Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Blue, Orange, Green, Red
The Best of Friends “The last mad throb of red just as it turns green; the ultimate shriek of orange calling all the blues of heaven for relief and support... each color almost regains the fun it must have felt within itself on forming the first rainbow.” --Charles Demuth (artist) Talk about energy. The last mad throb of Red turns to green. Orange shrieks to blue. There’s all these colors, and they’re streaking across the sky. Full speed ahead, they’re calling to each other, looking for each other, playing and having fun with each other. Wow, what a lot of action and activity. Mr. Demuth has certainly got it right; in this kind of environment, these colors sure must be feeling the fun they must have had on forming the first rainbow, and forming that first rainbow must have been a lot of fun. And as good as that gets, there’s more here too. These colors are also connecting in much deeper and more profound ways. Think about it. How come in the first place Red is turning to Green, and why is it that Orange is shrieking at Blue? Sure, they want to engage in some high octane play and fun. Sure, they might enjoy the nonstop level of activity they’ve created, and sure, all of that energy is essential for the character of their relationships. But there’s something deeper going on here too. These colors quite simply are the best of friends. They count on each other; they share with each other, and as much as they want to play, even more, they call to each other for something that cuts at the core; , “relief and support.” They’re encouraging each other, confiding things to each other, and wanting to help each other through difficult times. It’s about interacting; it’s about caring; and it’s about simply being there. In this context, wouldn’t it be inconceivable for one of these colors to even consider the possibility of striking out on her own. Each certainly has its own personality, and at the same time, they come together to make up quite a wonderful unit. And at the risk of getting too serious within such a strong spirit of fun, these colors sure are providing a model for the rest of us, reminding us of the myriad ways friendships matter, encouraging each of us to enhance the bonds and asking each of us perhaps to reach out to expand and to broaden our circle. In the end and as we do so, let’s remember from whence these colors came, and let’s cultivate the energy and “the fun” each color “must have felt within itself on forming the first rainbow.” How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you could take in the next day or so on that basis?
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Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Red Red Underwear “Whenever you're sitting across from some important person, always picture him sitting there in a suit of long red underwear. That's the way I always operated in business.” -- Joseph P. Kennedy (American Executive, Diplomat, and father of President John F. Kennedy) What do you think? More importantly, how do you handle it when you’re dealing with someone you think is more important than you or with a situation that feels intimidating? Do you develop a plan for how you’re going to achieve the outcome you desire? Leave it to chance and trust that in the spontaneity of the moment you’ll know what to do? Simply get anxious and let the whole process upset you??? I identify with Joseph Kennedy’s observations because I’ve been there! It’s heartening to remember when a tough situation is at hand that even people who appear to the rest of us to be most successful nonetheless experience their own doubts and struggles. If someone as legendary and perhaps as intimidating in his own right as Joseph Kennedy had to give conscious thought to handling difficulties, that certainly gives the rest of us permission to acknowledge our own doubts and hesitations. Even more, Mr. Kennedy has set down his personal and somewhat unorthodox formula for dealing with people he would consider important. How did he handle them? Did he get clear on the goals he wanted to accomplish? Did he just leave things up to chance? Given the unparalleled success he experienced throughout his life time, Mr. Kennedy probably engaged in a combination of all these approaches, and he likely understood that there’s really no one-size fits all answer to these tough questions. But as a first step, it’s pretty wonderful that before he set goals or came up with a thought-out business strategy, he began by using his own imagination and by coming up with an image (a really creative one at that) which resonated for him. Aren’t these “intimidating” people at bottom and underneath just like the rest of us, with their foibles, their doubts and … their underwear?. After all, we’re not really all that different and we’re not really all that intimidating, especially when we’re caught in a relatively ignominious position. One size certainly doesn’t fit all when you’re dealing with difficult people or situations, but Mr. Kennedy’s image is among those you might want to remember the next time you’re heading into a circumstance you find a little intimidating. An he wasn’t just imagining someone in any old color of underwear; that underwear was bright red! How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: color Red Miracle Red “It takes courage to attempt the impossible. What would we think of Moses today if when it was time to part the red sea, he had said Why don't you guys go build a bridge?” --J. roger Tanga (reverend/author, Treasure in the trash: You Are Worth More than You Think,, 2009) Well, what do you think? Good question. What would we think of Moses if he had asked his people to build a bridge rather than ask God for help when escaping from the Egyptians to cross the Red Sea? Going for a miracle was clearly the better option. The danger was immediate; the need for speed was real; and As the story goes, God was standing by. Moses lifted his staff; the Red Sea parted; the Israelites walked across. He raised his staff again. the water rose; the Egyptians were trapped; and the Israelites were saved. Whatever one’s beliefs about the veracity of the story, Mr. Tanga reminds us that it’s great to have the courage to think the impossible. Acts of courage, risk-taking and thinking outside the box certainly move things forward, allow for the development of innovative solutions and provide us with quite a bit of inspiration. Especially under pressure, it takes trust to call on one’s intuition and one’s creativity to come up