Color has power. It can stimulate, sedate, excite, calm, irritate, bring pleasure or generate feelings of hot or cold. Experiencing the energy of different colors has a sensory effect on us. Our language is full of expressions which use color to represent not only sensory data but also emotional experience. We speak of “feeling blue”, “seeing red”, or “feeling green with envy”. We call a life without emotion “colorless” and we think of the world in black and white as “dull”. When we stand in cathedrals and churches and gaze at the stained-glass windows, we encounter deep spiritual states. Color can transform our environment and increase our productivity. It has been used to enhance social lives and improve our general overall state of health. Color has a magic to it and understanding the energy of color opens up new dimensions to our awareness, becoming a powerful resource for managing our moods. 

Covid changed us. It impacted not just the individual but all of our current systems (i.e., hospitals, businesses, schools, government, etc.) Technology has also created massive change and constant demand to adapt to the latest innovations. Today, one of the most relevant and important skills to thrive is being resilient. So, what exactly does that mean in this day and age? Resilience is about the capacity to grow, adapt, and thrive in the face of adversity. Inevitably, life is about rising to meet our challenges, seeing their opportunities, and then finding creative solutions. Resilience is all about the ability to bounce back in the face of adversity. It’s about developing skills to maintain your mental well-being, stay focused, and keep moving forward against the obstacles. Resilient people nurture and grow a set of skills and attitudes that enable them to navigate through the ups and downs of life with emotional grace and purpose.

Hope and gratitude are two powerful emotions that play a significant role in our mental and emotional well-being. During feelings check-in in therapy sessions, we sometimes hear clients say, “I feel hopeful”. Also, when people want to express their anticipation about what may happen, they would say, “I hope this or that happens”. Hope is much more than wishful thinking. Science has shown that it is the most predictive indicator of well-being in a person’s life. Hope is measurable, malleable, and it changes lives. According to the science of hope, hope goes beyond the realms of emotions. It is conceptualized as a cognitive, emotional, and motivational psychological asset.

Understanding the science behind hope and gratitude can be a transformative tool for helping individuals navigate life’s challenges. The link between the science of hope and gratitude could enhance the capacity of counseling in leveraging these emotions to promote resilience, personal growth, and healing. Meditation for Cultivating Joy.

The holiday season is here, bringing festive lights, delicious treats, gatherings with loved ones, and cozy moments. But let’s be real—this time of year can also bring stress. Between exams, travel, and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

The key to enjoying the holidays? Mindset and balance. Taking time to center yourself can make the season not just manageable but truly memorable. One way to do this is through meditation, a simple yet powerful tool to reduce stress, boost your mood, and refocus your energy. Just 15 minutes a day can help you stay present, cultivate joy, and spread kindness to those around you.

To help you kickstart this practice, here are two meditations designed to cultivate joy and kindness, perfect for getting into the holiday spirit.