosing color, one shall decide on the effect to aim for, whether it’s increased confidence, a calming effect, increasing respect, inspiration or lifting of spirits. Dion shares a guide about colors and their effects… on the person himself and on others:

Purple generates feelings of self-respect, dignity and self-worth. It is a royal color that is associated with extravagance and wealth. People who wear this color or have it in their environment benefit from its creative and spiritual qualities, sending out a message that they’re one-of-a-kind, special and unique. It is, however, the wrong color choice for those who want to blend in with others and just be ‘one of the guys’.

Burgundy is also aligned with royalty, and can help people rise to the occasion especially when feeling beaten down or lost in the masses. Wearing this color with finesse can help set you apart from others.

Red conveys power and confidence, and can make the wearer stand out and get noticed. It gives the person energy and increased heart rate, as well as excites those who see it. But wearing too much red can make a person come off a little too intimidating to others, who may lack self-confidence in themselves.

Pink communicates compassion and an open heart. It generates feelings of softness, gentleness, kindness, affection and love. Taking responsibility for one’s life and manifesting his dreams resonate with this color’s energy.

Orange inspires a feeling of getting out into the world and creating something grand. It encourages enthusiasm and zeal. Those who wear this color like to smile and make others smile. It also encourages conversation and a sense of humor.

Yellow encourages open-mindedness and attention to detail. This color is uplifting and helps to make one feel cheerful, optimistic, warm and sunny. It is said to carry the same healing qualities associated with the sun. But one shall beware when confronting someone in yellow, as the color can also increase tempers.

Blue is kind, peaceful and calm. It’s a non-threatening color that promotes values such as loyalty and honesty. Those who wear it project a wish for peace and quiet, and tranquility. Pale or lighter colored blues can be wonderfully uplifting, a nice choice if one is feeling a bit nervous or edgy.

Turquoise encourages clarity in thoughts, feelings, communication, and reflects a refreshing, youthful, approachable touch to one’s personality.

Green is a cool color. It is nurturing, earthy, rich, and sophisticated. It generates an atmosphere that is calm, secure, soothing, balanced and in harmony with nature. Bright and lighter greens are good to wear when embarking on something new or when turning over a new leaf. Deeper hues of green, such as emerald or forest, are great for rejuvenating one’s life energies.

Brown reflects dependability and a down-to-earth quality. It helps make relationships solid, increases decisiveness and concentration, and attracts help in a financial crisis.

Black and Gray are power colors, and exude seriousness. These colors are good for protection when dealing with crowds, as these are a little undercover. Black and gray are fashion basics, that’s why people of high positions all have the basic black suit, black dress or slacks that are a must-wear for a number of different social settings. Wearing black is advised for those who prefer to blend in and keep a low profile in social settings – but not if one wants to stand out in a crowd. However, if wearing black is done too much, one can appear to be in a dark mood.

White conveys a fresh, bright outlook, and represents cleansing and new beginnings. Putting on white feels like being given an opportunity to start anew with a clean slate, as long as it hasn’t taken on any discoloration from too much laundering. Note: Only bright whites work! So one should treat or get rid of any dingy or yellow whites.

Scientific proof of the effects of colors on people may not at all be necessary. For everyone, in one way or the other, have experienced it in their lives. Colors have the power to warm the heart – or keep it cold.

It’s a colorful life, indeed! It’s not simply black-and-white. Translated to the human experience, life is not all reason and emotion – all the things in between matter. Likewise, the colors of the rainbow are not the only colors that the eye sees.