with the unusual solution that makes things better. But as this story reminds us, such behavior can literally save the day. It’s an important thought, and it challenges us to remember all our creativity in situations where we forget how resourceful we truly are. At the same time, let’s also build those bridges. Ok, maybe that wouldn’t have helped the Israelites of old. But what about in the modern day? What if we reinterpret the quote above not as an endorsement of always going for what seems impossible but as a choice between opting for a more or a less conventional solution? When does it make sense to innovate, and when do you stick with the routine? Of course going with the tried-and-true may not make history or get you public recognition, But let’s not underestimate having the discipline to stay the course, remembering solutions that have worked in many contexts an relying on that which may be familiar and even comforting. In the end and according to another old legend, , wasn’t it the tortoise who won the race against the hare with his consistency and his persistence. Building the bridge may not be as dramatic as trying for the miracle, but it may prove to be exactly the right tool. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you could take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: color Red Red Bull “Say you write a song about a chandelier, and the chandelier gives off light. And the light is the color red and red reminds you of the color your not supposed to wear around a bull. So you name the song 'Cow.” --Billy Corgan (singer, songwriter… best known as part of the group the Smashing Pumpkins) What do you think? Well I’m not sure I’m such a big fan of the music, but I like this description of how you might write a song—or for that matter engage in any number of other activities—quite a lot. Billy Corgan isn’t telling us to do it “right”—find words that rhyme with each other; come up with ideas that might be more likely to sell to the public; interview other songwriters to see how they do it. All of those are of course helpful suggestions that could move you in positive directions. But at least as he describes it here, Corgan is focusing on the spontaneity, the free flow and the association of ideas—urging you to go where your imagination takes you. Oh boy, even if it takes you to a song you want to title “cow!” Which might not attract a huge audience. But what about other activities too? You want to come up with a great holiday present for someone? To figure out what you’ll cook for dinner? To plan your priorities for a day? What about as part of your tool kit, stream of consciousness/letting the ideas flow? Ok, so it’s a Holiday gift? Say, For Fred. His name starts with F; get him a trip to France; that probably costs too much; buy him a book about the French way of life; well maybe that’s boring; let’s go up a letter and get something with a “g”; probably not a giraffe. A goblet—for wine? A set of golf clubs? You could play with these possibilities in any number of ways; you might just come up with some ideas you’d never think of; and whatever happens, you’ve had some fun. And the color red, evoking passion, emotion and strong associations, seems just about the perfect color to encourage this kind of spontaneous thinking, even though it turns out that Mr. Corgan is actually wrong about one thing—contrary to popular belief, scientists have demonstrated it’s more the movement of the objects than the color of red—that gets the bull pissed off. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Blue and … No Blue? “In Autumn you can take one maple leaf and see almost all the colors of the rainbow in it – although you would need your imagination to see blue.” --Dorthe Eisenhardt) (artist) What do you think? Can you remember a time you took the time to get so focused and intrigued that you noticed so many small details? That you focused on something as ordinary as a maple leaf and got so much out of your attention? Added to your sensual experience that which came from your imagination? With so few words, Dorthe Eisenhardt reminds us that the rewards of such noticing are well worth it. Anyone who has traveled to the northeastern United States—and perhaps other areas of the world-- for the fall foliage season—and for many people it’s the trip of a life time—appreciate the spectacular shades, colors and contrasts. At the same time, she’s vividly asking us to deepen that experience by taking our noticing to the next level. You can drill down to that which is most micro, sometimes finding all of the wonderful colors even on something as small and unobtrusive as a single leaf. Just think about it: a whole rainbow of color on one leaf! It even goes beyond what you can actually see. What about imagining many many colors on maple leaf’s where you only see a single shade? What about associating sounds or tastes (maple syrup?) or the friends with whom you’re traveling with those colors? You can have blue too if you’re willing to use your imagination! The perspective of Dorthe’s observations becomes even more meaningful when we take time to appreciate her background. Now an award winning painter living in Canada, Dorthe knows of what she speaks. Her childhood experiences growing up in rural Denmark were steeped with the kinds of long walks through forests she would later describe; she could spend unhurried hours walking, noticing and simply enjoying. And, as she is asking each of us to do, she herself throughout her life has certainly come a long way to take her enjoying and her noticing to the next levels. Dorthe thus sets for us a great example of someone who literally talks her walk and who has worked hard to broaden and deepen her penchant for nature and for art. No blue? It’s a primary and steady color; it’s worth imagining it around even when we can’t actually see it! In what couple of ways this week do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two ways you might be moved to take some action? