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Friday, February 15, 2019

Colors for Self-compassion, Healing, and Recovery



Color Tips for Self-compassion


I'm in mourning for my adult son, who died at the end of 2018. From time to time I go into denial. My emotions are strong, as they shift from grief, anger, heartache, anxiety, acceptance, and self-compassion. 

This is Part 3 in my Healing Series and it has
been updated 5/10/2021

A myriad of feelings ebb and flow inside me, as I reflect and honor my emotions and  memories of my dear son.

Healing and recovery through self-compassion is a post that first appeared on this blog on 2/1/19. It lists reasons why self-compassion is effective, especially during challenging times.


My personal experience and research conducted since 1997, when I became a health and lifestyle writer, indicates that color vibrations bypass human reasoning to work at the cellular level. 

Colors are a conduit for positive energy shifts, and serve as a powerful path for healing and recovery.

Specific colors encourage me to make self-care a priority and treat myself with Tender Loving Care (TLC). Colors help me have the motivation to recite affirmations, journal write, and get out outdoors to exercise.

Learn how colors can create a sense of self-compassion for you too with tips below.






This is Part 3 of my Healing Series




BLUE. Brings peace, relaxation, balance, calm, and tranquility. Here's tips to use blue to eliminate pain.


RED. Develops energy, strength, motivation, confidence, will-power, courage, initiative, and focus.



PINK. Soothe your mind, body, and spirit with a color associated with warm feelings, unconditional love, and gentleness. Pink is a mix of red and white combined, and provides a helpful balance of male and female energies that can reduce stress.

ORANGE. Stimulates inner strength, creativity, self-expression, happiness, and puts a new slant on ideas and perspectives. Helpful to relieve depression, negativity, stress, bereavement, and loss.

GREEN. Creates balance, harmony, personal development, self-acceptance, self-compassion, and rejuvenation. Works to lift anxiety, self-pity, and confusion and refresh you.



GOLD. Encourages enthusiasm, balanced thoughts and feelings, and wisdom. It's associated with higher ideals, generosity, and spiritual fulfillment.


TURQUOISE. Reduces stress and fosters cleansing, healing, sharing, friendship, resilience, and tames anxiety and anger.

PURPLE or VIOLET. Symbol of wisdom, dignity, royalty, and spiritual energy. If you seek completion, continuity, or a new beginning, place a purple drawing or representation of a mandala in your home meditation area. Gazing at these hues helps feelings flow freely and enables you to let go of the false illusion of control.




YELLOW. Helps uplift, cleanse, and increases self-confidence. It works on self-control, ability to reason things out, and brings contentment. Yellow stimulates the mind and is healing for depression, despair, fatigue, negativity, sensitivity to criticism, lack of confidence. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid this color as it can produce insomnia or hyperactivity.


Additional Reading and Listening:


Before you go, take a moment to comment. What things mentioned above resonate with you? 

What colors comfort and support you as you travel over the rough patches of life? 

Please share any color insights you have, as they may help my readers and me. Please do not put links in your comments. I won't be able to publish your comment that way. 

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Friday, February 1, 2019

Healing and Recovery through Self-compassion




I've been grieving, since my son died at the end of last year. This is Part 2 in my Healing Series. 

Often heartache clouds thinking, and I have little energy to do much more than care for myself. 




Slowly I'm finding it's best for overall health to attend support group meetings, reach out to others, journal, pray, meditate, and honor my feelings. 

I'm discovering these and other nurturing practices give me courage to live in the uncertainty of what comes next.  

Many mornings I have to coax myself out of bed, yet I make time to walk in nature, do yoga, or read an inspiring book.

I also have committed to do whatever else is in my power to do, so I can feel less anxious and overwhelmed.

I pray for the power to come to terms with this tragic loss... step by step.





By synchronicity, I read Kristin Neff's book, Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind only two months ago. Kristin Neff, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin. She is known for her work on self-compassion. 

Her writing resonated with me and at that point, I was motivated to make my word for the year "kindness."

Both as a health and lifestyle writer and mother, I share reasons why I put self-compassion in the forefront of my day to support me as I mourn.


Reasons to Use Self-compassion for Healing and Recovery
Part 2


Self-compassion helps us identify our suffering and reminds us to take gentle care of ourselves, especially at these times.


Self-compassion strengthens our determination to accept and approve of our “whole selves,” including mistakes, shortcomings, dark side, and assets.

Self-compassion furthers healing, and even works on wounds and stressors we may not be able to cope with by conventional means.

Self-compassion helps us fashion a meaningful path away from illness, negativity, setbacks and helps us be resilient and able to move on.

Self-compassion reminds us that every human being is precious, deserving of care no matter what our circumstances.

Self-compassion enriches cells in our brain and body. This behavior enhances physical, mental, spiritual, and interpersonal activities we use to support ourselves. 

Self-compassion accentuates feel-good energy.

"My self-compassion mantra is to treat myself tenderly no matter what! 

You can use it to too. Let the power of self-compassion nurture you as you recover from grief and loss." Nancy Andres






A self-compassionate perspective helps us heal and recover 

If you are at loose ends, struggle with negative self-talk, compare yourself unfavorably to others, or treat yourself critically, why not choose instead to be self-compassionate? 


Test it out for yourself and let us know what happens when you do.

Links to Additional Resources:

Self-care Activities to Encourage Optimal Health

5 Self-care Skills You Need to Know

When Leaving Your Ex Love Yourself

5 Ways to Practice Self- Compassion After Loss

Tips to Combine Journal Prompts and Quotes to Heal


Before you go, please comment belowIf you would be so kind, don't put links in your comment. If you do, I won't be able to publish it.

Please share in the space provided below about how you use self-compassion now, what areas of your life could use a little more self-compassion, where you've made progress, and where you excel. 



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