I always find it ironic that traffic light systems around the world are based on the premise that green means go and red means stop.
Those who have studied the effects of colour on the human psyche tell us that green imparts a sense of harmony, balance and refreshment in the spectrum spectator. It helps us to slow down. Maybe even stop for a while. I wonder if it’s because, on a primitive level, green means that there is plenty of water and therefore a reduced risk of famine. It’s reassuring.
Red, on the other hand, is used to bolster a sense of physical courage, energy and strength. We use red to give us a sense of get up and GO!
And yet I have always loved yellow.
I have often wondered why it is that I feel such a strong compulsion to run. … and why I’m so particular about where I run. My favourite weekend running route takes me along a winding track that follows a gentle, softly bubbling creek surrounded by densely populated, intertwining trees, vines and seemingly random shrubbery. Somehow, huffing and puffing along that track makes me feel as though I’m being enveloped in a cool, calming blanket of mottled green. While my body works itself up into a sweaty, bright red beacon of self-propulsion, the act of gliding through the dense cloud of greenery somehow slows my otherwise racing mind. The dark foliage of the weeping myrtle protects me from the harsh yellow sunlight. The delicate, pale green maidenhair fern softly frames the unforgiving grey concrete track. The same track that so effortlessly meanders alongside the gently flowing creek, hiding enigmatic creatures that seek solace in its blue-green murky depths. No wonder the ducks I pass by seem so content. Although I suspect the carb-loading from kind-hearted visitors who feed them bread scraps may be a contributing factor.
By the time I get home, I’m physically exhausted….. and mentally renewed.
And that’s why I sometimes need to put on my running shoes and escape to a place where my eyes can drink their fill of cool, monochromatic green…. so that when increasing pressures cause the colours of life to dim, my first reaction won’t be to see red.
Do you find that colour affects your mood?
Why not go and visit some of the other colourful blogs over at Diary of a SAHM for iBOT.
At Love All Blogs I’m talking my encounter with a python. Eeek!
Hmm I never thought about traffic lights that way but it does make sense! I do feel more relaxed around blue and green.. Makes me thinking if just lying down under thr blue sky on a grassy hill
Ai @ Sakura Haruka
That sounds like a lovely idea to me!
Interesting observation Misha! I definitely feel ‘serene in green’. I wear red when I’m in a hyper mood and full of energy. Had never really thought about it before!
I think I tend to dress the children in colours that reflect their moods too. My 2 year old seems to wear a lot of red…
Oh that’s interesting about the traffic lights! I never knew that!
I can’t say I have ever really noticed how colours affect me at all to be honest. I remember my sister once painted her office purple, cause apparently that’s meant to make you think, and I thought it was aphrodisiac (as much as a colour can inspire lust!)
That run sounds divine though. Just being in nature and away from all the busyness sounds great,.
I’ve hear people say that about purple too! Sexy and smart! I think purple should be the new black
I am fascinated with the way colour makes us feel. Red is my all time favourite, yellow is my current colour crush. When I was in high school and very much stressing about my exams I requested my bedroom be painted a serene calming blue, and that room was my sanctuary. I rent now and the walls are nearly always safe (boring) beige in rentals. But I don’t mind the blank canvas, it is fun to find accessories to brighten the place up, and can be changeable according to mood!
What a great idea to paint your bedroom blue during exams! We had a colour consultant help us choose how to paint our last house but my husband was too traumatised by the experience of painting an entire house singlehandedly to consider painting our new house… so we live with whitewash walls too.
i never knew that about colours – your running path sounds absolutely amazing, just beautiful. i need to find a place like that! I run in a park which is just behind our unit… it makes sense to me know why i feel so together after, just at peace
I think the park behind your unit sounds lovely… Not too far to run home to either.
Great post. I do find that colours can reflect mood. Our offices recently went through a re-furb and the chosen colour was this fluorescent, green. I generally love calming, lush green, but this is just, BAM! Every time I walk in to work, I feel over-stimulated… maybe that’s why they chose it? To keep us all working? (or to blind us)
Fluero green? That’s new! A good incentive to get your work done so you can get out of there quickly perhaps.
I tend to wear and ‘like’ dark colours. I wear a lot of (almost only) black, and furnish my place in dark colours – navy, chocolate brown etc… but I have to admit I find pretty dusty pink colours kinda charming and calming. And after chocolate brown sheets and a very non-girly world, I now find my bed linen to be pretty pinks, along with bath towels AND when my blogs were re-bannered recently… after telling the designer I wanted browns, navy, forest green… I ended up going with pink as well!
Strange!
I love wearing dark colours too but am trying to branch out… And I’m glad you went with pink with your new blog. It looks great!
I loved reading this post. You write so wonderfully about your run and all the different colours you encounter on it. I didn’t know that about red. One of the reasons I always thought that red was for STOP was because in the natural world alot of flowers and berries that can make you ill are red in colour.
Colours do affect my mood, a few years ago I stopped wearing black completely and overhauled my wardrobe to wear brighter colours – it did make me feel more cheerful!
Light (lack of) also affects my mood. In the winter months when everything is grey and dull I can find it hard to get motivated.
Great post.
Ah I think you make a good point about red being used in nature as a warning to stop. I hadn’t thought of that!
Grenn and blue are my favourite colours – both make me feel very calmed and soothed. I love being out in nature especially at this time of year, Spring; so relaxing.
I must admit I have a soft spot for pale blue too and just found out today it’s my eldest daughter’s “new favourite colour”.
I love this post. I’m not sure of a colour for me, I am going to take more notice of the colours around me and how I feel when I see them. How you’ve written about your run makes me want to get started running – it sounds just like what I need.
Thanks Becky!
What a beautiful picture you paint! I’m almost inspired tp start running. Almost. Not sure what colour inspires me? Probably red for motivation. I’m obviously a primal being
You just can’t go wrong with red! I used to have a red winter coat and it always used to rev me up! I might buy another one!
Wow, what an interesting observation about the traffic lights. Green and blue are my favourite colours, I think for the nature aspects. I have been a lazy runner in the past couple of weeks and your post has made me want to go go go!! x
Green and blue are very calming. Maybe that’s why I wear it a lot nowadays!
your running location would make me want to run too!
i definitely use colour to lift me up – i keep a board on pinterest just for blue things since it is my favourite colour + yellow board as it is uplifting + very good photos of flowers – their vibrant colours can change my mood instantly
I love that you are using colour to help inspire you… what a great idea to create colour boards on pinterest just for that purpose! I love that!
My son’s favourite colour is green – I think it definitely calms him down and brings him peace. I wish I could find a colour that does the same for me!!!
Thanks so much Kirsty. I noticed from your blog that purple is the colour for epilepsy awareness day – it’s great to see that colours can be used in that way too. Have fun at DPCON!
I agree! colours are just amazing for my mood too. For me, nothing beats the blue of the reflected sky in the lake that I run around…just imagining the lake and the pounding of my feet seem to relax me!
A lake to run around sounds very tranquil and relaxing. You are lucky!
Our new house is decorated in black, white and grey. Hubby wanted grey walls. Oooooops, some purple fell in
That colour combination sounds gorgeous,
What a great visual picture. I live right near the bush, and love walking there, but I love the juxtaposition of the red, sweaty runner… hmm… maybe time for me to take up running!
Thanks Julie! Running was an acquired taste for me… But couldn’t live without it now!
i always feel brighter with a bright colour around! There is definite truth i think! I guess we all have to decide on what a certain colour means… red also has that love feeling too
xx