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Blue In that spirit, here’s the inspirational color quote for this week. Dream Blue “Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blue prints of your ultimate accomplishments.” -- Napoleon Hill (self-help guru, 1930s) What a powerful concept! And a concept not taught enough in our culture. We’re more often encouraged to keep our noses to the grindstone: we’re taught to work hard, plan our tasks out in notable detail and keep our heads down as we stick to the daily jobs. Let’s not underestimate the idea that that kind of discipline involves a really important set of skills, and those skills provide solid ways to do the work of turning dreams and abstract visions into the concrete reality we all want. But what about those visions, those dreams and the bigger picture? What is it that we’re working so hard to accomplish with all the discipline and with all the activities that make up our daily routines? Our culture is great at teaching us the skills we need to develop that discipline. We’re less used to cultivating the kinds of bigger dreams and visions that Napoleon Hill is asking us to not only develop but to also cherish? For him—and I think he’s right—“they are the children of your soul, the blue prints of your ultimate accomplishments.” Pretty vivid language that only serves to reinforce the value of the message. But how do we come up with these dreams and visions in the first place? At least for me, I was taught a lot more about the work habits necessary for concrete achievement. So what to do to dream bigger? It’s not always so easy to get clear on what you really want. Spend more time cultivating your intuition? Develop practices of meditation? Hang out more in nature? Take a few minutes every day to check in with yourself? One size of course doesn’t fit all, and it’s up to each of us to figure out the individual strategies that work best. At the same time and even as we don’t always know quite how to do it, cherishing those dreams and those visions lets us get in touch with our reasons for working so hard at the detail, teaches us to play a bigger game and in the end lets our imagination travel to increasingly fertile places. Sure We need the blueprint to help us make things concrete, but we also need the blueness of the ocean and the sky and just about anything else that expands the size of our dreams. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Blue, Yellow, Orange Contrast Blue “There is no blue without yellow and without orange.” --Vincent Van Gogh What are two or three things you really like? A couple of things you don’t? On what basis are you making these judgments, and are there ways in which thinking about some things you don’t like help you get a better handle to clarify what you like? Van Gogh’s observation raises some interesting questions about color and also about how we arrive at our preferences more generally. How after all do you appreciate the quality of the color blue without comparing it to a yellow, an orange or simply another color? How would you know what you thought about, for instance, attending a formal gathering if you didn’t have a quiet conversation to compare it to? How would you know what you thought about walking around the block if you were only staying at home? In other words, what would things be like if there was no variety? What if all there was was blue? That blue might be the most wonderful beautiful blue the universe can produce, and sometimes in absolute terms you just fall in love with something without any point of reference. and yet, if blue was all there was, wouldn’t we take it for granted? Wouldn’t we appreciate it a lot less? Having a comparison to yellow, orange or any other color draws our attention. What do we notice about each color? What do we like or not like about each? Van Gogh reminds us that contrast provides a reference point. Isn’t it at times useful to compare what’s going on in our lives today with what was going on a year ago, and don’t they say it’s often useful to make a list of things we don’t like so we can flip the characterizations to enable a focus on what really matters to us? Don’t they tell us to use the relationships in our lives as mirrors to give us a better understanding of what’s working or not working for us? Furthermore, contrast makes things a lot more interesting! So, as we usually do, sometimes it makes sense to think about what we like (or don’t like) in absolute terms—that chartreuse shirt is just ugly!! But, sometimes it’s also good to remember that “there’s no blue without yellow or orange” and to reflect on what those differences really mean? In what one or two ways this week might you capitalize on these ideas, how might you add a little more contrast to your life and what do you think might be beneficial about that inclusion? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Blue and Orange Love Blue! “Love is a blue balloon that wants to be orange. Go Gators!” --― Jarod Kintz (author) What do you think? Does love have a color? Which one? Do you associate it with any specific images? Let’s not over think this because mostly for me this is a fun quote that just makes me feel good. And after all, isn’t that feeling good and having fun what love at its best is all about? But love has a lot of other aspects too, many of them intangible and of course involving the whole gamut of emotions; that’s why I like so much the thought that love also has a color (and maybe even a specific form). Color is tangible. You can see it. You can sense it. You can relate to it. You can remember to think about—or better yet just feel—love when you come across the color. You can even make it a point to include more of the color in your life to help trigger more feelings of love. But which color would it be? Blue, as Jarod Kintz suggests, because it’s calm and steady and because of its connection with the sky—as well as some happy and expanding blue balloons-- it imbues us with a spirit of possibility? Orange because it’s energizing, inspiring and because in the chakra system it’s associated with the second chakra, the seat of emotions including sexuality? What other color choice works for you? And what happens when the color of love changes or when it “wants” to change? Under what circumstances is love a blue balloon that wants to be orange? Because Mr. Kintz wants something more exciting? Because orange is the brighter of the two colors (blue and orange) and he really wants his beloved University of Florida Gaiter sports teams (colors blue and orange) to stand out and capture our attention? Because he simply wants to give us something a little bit whimsical—complete with a set of balloons-- to think about and to make us feel good? And what about putting that set of blue balloons front and center too? So for Mr. Kintz, it’s not just that love has a specific color; it’s also that it is associated with a specific image. Those balloons are dynamic. They’re energizing, and they make you want to party. Attaching a concrete image to the color fills out the picture nicely and makes the color even more concrete. Or again maybe he just wants to just give us an image that taken in total just makes us feel good. