What’s Your Favorite Color?

What’s your favorite color? It’s a simple question, yet it connects us to memories, seasons, and even moods. At this time of year, when the world is shifting into fall, we often find ourselves captivated by the changing palette around us.

The colors of the season. We even plan trips and vacations around going to see the fall colors. Yes, we are drawn to color.

In fact, most of us have at least one or two colors that are favorites. You can tell by what we choose to surround ourselves with in our homes and even by what we wear. Sometimes, those favorites begin in our childhood and carry through our lives.

My daughter is a purple girl. She loves purple. So did my mother. I think she may have even influenced Lauren’s choice. But she’s now a mother herself, and purple is still her favorite color. In fact, it’s now taken the status of being her signature color.

She’s identified with that color now, and whenever I see purple, I think of her.

On the other hand, one of her daughters also had purple as a favorite, but she has now moved on to green. She is clear, though, that she still has a favorite color, and it’s important to know when it changes. I suspect she will have many others over her lifetime, and she may never arrive at that signature color bond that her mother has.

I seem to now gravitate toward neutral tones myself, though my preferences have also changed as the seasons of my life have shifted. I still remember the more vibrant colors of my childhood, which always seemed to accompany the adventures I would go on.

 Our color journeys are unique to each of us.

What fascinates me is that all of us, in some way, identify with color. And many studies have shown its importance beyond just a preference for us.

In fact, our connection to color runs deeper than we often realize. Studies show that these preferences are frequently tied to the emotions colors can evoke.

Colors and emotions are worth acknowledging and even understanding because it isn’t just one emotion sometimes.

Consider these colors and emotional pairings:

 ·         Red – Passion & Energy but also Anger & Danger

·         Blue – Calmness & Trust but also Sadness

·         Yellow – Happiness & Warmth but also Caution & Anxiety

·         Green – Growth & Renewal but also Envy & Greed

·         Purple – Creativity & Luxury but seemingly no negatives

·         Orange – Enthusiasm & Excitement but seemingly no negatives

·         Pink – Love & Femininity but seemingly no negatives

Isn’t it interesting that the colors that are the most basic, those primary options, all had both an uplifting element as well as a darker side?

I believe that these dualities exist because color reflects the complexity of life. Red, with its vibrant energy, stirs both excitement and danger, showing us that every shade tells a fuller story.

But the colors that have been created by mixing colors together seem to be stronger in their positive impact.

Imagine how much we would miss purple if no one had ever mixed blue and red together to create it.

When we bring things together, even colors, we increase the value and diminish the risk of less.

It’s a fascinating thought.

Most of the colors we enjoy today, and there are many, are those that have either been discovered or created. Only a handful are in the primary group. And the discoveries have come from some unlikely places.

YinMn Blue, discovered accidentally by researchers working with electronics, stands out as a color never seen before in nature. Its vibrant intensity reminds us that, just like in life, unexpected discoveries can lead to beautiful creations.

As we think about the world of color—whether through seasonal changes, childhood memories, or modern innovations—we’re reminded that life itself is a mix of hues.

Just like the creation of new shades of colors, our experiences evolve, blend, and bring something new into existence.

Perhaps the real beauty lies not only in our favorite colors but in the potential of what we have yet to discover.

From the ancient primary colors to the newly found YinMn Blue, color continues to inspire us, shape our moods, and remind us that life is an ever-changing palette.

So the next time you surround yourself with color—whether it’s choosing something to wear, decorating a room, or simply taking a walk through autumn leaves—take a moment to notice how it makes you feel. Who knows? You may find yourself falling in love with a new favorite.