Orange is a happy color, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow, it not only does evoke fun, cheeriness and warm exuberance but it also helps to relieve feelings of self-pity, lack of self-worth and unwillingness to forgive.
Orange brings spontaneity, stimulates the mind to find interest in life and brings a positive outlook on life.
Orange aids in the assimilation of new ideas and frees the spirit of its limitations, giving us the freedom to be ourselves. At the same time it encourages self-respect and respect of others.
Blue has a very cooling and soothing affect, often making us calmer and has been known to help lower blood pressure, which is partially why blue scrubs are worn in the operating room.
Blue can also suppress the appetite, partially because food doesn't look good against blue. So putting a blue light in your refrigerator or eating off a blue plate can help control your appetite.
Blue has more of a mental and intellectual effect on us rather then physical. It stimulates clear thinking and aids in concentrations and memorization.
Although blue is the world's favorite color it is often perceived as cold, unemotional, uninviting and unfriendly.
I have always loved this painting, the use of color and texture is breathtaking. A few weeks ago I was listening to the musical "Sunday in the Park with George" which is based off of this painting and was really struck by some of the lyrics of one of the songs: Chromolume #7/Putting it Together.
I wanted to share with you what struck me because it relates so much to life:
"Art isn't easy- Any way you look at it." ...
"Bit by bit, Putting it together... Piece by Piece- Only way to make a work of art. Every moment makes a contribution, Every little detail plays a part. Having just a vision's no solution, Everything depends on execution: Putting it together- That's what counts!" ...
"Small amounts, Adding up to make a work of art. First of all you need a good foundation, Otherwise it's risky from the start." ... "The art of making art Is putting it together Bit by bit..." ...
"Bit by bit, Putting it together. Piece by piece. Working out the vision night and day. All it takes is time and perseverance, With a little luck along the way,"
...
"Till you have a balanced composition- Everything depends on preparation- Even if you do have the suspicion That it's taking all your concentration-"
So if you remember anything from today I hope it is this: The art of making a life is putting it together bit by bit. Start with a good foundation, a vision and preparation, then everything depends on execution. Life isn't easy but taking it bit by bit moment by moment adds up and can make it easier.
Purple is often associated with the right side of the brain; stimulating intuition and imagination- encouraging deep contemplation and meditation it brings awareness to a higher level of thought, and is thus associated with spirituality and compassion.
Purple has a cleansing effect with emotional disturbances and is associated with bringing peace as it helps to balance the mind and transform obsessions and irrational fears.
Because purple has been associated with royalty for centuries it usually communicates the
finest possible quality. However, using the wrong tone will communicate cheapness.
Yellow stimulates the brain make us more alert and decisive. It also makes muscles more energetic. Maybe I should try wearing yellow during my workouts, it'll help me actually want to do them.
Yellow is a happy, cheerful, uplifting color. You know that just seeming yellow sometimes (especially in winter) makes you smile. You can admit it - it happens to us all.
Yellow is associated with intellectual thinking - discernment, memory, clear thinking, decision-making, creativity and good judgment.
Yellow builds self-confidence and encourages optimism. However, a warning, too much of it, or the wrong tone in relation to the other tones in a color
scheme, can cause self-esteem to plummet, giving rise to fear and anxiety.
Green is opposite red on the color wheel and has basically the opposite affect on us that red has. Go figure.
Ever wonder why a good hike through a green forest can be so relaxing? Physically the color green steadies the heart rate and brings balance to heart and mind while helping us breathe slower and deeper.
Being neither a warm or cool color (equally yellow -warm- and blue -cool), green has a restful effect and can create feelings of comfort and calmness.
Its the color of nature, fertility, life and balance.
Green
symbolizes self-respect, well being, hope, learning, harmony, good luck and
growth.
Negatively - various hues of
green often bring decay and sickness to mind. And of course who could forget the ugly green monster of jealousy and envy.
Yesterday being Mother's Day I thought I'd defer from the regularly scheduled programing and do a tribute to mothers everywhere. Here are favorite short story, quote, and artwork about moms.
Painting by J. Kirk Richards you should really check out his work here
he did a wonderful series on mothers and children a few years back that I absolutely love.
I hope you remembered to call and thank all the mothers in your life - if not repent and do so now :)
I've taken it several times and depending on the time of day and computer I was at I have gotten multiple scores. This latest time I scored an 8 (0 = perfect). Apparently my eyes can't differentiate colors well on the blue/green and red/orange spectrums when I'm tired :) Oh well, at least I beat my high score of 15 (that was definitely an off day)!
Have a colorful weekend and I'd love to know your scores.
Red: a most dynamic color. It may be the longest (and therefore the slowest) of the visible wavelengths but it packs a punch.
Red is associated with our most powerful passions. Love on one side of the spectrum and anger and aggression on the other.
It energizes our systems and motives us to take action. It is the color of confidence, ambition and determination.
It stimulates the appetite, hence it's use in many restaurants (and you thought it was just for looks).