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take over the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: color Blue Positively Blue “Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blue print, and begin to build.” --Robert collier (author, personal growth expert; early 1900s) What do you think? Ok, Mr. Collier probably makes it sound easier than it usually is. In a couple of sentences, he lays out a whole process, from visualizing what you want to really believing you can get it to actually taking actions that start to build. But beginning at the beginning--visualizing that which you really want--let’s slow it down to focus on each step. It’s so easy to get negative. We make things hard. We focus on what we don’t like or what’s not working. Nothing wrong with that and sometimes there’s a lot to learn from bringing to light a down side. But Mr. Collier is urging us to also refocus on the positive, on what’s working and on what we want? Perhaps take a couple of deep breaths, check out any images that come that point to what’s important and connect with what you want to move toward. It sounds simpler than it sometimes is, and sometimes it takes some time to get clear. And it’s worth the wait because then as Mr. Collier says, we can begin to build a vision. Oops, again, not always the simplest of steps. Visualize it; see it; feel it, believe in it. Those steps are not always so easy or so automatic. You can know what you want and still have doubts. You can know what you want but have a hard time visualizing it or really believing that you’ll get it. But again maybe that’s a signal to take another couple of deep breaths and ask yourself what needs to happen to get the idea this dream indeed can come true. And I like that Mr. Collier doesn’t stop there. It’s about dreaming but it’s also about at least a minimal amount of planning and taking even some small action that begins to build. So what about developing the blue print he talks about? Well, it’s the link between the dream and the reality. It’s the plan that’ll help you stay motivated and keep you on track, and of course, the words “blue print” literally invoke the calming and loyal color blue. There’s the steadiness of a color that will see us through ups and downs, and there’s the expanse of the ocean and sky telling us our dreams are ok. Mr. Collier’s process may in actuality involve a lot more twists and turns than his couple of sentences indicate, but he has certainly gifted us a blue print and a road map, and his words call forth a color that should only make things that much clearer. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: color Blue A Deeper Blue? “When you look at the light bulb above you, you remember Thomas Alva Edison. When the telephone bell rings, you remember Alexander Graham Bell. Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize. When you see the blue sky, you think of Sir C.V. Raman.” P. J. Abdul Kalamb (Indian scientist and politician) Really? When was the last time you thought of Thomas Edison when you turned on a light bulb or Alexander Graham Bell when you answered your phone? I always identified with Marie curie; when we read about her in grammar school, she stood out as a woman professionally ahead of her time, working as a top notch scientist and even receiving a Nobel Prize. There was also notable sadness; she lost her husband at a young age. And what about Indian scientist Sir C. V. Raman? Travelling across the Mediterranean Sea in the early part of the 20th century, he was captivated by the purity of the blueness of the water. His efforts to explain the phenomenon led him to make significant discoveries about the reasons for the scattering of light. Ok so let’s get to the heart of the quote. When I turn on a light bulb, I simply turn on the light bulb, and I go about my business around the room. Would, as A. P. J. Abdul Kalamb suggests, there be value in thinking more deeply about how that light bulb was created, and what might that value be? Actually for me, this turns out to be a more interesting question than I initially thought. With a different focus, you get curious; you learn more about these genuinely fascinating scientists and the ways they went about doing their work. You expand your horizons and you get to appreciate things which are easy to take for granted. You might find yourself becoming so engaged that you even jump start your own creativity. A piece of which might include noticing where your own personal concentration goes. IN any given situation, do you focus on the history/past (e.g., the achievements of those great scientist; the things—good or not so good—that have happened in your own life; are you more likely to attend to what’s happening in the present moment or what would need to happen to move you forward into your next big endeavor? You can learn things from looking back. You can benefit from focusing forward. In the end, all of these perspectives are important, and it’s an interesting question to decide in a given moment where the greatest value lies. A. P. J. Abdul Kalamb provides an important suggestion to take a shot at viewing tried-and-true things in new and deeper ways. With blue, a color of the ages in the background, realize it’s all good, and you can’t go wrong. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Orange, Yellow, Red, Blue, White Notice Orange “To a lesser extent (they like) the whites and reds, but blues, yellows and oranges are the main bee flowers. Although there are very good white bee flowers - white sweet clover is the best honey plant in the world.” --Chip Taylor (professor of ecology and biology; University of Kansas; founder of Monarch Watch) How much do you know about bees? What do you know about their life styles, their habits or their preferences? If you’re like me, the answer is not very much. I am vaguely aware of abstract talk about decreases in the world’s population of bees and the resulting consequences for the rest of us who live on the earth. But mostly I think more concretely about the annoying buzzing that comes when you’re sitting outside on a sunny day and you’re disturbed when you’re trying to enjoy a peaceful lunch! No thanks. But then here’s this interesting factoid—about the kinds of flowers bees like to eat—and it puts my view of these creatures in a totally different perspective. It starts to tell the story from the side of that itty little bee in search of food, and it reminds us, in a way that at least I hadn’t thought about, that bees and humans share a surprising