Colors: Are You Feeling Blue?

Elaine Vuong, Staff Writer

Rainbows. Skittles. Colors. Everywhere people look, colors are there to help make the world a brighter place. In fact, even objects that are transparent have color, it’s called being transparent. Everything has a color and although people may not take notice of it every day, colors do so much more for us than just waste cartridge ink. Colors have the ability to control our emotions and even heal people. By understanding colors and how they affect us, people will appreciate colors and coloring more.

Red, blue, yellow, purple, pink, and many other colors have certain meanings to them. Red symbolizes intensity, danger, determination, passion, and is the color of blood and fire. Hence, red roses are typically given to loved ones and lovers. Pink stands for delicacy, compassion, and sweetness. Despite pink being a manly color, it is also a feminine color which is why many gender reveals for children have pink balloons for hints for girls. Yellow stands for happiness and positivity. Yellow is the color of the sunshine and is a color that contradicts itself, because it can also represent cowardice and deceit. All of these colors have so much depth and meaning behind them and can be found just by looking up at the sky.

Aside from symbolization and representation, colors impact people’s emotions and can cause them to feel happy one moment and angry the next. In color psychology, people are prone to be affected emotionally and mentally by varying colors. Two categorical groups of colors include warm colors and cool colors. Warm colors include red, yellow, and orange; blue colors include green, blue, and purple. Studies have shown that when people stare at the color red, their heart rate can increase or spark adrenaline. Warm colors can create hostility, anger, comfort, or warmth in people. In contrast, cool colors often create feelings of sadness and calmness. The effect of these groups can be apparent when trying to find a certain environment. For instance, if someone wants to find a peaceful environment to study in, a good room or place would have cool colors incorporated. As for eating and events, warm-colored rooms would be best for a fun time or to stir people’s appetites. With colors being so prominent in our daily lives, many marketers use colors as a way to attract and advertise their products and stores, especially eateries.

Another benefit colors have on people is chromotherapy. Chromotherapy, also known as color therapy, is a form of treatment that uses colors and light to heal the body, mind, and spirit. In color therapy, the color red is utilized to stimulate and increase the flow of blood. There have been instances in which red-colored baths and red light therapy has helped patients recover from their paralytic states. Chromotherapy, although a very ancient practice, is a sure-fire way to help people without inflicting too much pain.

All in all, colors have much more influence than what we may believe they do and should not be taken for granted. Through the understanding of what colors mean and how they impact us, we can appreciate the colors around us.