Red tends to appear nearer then it is and grabs our attention first. Caution is advised when using red in decorating or art: too much causes irritation and agitation, a little goes a long way.
Physically, the color red will elevate your blood pressure and stimulate the adrenal glands which helps us become strong and increases our stamina.
Color is a very important part of our everyday, after all it's all around us. Color fills our vision, it fills our souls.
What is color?
Scientifically, color is wavelengths of light and how our eyes perceive it.
Each of us perceive color slightly differently, which I find very interesting (more on that in another post).
Color also has a physical, emotional and psychological effect on each of us, therefore it can be used and is used as a manipulation tool. Don't laugh it's true I use it in my design all the time. There is a reason that one color is in every restaurants color scheme (it enlarges your appetite) or that certain colors are used in hospital rooms (it causes relaxation). You are manipulated everyday by the colors in your environment for good or bad. It's important to understand the effects color has on us so we can maximize the good effects and combat the bad effects.
So this series will focus on the effects of color as well as have some fun with color.
I learned an interesting lesson from my headphones at work. (Please don't think I'm crazy) At work my CPU is behind my monitors and rather far away from well my ears so most headphones don't reach. I borrowed my boss' extender cord for a bit while I was looking for one and the most interesting thing happened. Unless I held my head in just the right position (leaning slightly forward and a little to the left- not exactly my idea of comfortable) I only heard music in my left ear, it was like I was deaf in my right ear - which worried me for a bit I'll admit. Except that every once in a while when I hit the magic (slightly uncomfortable) position I would get a sudden burst of music in the right ear as well. And, o boy, did it make the music so much better because I could hear it all!
Only hearing half the music 90% of the time because I didn't want to be uncomfortable made me think about what else in life I could be missing out on because I don't stretch outside my comfort zone. There's a whole range of notes I could be missing! Stretching is hard but I'm thinking it will be worth the effort.
Life is to glorious to only be living it half way.
As I'm typing this up I'm reminded of a talk I heard recently. Toward the end Dieter F. Uchtdorf says:
"In the great Composer’s symphony, you have your own particular part to play—your own notes to sing. Fail to perform them, and with certainty the symphony will go on. But if you rise up and join the chorus and allow the power of God to work through you, you will see “the windows of heaven” open, and He will “pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
We each have are part to play and if I don't play mine or you don't play yours those around us won't get the full effect of the grand symphony God has created for us just as I wasn't receiving the full effect of the music through my headphones. While it will still be good, it won't be the best. Don't we all deserve the best?
What helps you live life to the fullest? - I can use all the help I can get convincing myself to stretch outside my comfort zone.
I'm an Interior Designer by trade so the design process is built into my everyday simply by going to work, however, I have discovered that applying the design process to my everyday decisions and goals works really well for me.
The process of design is a 2 phase - 8 step (give or take a few depending on how lazy I am).
The phases are:
Phase 1: Analysis Phase 2: Synthesis
Phase 1
There are 4 steps to analyzing a project (or goal/ problem/ whatever you happen to be thinking about) prior to actually beginning...
Step 1 - Commit
This is one of those Duh! steps. In order to be successful in obtaining a goal you must first commit yourself to obtaining it.
Step 2 - State
Write your goal down clearly and concisely and put it somewhere where you can see it! Define the issues you may have completely your goal - i.e. if I had a goal to loose 20 pounds one of my issues my be I love food and hate running. Being completely honest with yourself during this step will help you overcome those issues.
Step 3 - Collect Data (Not my favorite step) Write down all you know about your goal and how to achieve it, research additional ways, write down time frame and anything else that might be helpful for you to be successful - Inspirational quotes, pictures, etc.
Step 4 - Analysis
I bet you were wondering when we'd get to the analysis portion of the analysis phase. This is the part when you take all the information you've gathered and written down and clarify your goals, break it down into steps, and further scrutinize and issues.
Phase 2
This is where the designing usually takes place and all the hard work of implementing strategies to obtain your goal. There are also, what do you know, 4 steps - go figure.
Step 1 - Ideate
Generate ideas on how to achieve the steps to your goal. I like multiple options in case one fails - i.e. for my weight lose goal I might come up with the strategies to eat less calories, eat healthier, and work out in the gym.
Step 2 - Choose and Refine
You've decided on your possible strategies and you've decided the best way to proceed. Now it's time to refine those strategies. If I decide to eat healthier and go to the gym then, how many times a week and I going to the gym, what am I doing at the gym - cardio (yuck) or weights, etc.? What am I going to eat, am I just cutting out fast food or am I eating a salad for lunch everyday?
Step 3 - Implement and Construct Put your plan into action and give form to your goal!
Step 4 - Evaluate
Follow up with yourself periodically and evaluate your progress. When you've reached your goal evaluate your process - did it work well for you? what would you do differently?
Green is opposite red on the color wheel and has basically the opposite affect on us that red has. Go figure. 
