Colour me Happy

I don't know if you are feeling the same now that we are approaching week 5 of lockdown but I have noticed all my senses are in a heightened state of alert and I am constantly being bombarded with colours, scents and sounds. I am guessing it is a combination of the arrival of Spring, reduced air and noise pollution and lockdown.

Not only am I aware of the birdsong and the scent of a myriad of blossoms and flowers but all colours appear to be strikingly vibrant. I find myself aware of colour everywhere not just on our daily walks but also around the house, from the rainbow reflected through a crystal suncatcher to a colourful box used for storing cotton wool. Now when we are out walking we can see the homemade rainbows in front windows to show our support of the NHS, another positive way of showing how we feel.

This got me thinking how we commonly use colours in everyday speech too, describing various emotions and feelings. Who hasn’t ‘seen red’ sometimes, or been caught ‘red handed’. Been ‘green with envy’ or having a ‘green thumb’ and been given the ‘green light’. Occasionally we can all ‘feel blue’, before something ‘out of the blue’ arrives to cheer us up. Or even I’m in the pink and ‘tickled pink’. Then there is ‘pitch black’ or beaten ‘black and blue’, sometimes haven’t we all told a ‘white lie’. And one thing we all like to do is ‘ pass with flying colours’. I could go on.

My interest piqued I did a brief bit of research and as long ago as Ancient Greece colour has been used to show social status. They also used black for mourning as we still do. A red veil was important for a bride. The ancient Egyptians used colour to denote their Gods often portraying them with gold skin.

Colour was used in Britain from the medieval period to denote wealth and privilege. Purple denoting high rank or royalty, because the dye used to achieve the colour was expensive and difficult to come by. As early as 1810 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote his Theory of Colour from a Poet’s perspective whilst in the 1960’s artist Joseph Albers wrote The Interaction of Colour on the principles of understanding and perceiving colours. Albers discussed the way colours ‘behaved’ and in some instances deceived. It would appear colour has been used over the millennia in various ways to emphasise a message, denote standing or produce a particular reaction to something.

In more recent times there have been many studies worldwide into the effect of colour on moods and emotions. Nowadays of course, Marketeers and Advertisers pay particular attention to the use of colour. Offices and retail establishments are often careful in their choice of colour for office and shop decoration because they appreciate how colour can affect our reactions and mental wellbeing.

And of course we all have our favourite colour.

I have found some interesting information on various colours so I have detailed a few I thought you may find interesting below:-

Yellow

The colour of Happiness. It is apparently the happiest colour in the world, this is probably due to the power of the colour and the sun and who doesn’t like a sunny day?

It can stand for optimism, clarity, energy, honour and loyalty, it can be uplifting and illuminating.

In some psychological writings they relate it to our ego and sense of self-worth.

It can whet or stimulate your appetite

If it is your favourite colour you tend to have a happy disposition and can be a perfectionist. You are a good communicator but beware you can become a little sharp-tongued if crossed!!

Red

Red is energizing .

It can stimulate deep and intimate passions in us such as love but can also stimulate revenge and anger.

Being surrounded by too much red can cause irritability or even anger.

There have been studies that show red in some people can increase their heart rate and production of adrenaline.

If red is your favourite colour it can show you have courage and confidence and you could tend to be extroverted and optimistic. You can also be ambitious and competitive.

Blue

The most calming colour family it promotes peace and tranquillity. It is a good colour to use in bedrooms, hospitals and libraries. Blue is nostalgic.

Blue is the colour of trust and reliability, honesty and loyalty.

Its use can decrease respiration and lower blood pressure.

If it is your favourite colour you may be conservative, reliable and trustworthy. You can be genuine and sincere and take your responsibilities seriously. Your feathers don’t get ruffled easily. You have a deep need for peace and harmony.

Green

Is the colour of balance and harmony

It is the colour of spring, renewal and rebirth

As a secondary colour ( a mix of yellow and blue) it promotes the optimism of yellow and the calm of blue.

As you would think if Green is your favourite colour you are down to earth and love nature.

You can be kind, generous and you can be good in a crisis as you tend to remain calm.

You can be caring towards others but need to remember to take care of yourself too. You are intelligent and quick to learn.

Purple/Violet

Relates to the imagination and spirituality. As a colour it represents the future, imagination and dreams. Violet inspires selfless love.

Both purple and violet promote harmony and peace of mind.

On the down-side these colours can aggravate depression in some people.

If you have purple/violet as your favourite colour you can be sensitive, compassionate, understanding and supportive of others. You are usually introverted and possibly give the impression of shyness, although this is not the case.

You are creative and like to be individual. You don’t like crowds. If you surround yourself with too much purple you can become moody and you can be secretive.

Even white can be beautiful.

I could go on as there are many variations and shades of colour discussed on many websites the particular one I found interesting and used for most of the above is detailed below.

Thanks for staying with us. Stay safe and well everyone.

Please go to:- www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com