Change poses a threat, as it forces a person to take risks with no assurance of success. This experience of change can be represented by the colors orange and blue.
Orange is a color of change because it’s the color that comes at the change of seasons. Trees turn orange and fall off trees, symbolizing the end of summer and the coming of winter.
Blue is a color of change because it’s a color that is both welcoming and authoritative, encouraging people to embrace changes.
Orange As A Color Of Change
As the dominant color of autumn, orange indicates the shifting of seasons. It is the end of one phase in life and the beginning of another.
It signifies the inevitability of change in one’s life because no one can stop the earth from rotating, as they can not prevent the seasons from changing.
And even if a person does not like it, when change happens, they will still find a way to cope and survive.
Orange is a warm color that evokes feelings of happiness, optimism, and excitement. It may therefore represent positive change.
Because of its uplifting and energizing effect, it can also inspire creativity and artistry, which can both trigger change and improvement in oneself or in the world.
It is a color that pushes people to think outside the box and not let themselves be limited that what is expected in society.
Orange reminds a person that the possibilities in the world are endless, and he should not let himself be restricted to what has already been done or listen only to what others are telling him to do.
Orange dares people to embrace change. explore, experiment, and go beyond their comfort zone. It is an empowering color as it can lift one’s spirit, as well as improve mood and overall well-being. It can also influence perception for the better, which would help in convincing other people to accept new rules, ideas, or directions.
Around the world, orange represents different things:
- In Hinduism, orange is the color of the second chakra, also called the sacral chakra. This is the energy point in the body that is responsible for sexuality, digestion, creativity, and overall well-being.
- Some countries use orange as the uniform of prisoners, but Buddhists are more familiar with the shade as the robes used by monks. The usage and wearers are vastly different, but the implication is the same, as both strive for change and improvement. Prisoners work towards reform and bring their lives back on the right path, while monks strive for enlightenment.
- For western countries that go through four seasons, orange is associated with autumn and harvest. But in the Middle East, this shade stands for sorrow and loss, while in Japan it represents love and bravery.
Blue As A Color Of Change
Blue inspires open communication, which can help in discussions that involve change and adapting to new rules and regulations.
Blue is also considered a safe color as it is well liked by as much as fifty percent of people around the world, regardless of age, gender, and culture. It is the color of the ocean and the sky, which evokes feelings of calm, serenity, friendship, and acceptance.
The color is also associated with knowledge and intelligence, and as such is able to elicit trust, loyalty, and dependence.
All these values are valuable when enforcing change as they will help convince others or even oneself about the necessity for the change that is about to happen.
If the initiative for change is faced with complaints and obstacles from the people involved, blue can help calm them down and make them more receptive to negotiation.
It is a non-threatening color that inspires freedom of expression and encourages open communication. It avoids violence and confrontation, opting for peaceful talks instead.
However, blue can also have negative effects on people, depending on the shade and how it is used. Darker shades tend to have a dampening or depressing effect on people. It can slow down the heartbeat and lower the body’s temperature.
This is why blue can suppress appetite and make people lose interest in something. At times, it gives off an aloof and cold impression, which prevents people from trying to come closer.
On the other hand, light blue is a softer and gentler color. It is open and approachable, making people feel safe to venture out and explore. It is soothing and relaxing, and can help calm down feelings of violence and aggression.
Related: Blue Flame Symbolism
Defining Change: Internal vs External Change
Change can either be internal or external, and both can cause strain and pressure in a person.
In terms of severity, external change is seen to be more challenging because it includes many factors that are beyond one’s control.
However, with proper guidance and leadership, external change can actually be easier to implement.
On the other hand, internal or personal change requires only the intent, discipline, and commitment of one person, but this can be more difficult to enact.
It is especially more exacting the older one gets since he has already established his own rules and values. But this does not mean that change is impossible, it just needs more effort, sacrifice, and determination.
It is not reasonable to expect change to happen overnight. After all, it is very hard to break habits. Change happens gradually, and typically goes through several stages.
Some kinds of change will only need to go through some of these phases, while others need to go through the whole cycle before coming to fruition.
In the beginning, there will be denial and anger, as people find it difficult to accept a new reality. Following this will be bargaining, with the hopes of retaining the status quo.
When this does not work, there will be a period of sadness or depression, as they realize that they are powerless after all. Finally, there will be acceptance and from thereon, they will be able to move forward in their new reality.
Conclusion
Change is often rejected because people fear the unknown. They do not want to traverse in new territories and risk losing what they already have with no assurance that the future holds something better. Instead, they prefer to cling to the status quo.
However, there are circumstances that call for change. While the risk will always be present, the possible gains far outweigh potential losses. When trying to convince others to embrace change, blue and orange can be used to shape mood and influence behavior.
Since these colors could have negative effects when overused, use them sparingly and apply the right shade that is appropriate to the situation.
I’m Chris and I run this website – a resource about symbolism, metaphors, idioms, and a whole lot more! Thanks for dropping by.