and actually very important characteristic: both species can be pretty particular as to their preferences for what they like to eat. We know of course about the varying tastes and preferences of humans; Who would have thought that the color of the flowers has so much to do with the food preferences of the bees, and in this regard, who would have thought that color in the first place could make so much difference? Even more, Professor Taylor’s observation is so interesting because it sets the bees’ food preferences in the larger context of the environment which they inhabit. At the same time as Professor Taylor is letting us know about which flowers are most appealing to the bees, he’s also reminding us humans to take more note of what’s going on out there in the natural world. The color of the flowers can make so much difference in the lives of the bees, and the bees seem to be able to pay attention to specific details and differences between the kinds and colors of the flowers. Blue, yellow and orange are their favorites; White and red come in second, and it’s also clear that they don’t go for purple! In contrast to those apparently observant little bees, how often can some of us humans walk past a bed of flowers and not pay much attention, even to some pretty big differences in both color and texture A little factoid about bees provides some interesting food for thought in its own right and also teaches us that even a little bit of keener observation can change our perspective in profound and surprising ways. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take this week on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Blue, Orange, Green, Red Rainbow Miracle “The sun rose brilliantly above, reflecting the hues of red, orange, lavender and blue in the pond before me. The viridian shadows changed to lemon yellow and lime green as the light washed the morning and I tried in vain to save a piece of this miracle on canvas.” --Mary Erickson (artist) What do you think? What a lot of wonderful colors? Red. Orange. Lavender. Blue. A variety of greens ranging all the way from viridian (a deep blue/green) to the much lighter lime. A happy lemon shade of yellow. They’re all here, the whole range of the spectrum and in various shades and hues. And what a dynamic description of the scene as the colors complement each other, contrast, shift and change. As an artist of the plein air (painting outdoors) school, Mary Erickson has stepped out to observe what in our minds becomes a marvelous view. She has provided us a characterization that draws you in, urging you to actively engage. While she focuses on color and what’s visual, it takes only a little stretch of the imagination to deepen the picture by adding in a place for our other senses. The increasing warmth as the sun rises. The song of a perhaps nearby bird or the taste of drops of water as she sticks her hand in the pond. If she’s done her job as an artist, the final version of the painting will certainly reflect the sensual nature of the scene. Maybe it takes the vision of an artist to observe so carefully to capture the intricate detail. And subsequently as Mary Erickson says to take that observation and to put the “miracle” down on canvas. But think about it; it’s not just about the skill of an accomplished painter. It’s made all the better because it’s so accessible to the rest of us. No particular cost; all in one place; all you need to do is hang out and observe. And while it might start with nature, there’s so many little things to notice which can so easily brighten our day. A song on the radio. An unexpected compliment. A favorite food for breakfast…. But think another minute. Back to Mary Erickson. All you need to do to find the miracle is to hang out and to observe? Do we take the time? Do we really notice? Do we look for the positive and the beautiful? Probably not as often as we might. So the really good part is that as an artist, Mary Erickson recalls for us the wonder of a particular scene; she also reminds us how easy it can be to find good stuff out there. A meaningful movie. A fun date. A day that actually went smoothly. The possibilities are enormous once you get in the right mindset. In addition to helping us appreciate a particularly evocative setting, we also learn from artist Mary Erickson that it’s easier than we think to get in that right mindset. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Blue, Orange, Green, Red Rainbow Friends “The last mad throb of red just as it turns green; the ultimate shriek of orange calling all the blues of heaven for relief and support... each color almost regains the fun it must have felt within itself on forming the first rainbow.” --Charles Demuth (artist) Talk about energy. The last mad throb of Red turns to green. Orange shrieks to blue. There’s all these colors, and they’re streaking across the sky. Full speed ahead, they’re calling to each other, looking for each other, playing and having fun with each other. Wow, what a lot of action and activity. Mr. Demuth has certainly got it right; in this kind of environment, these colors sure must be feeling the fun they must have had on forming the first rainbow, and forming that first rainbow must have been a lot of fun. And as good as that gets, there’s more here too. These colors are also connecting in much deeper and more profound ways. Think about it. How come in the first place Red is turning to Green, and why is it that Orange is shrieking at Blue? Sure, they want to engage in some high octane play and fun. Sure, they might enjoy the nonstop level of activity they’ve created, and sure, all of that energy is essential for the character of their relationships. But there’s something deeper going on here too. These colors quite simply are the best of friends. They count on each other; they share with each other, and as much as they want to play, even more, they call to each other for something that cuts at the core; , “relief and support.” They’re encouraging each other, confiding things to each other, and wanting to help each other through difficult times. It’s about interacting; it’s about caring; and it’s about simply being there. In this context, wouldn’t it be inconceivable for one of these colors to even consider the possibility of striking out on her own. Each certainly has its own personality, and at the same time, they come together to make up quite a wonderful unit. And at the risk of getting too serious within such a strong spirit of fun, these colors sure are providing a model for the rest of us, reminding us of the myriad ways