We all react to colors in different ways and almost everyone has a favorite color, for some reason or the other. It has been seen that people have the natural tendency to opt for colors that they prefer, when it comes to choosing their clothes, accessories, or even the shade of their curtains and wallpaper. Therefore, it is safe to say that colors have a great impact on our lives. However, not a lot of people are aware of the fact that colors can also have a major impact on our moods, at least most of the time. This means that colors not only affect out physical body, but also our emotional states. Moreover, this is an ongoing process, whether you are at home, in school, at work, or at any other place. Therefore, when entering a classroom that belongs to kindergarten students, it is common to see bright colors like yellow, red and blue on the wall. On the other hand, rooms that require people to be calm and sober are usually done up in darker shades, to soothe the mind. Several people have now started undergoing color therapy, in order to improve the overall health, as well as the functioning of their body. However, those who are not very familiar with the effects of different colors on the mind have been known to ask health experts "How do colors change your mood?"

The human brain reacts to everything that it sees and processes and this also includes colors. Studies indicate that colors provoke the brain, influence the pituitary gland of the individual as also go on to create a number of different effects in the body by triggering some or the other hormonal changes. This is why a certain color may trigger off a particular memory, which could be either good or unpleasant. At times, we associate specific colors with positive feelings that make us feel good, perhaps because a certain object was of the same color. At the same time, certain colors have been known to trigger off memories of traumatic events, which could cause a person's heart to pound. For example, red is usually associated with danger, mainly because most of us have been taught that red is the color of toxic substances. In a similar manner, colors stimulate our thoughts as well as our emotions. Most health experts claim that people choose their favorite colors based on how the color makes them feel.

Interestingly, colors signify different things according to every culture and at times, the significance of a color may change, even within a culture. Nevertheless, there are some colors which have the same effect on people, regardless of the culture they belong to. For example, while red and pink are both associated with love, pink has a more calming effect on people. Red on the other hand gets the energy going, which is why a woman wearing a red dress or a red suit will probably increase her feeling of power and control, without even realizing it. Similarly, there are many people who like blue, mainly because it stimulates the brain into producing a higher amount of calming chemicals, which help the body relax.

Colors

It is believed that people can perform better in a blue room, where their minds and bodies are a bit more relaxed. Moreover, since blue is not usually found in food (with a few exceptions), it is believed that the color helps curb appetite too and therefore it is good for those who are watching their weight. Green too, is believed to have a similar effect, as it has a soothing effect on the eyes. Therefore, it is said that green can help improve a person's vision. Color therapists claim that yellow is excellent for increasing and enhancing concentration; however, it can cause a person's temper to flare up and therefore, it is a difficult color to take in. It is also said that too much of brown could cause a person to experience feelings of wistfulness or sadness.

Many people go deep into the study of colors and the effect they can have on a person's mind and body. However, there are others who are aware of the benefits of different colors on them and therefore try to incorporate the positive ones into their lives. In order to maximize the effects of colors on your life, it is important for you to choose your color schemes carefully. You can start off by making a list of your favorite colors, or even those that appeal to you. Then, next to each color, make a note of the feeling you get when you wear or see that color in front of you. It is quite possible for a color or a shade to bring about more than one feeling in the same person. If that is the case, then, using simple words, you can just write down all that you feel when you look at that color. Highlight the colors that make you feel positive or good about yourself in anyway.

After you make the list, compare it with the colors that you look at in your day to day surroundings. Make sure that you include your home, workplace, car, gym or any other establishment that you visit regularly. You could also make separate lists of all the rooms in your house, along with the colors that these rooms have been decorated in. This exercise is also very effective if you include the colors you seen in your closet, which includes your clothes, shoes and other accessories.

Compare all the lists that you prepared, with your "favorite colors list", to analyze the feeling that you are most likely to get when you are present in a certain room. Make a note of how you think you should feel, in each room, for example, in your bedroom, you may want to feel relaxed, but at work you may prefer being more energetic. Gradually, start making the color changes in each room, by either replacing furnishings or, if possible, getting your surroundings redecorated. The similar exercise should be conducted with a wardrobe - the clothes, shoes and accessories that are present in one.