A Beginner's Guide to Color Therapy

Our world is filled with color and light, but how often do we stop and think about the way it affects us? By learning why we are drawn to certain colors and the way that certain colors can affect our physical, mental and emotional health, we can begin to incorporate color therapy into our lives.

The first step toward understanding and practicing color therapy is quite simple: Begin thinking about color. What colors are you drawn to? Many people find that they always end up choosing certain colors of clothing or that they always paint the rooms in their homes certain colors. People tend to gravitate toward colors because they know on a subconscious level that they need the power of that color in their lives.

Start by asking yourself what your favorite color is and how it makes you feel. Then begin thinking about the colors that you do not like and how they make you feel. These simple meditations on color will begin to open your eyes to the way color impacts your emotions. Once you have started thinking about color, you will start noticing color. Keeping a color diary can be a good way to record your observations. Write down what you pick from your closet every morning and why you chose it. Then keep track of how you feel throughout the day. Do certain outfits energize you more than others? Do you get more done when you wear certain colors? You will begin to gain a feel for which colors help in your life and which colors actually zap your energy.

Common wisdom is that certain colors have certain properties. However, the way these colors affect people may vary from person to person because the physical structures of our eyes can perceive colors in different ways. Certainly a color-blind person doesn't perceive color in the same way as an artist! It is important to know the general principles of color, but it is also important to pair those principles with your own observations. Green and pale blue are generally thought to be physically restful or relaxing colors, but which one is more restful for you? Do they make you tired or just calm you down?