friendships matter, encouraging each of us to enhance the bonds and asking each of us perhaps to reach out to expand and to broaden our circle. In the end and as we do so, let’s remember from whence these colors came, and let’s cultivate the energy and “the fun” each color “must have felt within itself on forming the first rainbow.” How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you could take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Orange Option Orange “Try not thinking of peeling an orange. Try not imagining the juice running down your fingers, the soft inner part of the peel. The smell. Try and you can't. The brain doesn't process negatives.” --Douglas Coupland (Canadian writer/artist) What do you think? Oh boy, try not thinking of peeling an orange. Oops, then you can’t stop thinking about peeling an orange. You just go deeper and deeper into the sensory experience of peeling that orange! Hmm, isn’t that good old orange peeled yet? But are there ways we can take advantage of this fact that we don’t process negatives? For one thing knowing what you don’t want seems like a good motivator moving you toward what you do want. Think about it. You can’t think about not peeling an orange. If you start to, you end up thinking about peeling the orange. So let’s say I can’t think about not going on vacation. I can’t consider not going to a good concert. I can’t imagine not having fun. But then doesn’t it make you want to start focusing on the vacation, the concert or what it would mean to have fun? Consider: what about more energy brainstorming that next vacation? Do you need an adventure, or do you want to relax? Do you feel like going by yourself, or do you want to ask a friend? What concrete step can you take right now to put a plan in motion? Now, aren’t you getting increasingly excited about the possibilities? And there’s even more. Maybe we can’t focus on negatives, but we certainly can have some fun with our imagination and develop alternatives. What would you be doing if we weren’t peeling that orange? Hanging out in the kitchen preparing something we like better? Enjoying a walk around the block? Spending some time relaxing on the couch? Ok so you don’t want to drive yourself crazy coming up with alternatives to peeling that orange. But this kind of expanding-your-options thinking does get you to use your imagination, and it does start you considering more serious choices about how you’re using your time. Would I be making my day better if I just sat on the couch for awhile? We don’t always take the time to realize we have choices and options. Learning that we do is pretty empowering and pretty important. And to get started, all you really need to do is remember to think about all the good that comes out of peeling (or not peeling) that orange; and recognizing that any of the options you come up with are in themselves pretty darned good. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take today on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational color Quote of the Week: Color Orange Touch Orange “I always bring an orange scarf, not just so I can wear it or tuck it into my pocket, but also so I can throw it over a lamp in the hotel room. Orange is my favorite color, and it gives a lovely, warm ambience.” --RuPaul (entertainer, drag queen) What do you think? When you’re headed out (on vacation, to work, just doing errands) is there some small thing important to you take along? A keep sake that reminds you of a particular person? A photo with a special meaning? A scarf of a certain color? Something that, knowing you have it around, just makes you feel good? I like RuPaul’s thought quite a lot. First off, he’s clear on what he likes. orange is his favorite color! For him, It’s got a warm ambience, and it makes him happy. He knows life will feel more like home if he has some orange around. More, by always having an orange scarf at hand, He’s doing something quite powerful and more compelling than you’d think. . He’s proactively planning for what he needs, and he’s taking time to shape the environment so that it works better for him. What if each of us could think a little more in that mode! And notice That scarf isn’t simply hidden deep in his pocket; it’s out there in the open, and he can focus on it any old time he wants. Alternatively, he can concentrate on other things, knowing he’s always got a friend in the room. Other people benefit too because through his openness, he’s freely sharing what he’s about. You’ve got to give him credit. For me, it’s hard enough when you’re preparing to head out to think about the practicalities. Do you think to take your lunch? Do you leave enough time to without anxiety travel to where you need to go? RuPaul is reminding us to invest some energy into doing more of this than we otherwise might, but he’s also encouraging us to add another piece to our routines. He’s letting us know that It’s important to give more thought to the little touches that simply and for no particular reason make you feel good. And he’s showing us that it doesn’t really take a lot to do that. For him, it’s as simple as carrying around a warm and vibrant orange scarf! How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of The Week: Colors Orange, White, Green and Yellow Success Orange “Is the button white or orange or green or yellow? Does it say 'sell', or 'sell now', or 'on sale' or 'for sale'? You test, you test, you test and most of the ideas you try fail and so I would argue I failed my way to success.” --Fabrice Grinda (entrepreneur, philanthropist) What do you think? Orange (or yellow or white or green) for failure? No way. Can’t be. They’re happy; they’re warm, and they’re optimistic colors. So, button. Button. Which color button? Whichever you choose, it’s a great color! Whatever you do, it’s good. What a great metaphor for “failure!” And what a great way to think about the meaning of “success.” You get to experiment; you get another try; you even get to have fun in the process. you can even think of it as play. How different from how we usually view failure and success. Failure: a dreaded word. We get worry. We get anxious. We overthink, and we wind up not taking any action at all. And when things don’t work the way we want, we get stuck. Success? Things came out our way. Wee did something right. Time to celebrate!. Ok maybe it’s not quite as simple as Mr. Grinda makes it seem. You can do some things in business (try a sale; put out a different product) that really do lend themselves to experimentation. In whatever area of your life, you do want to take at least some time for reflection before pushing the next button, and sometimes you’ve got to acknowledge how disappointing it is when things don’t work out. But I like this idea of “failing your way to success. It’s not about getting everything right. It’s not about sticking to the one and only one path you think will work. Sometimes it’s about making mistakes and learning to move on, and sometimes it’s about lightening up and perhaps even about having fun. And how come in the first place we’re so quick to dichotomize between failures or successes? What about a range in the middle? It’s not just about whether things worked or they didn’t; some things can turn out in some aspects and not in others; sometimes what we learn from things that don’t come out as planned beats what happens when things go smoothly. in the end, how come we’re so likely to categorize things as either black or white. Isn’t it more about experimenting, as Mr. Grinda does, with those orange, green, white and yellow buttons. After all, Orange—or for that matter yellow or white or green-- is just too energizing a color; in whatever form it comes out, it has got to stand for success! How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Yellow Start Yellow! “I sat down with a yellow legal pad and began writing 'A Time to Kill.' Had no idea what I was doing. It became, over a period of several years, a secret little hobby nobody knew about except my wife, because she was reading chapter by chapter.” --John Grisham, author) What do you think? How do you yourself get started on hobbies or projects? Do you get excited and tell all your friends? Do you research all you can before you get going? Do you say, I’m too busy with day-to-day life and a new project is just about the last thing I need? Like the books he writes, now world-renown author of legal thrillers John Grisham’s is a pretty cool story. Grisham received a law degree from the University of Mississippi in 1981 and practiced criminal law for the better part of a decade. He also served in the Mississippi House of Representatives. Who would have thought he’d end up a world-famous author? But as of 2019, he has written over 20 international best sellers; upwards of 300 million of his books are in print; nine have been made into films; and they have been translated into fully 40 languages.* Not at all a bad career! But as Grisham says, that’s not the way it started! No fanfare. No glitz. Only yellow legal pads and a lot of fits and starts, and three years to write A Time to Kill. Wow, you never know where simply getting started—ok and a fair degree of persistence in the face of the unknown—will take you. Other factors mattered too—the support and engagement of a life partner who shared her husband’s enthusiasm to read chapter by chapter; the discipline to work for hours before his “real” work day began; a chance remark he overheard that inspired his first novel; and a trust that in the long run something good would come out of the effort.* The ingredients for success are of course different for each of us, and it’s worth taking time to understand what sets us up to be at our best. Ok so most of us will never achieve the degree of financial success or international fame awarded someone who has come to have the stature of a John Grisham. But if we want to, we can certainly enjoy his well-crafted stories; even more, we can learn from his example. A variety of factors contributed to Grisham’s success, but you just never know where things will take you if you only take the risk to start. So remember the yellow legal pads (or perhaps something else that’s yellow) might just be at hand to show you it’s all easier than you think. With such a happy and fun color around, success in whatever way that’s meaningful to you has to be just around the corner. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? *John Grisham » Bio - Bio - John Grisham www.jgrisham.com/bio/ Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: colors Silver, Gold and Especially Yellow Own Yellow! “ Maybe you weren't born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but like every American, you carry a deed to 635 million acres of public lands. That's right. Even if you don't own a house or the latest computer on the market, you own Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and many other natural treasures.” --John Garamendi (politician, Deputy Secretary of the Interior, California member of congress) What do you think? We’re richer than we thought we were. Each of us has a stake in the “every day” areas of this wonderful land, and we also have a “deed” to some of the country’s most valued national treasures, including (if you want to limit it to color) Yellowstone and The golden Gate Bridge. (Wow, some colorful names!) In case you haven’t thought for awhile about how spectacular these areas are, consider. Covering over 2.2 million acres in parts of 3 states, Yellowstone National Park was thought to get its name from yellow-colored rocks found along the Yellowstone River; it features a variety of lakes, canyons, rivers, mountain ranges and even a super volcano, and it is actually the oldest national park in the country. You can even cross the continental Divide three times as you traverse the area. In turn, The Golden Gate Bridge (official color is actually international orange) is a pretty iconic place. Interestingly it didn’t get its name from the California Gold rush or from the fact that California is the golden State. “Explorer John C Fremont named the strait 'Chrysopylae', or 'Golden Gate', after Istanbul/Constantinople's Golden Horn, in 1846, just two years before gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, California. But the Bridge served as a symbol of hope during The Great Depression and has since been a key gateway to and from the west.” I like the outdoors so I like the idea that I have more of a “deed” to a part of the natural world (and other areas of life too) than I had ever realized. We know the government provides services, for example running the national parks, investing in education or providing for the national defense. I never thought about those services in terms of having a personal deed or stake in the process. You go to a national park; you check in with the people at the visitor’s center, you have a meaningful vacation, you go home, and that’s that. Mr. Garamendi ‘s thought takes the connection to a deeper level, for me identifying and appreciating rights I hadn’t thought about in a particularly personal way along with the responsibility that comes with those rights. It’s not just about going to a national park on vacation, sending your kids to school or watching young people go off to war. Each of us has a more profound “deed” or stake or investment in each of these aspects of society too. These aren’t activities that are necessarily removed from us; rather they identify for each of us a set of rights, responsibilities and even ownership inherent in the democratic process. It’s easy to forget that that’s what democracy is all about. Especially if you weren’t born with a “silver spoon” in your mouth. And that’s the other part that really appeals to me. Whether it’s the wonders of being in the great outdoors; being part of the great democracy we live in; or just sharing the good things that are a part of our every day lives, whatever our circumstances, Mr. Garamendi ‘s quote reminds me to take a few minutes to simply appreciate. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Color Yellow Trip Yellow! “Kanan is a big road through the Santa Monica Mountains. Between mid-March and mid-April, when you get over to the western side of the mountains, it's populated by Spanish broom - this beautiful, yellow, flowering weed that smells the way I imagine it smells along the Yellow Brick Road.” --John C. McGinley (actor/author) What do you think? Doesn’t the image catch your attention/call to you to drive through, Even if it takes you out of your way? What could be better? A mountain road! The wonderful surprise of eye-catching flowers! A smell that captivates your senses! And remember they’re not just any kind of flowers; they’re Yellow flowers to brighten the road and to give you a smile as you drive through. Interestingly as a side note, it turns out that it wasn’t just chance that brought those flowers to the area; they were purposely planted to beautify the highway, and the project is unique to the Las Angeles area. Sounds pretty wonderful and a complete sensory experience and L.A. resident and Actor John McGinley (Dr. Cox on Scrubs along with credentials dating over several decades of distinguished roles) asks us to travel even further. He loves the way his senses are engaged along this stretch of the Kanan Mountains , but he doesn’t just stop along the road side to take in the scene. He actively builds on the experience to stimulate his imagination. What might that yellow brick road smell like? What adventures might be encountered there? We know about the ones confronted by Dorothy and her friends from The Wizard of Oz. But what about for us? There must be some happy adventure waiting because those bricks are solid, and they’re a bright playful yellow. What about you? Where do you want to let your own imagination take you? To some exotic place? To a vision of what you want some part of your life to look like over the next few years? To provide a time and space to simply hang out with yourself and see what surprises come to the fore? John McKinley reminds us that physical road trips can be pretty wonderful, but he also urges us to cultivate an imagination that can take us to some pretty unexpected and equally satisfying places. All of which in this case means a double dose of a warm and happy yellow. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? Live Inspired!
Inspirational Color Quote of the Week: Colors Yellow and Blue Do Yellow “If people don't vote, everything stays the same. You can protest until the sky turns yellow or the moon turns blue, and it's not going to change anything if you don't vote. -- Dolores Huerta (Latina activist; labor organizer) What do you think? Ok she’s talking politics—which may or may not be your thing—you can apply her thought about the best ways to make change to a surprising number of other situations in your life too. And there’s an urgency to her ideas—if you don’t do the thing that needs to be done, some very unusual things will happen—a yellow sky? A blue moon? Side note: a great reminder to think outside-the-box to apply her (and maybe many other) ideas in novel ways. Ok but let’s start where she does. Beginning in the 1950s, Dolores Huerta (in 2019 age 89) has been a life-long community organizer of the Latino community and other groups. With Cesar Chavez, she was co-founder of the National Farmworkers Association, and a pioneer in advocating for fairer working conditions. She is also known for efforts on behalf of immigrants and women’s rights. A recipient of numerous accolades, April 10 (her birthday) has been designated Dolores Huerta Day in California and Washington, and President Obama has awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. So her own voice has counted—quite a lot. In the context of her work, it’s no wonder she’s stressing the importance of getting involved. She’s letting people weigh their options, but no question she’s opting for voting. You don’t vote, your views won’t get counted; your voice won’t be heard; you won’t make a difference. You want change; you better take some action. And what about other arenas of our lives? Dolores Huerta has focused on politics, but as a woman of wisdom, it’s not surprising her ideas have broader implications. You need to deal with a situation in your own life. You want to see something get better. You want to make a change. Maybe it’s a big one. Maybe it’s something small. In a more conscious way than we otherwise might, isn’t Dolores Huerta asking us to consider not only our options but which of those options might give us the most bang for the buck? Getting some input from friends about a specific situation? Writing down a list of pros and cons? Taking some time away from the issue to give your brain time to generate new ideas? All of the above? It’s important to do something (just about anything) to get the ball rolling, and thereafter, it’s important to think about the most effective way to go. If we don’t, we just might find ourselves in the unusual place of checking out either a blue moon or a yellow sky. How do these ideas resonate with you, and what are one or two actions you might want to take in the next day or so on that basis? |
AuthorI am a Life Coach, a Color Wisdom Card Practitioner, and yes, even a Professor (political science, State University of New York at Albany). I use the Color Wisdom Cards to support clients in exploring priorities and taking concrete actions to stay on track with the goals they set. Because in my own life I have overcome a lot of self-doubt, I want to work with people towards more confidence and self-empowerment. You can do it! What is it you want to do? Categories
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