We’ve all had the experience of walking into a room and saying, “Ahh,” as if it’s the most restful place to be. And then there are those times when, upon entering an abode, we comment, “Wow!” Maybe it’s the underlying feeling of energy in the room.

But what makes us have these strong, spontaneous reactions to our surroundings?

Your reactions and psychological responses could be due largely in part to the colors used in the décor and design of the space. Although all psychological experts don’t agree, many believe there is such a thing as color psychology.

Historically, different cultures have regarded color as having the power to affect your mood, feelings, health, and even your behavior.

So, if you want to change the mood you experience in your home, consider the following information. It might help you achieve the ambiance you’re seeking in your cherished spaces.

1. Blue. If blue is your favorite color, you might not be too surprised to read that this particular color will aid healing and help manage pain. Blue can also promote feelings of tranquility.

2. Green. Because green brings thoughts of the outdoors and the wonders of nature, it’s believed to bring about feelings of serenity, restfulness, and perhaps even joy. Some find that the color green decreases stress and increases feelings of relaxation.

3. Orange. Orange is said to promote healthy lungs and produce energy and vitality in people. Closely related to red, orange is considered a warm color that brings excitement. You know it’s true when you walk into a room that’s painted orange, it definitely grabs your attention.

4. Yellow. The color of the sun produces feelings of warmth and brightness. Like orange, yellow cannot be ignored. It’s even been referred to as the most “visible” hue in the color spectrum. If you want to “cheer up” your kitchen, yellow might be the right choice for you.

5. Red. Full of drama and mystery, a room painted red is evocative of emotions such as comfort, intensity, warmth, and even love.

6. Black. Although you may not consider black a true color, it’s an important hue. The color black is formed due to a complete lack of light. In terms of your feelings, black can induce a gamut of strong emotions. You might experience sensuality, mourning, or sadness when you’re exposed to black.

* In film, you’ll notice that black is often used to represent a deep, dark, ominous character.

* Ultimately, black is not only a conflict in terms but brings about conflicting feelings for many as well.

7. White. The antithesis to black, white evokes feelings of innocence. It’s customary to have a lot of white in hospitals as the color has come to indicate sterility and cleanliness. Although white walls are often viewed as boring by some, the color is often used to trick the eye when walking into a room.

* Want a room to appear bigger? Put some white paint on the walls. If you want a dark space to appear lighter, white is your solution. Using white as a trim color in a room will make your wall color “pop.”

* Your feelings in a white room will run the gamut from feeling bright to being overwhelmed by the overload of light and space around you.

* It may be bland on its own, but white can enhance the appearance of deeper colors and hues used with it. So, how you feel when you see white depends on how much white is used and the way the other colors in the room are presented.

Colors are powerful in that they do affect how you feel. To lift your mood, bring about feelings of tranquility, or induce excitement, use these basics of color psychology to decorate your home. Encourage the mood and feelings you strive for just by skillfully selecting wall and accessory colors!

It can easily be argued that every decision a person makes is in the pursuit of happiness. You might say, “Wait a minute. I go to a job I hate every day just so I can pay my bills and barely survive.” True, but you really think that going to that miserable job will leave you happier than staying home and losing the ability to pay your bills.

The need to be happy drives everyone, but people pursue happiness through different means. Some believe they’ll be happy if they can only amass a large enough fortune. Others believe they’ll be happy by helping others. Some pursue a family, while other believe the freedom of staying single provides a better opportunity for happiness.

An investment banker and a Buddhist monk are still pursuing the same thing, only in dramatically different ways.

“Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.” -Thoreau

Can you make yourself happy on purpose? Can you pursue happiness and capture it like a child chasing a firefly? Science says “no.”

Find happiness without pursuing happiness:

1. Avoid overestimating the effect of your circumstances on your happiness. Even a perfect relationship and perfect job can become a grind after the newness wears off. You don’t need to live in the perfect location or have the ideal career to be happy. Nothing is perfect all the time.

* Studies show that people with modest incomes and possessions can be just as happy as the wealthy. There are happy and miserable people in the US, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and everywhere else in the world.

* There are happy and miserable doctors, clowns, homeless people, Christians, Jews, Muslims, tall people, short people, men, and women.

2. Searching for strong emotions. Studies find that the happiest people are moderately happy on a regular basis. The frequency of positive emotions is much more important for happiness than the intensity of the emotions.

3. Focusing on happiness leads to misery. Several scientific studies have shown that when subjects focused on happiness, they reported feeling lonely and depressed. Searching for happiness is a singular, perhaps even selfish, activity. Putting too much of your attention on yourself results in lowered mental health.

* Keep your attention on others if you want to be happy. It’s hard to be happy if you spend a lot of time alone.

4. Gratitude is an important component of happiness. If you have a lot to be grateful for, you’ll naturally be happy, too. Make gratitude a habit. Ask yourself what you’re grateful for several times each day.

* Set up trigger points, such as when you take a shower, put on your shoes, start your car, walk into your place of work, take off your shoes, and get into bed. These are just a few ideas. Think about your own life. What are your current morning and evening routines? Use those routines to remind you to be grateful.

Happiness is the goal, but it can’t be pursued. It just happens when you’re living your life. A few good friends, the right mindset, and gratitude are all the intelligent person requires to have a happy life. Live your life per your values. Following your values might not make you happy, but it will help to avoid being unhappy.

There’s no reason to put off being happy until you’re married, make six figures, or climb Mount Everest. Choose to be happy now.

Maybe you wonder what’s really going on when you feel like certain events push your buttons. Take control of your emotional triggers by increasing your awareness and developing new ways of responding.

Understanding Your Emotional Triggers

1. Learn the definition of triggers. A trigger is an experience that draws us back into the past and causes old feelings and behaviors to arise. An ice cream sandwich may remind you of summer vacations or gossiping coworkers could bring back images of high school cliques.

2. Spot external prompts. Some triggers are situational and social. Many people tend to eat more at holiday gatherings. If your spouse is tense, it may affect your own mood.

3. Identify internal causes. Over time, anything can be internalized. Even when you’re surrounded by loved ones, you may be carrying around old conflicts that interfere with your ability to live in the present moment.

4. Realize we all have triggers. Much of the literature about triggers focuses on addictions. It’s important to remember that memory plays a powerful role in all our lives.

5. Accept individual differences. If you’re startled by loud noises that your spouse fails to notice, you’ve seen how differently people react to the same stimulus.

Taking such variety into account improves communications and relationships.

Managing Your Emotional Triggers

1. Keep a journal. Tracking your triggers is often the first step in mastering them. It might be helpful to keep a log of occasions when you experience intense emotions or engage in behavior you want to change. Note what’s going on in your head and in your surroundings at the time.

2. Challenge yourself. The key to change is placing yourself in difficult positions and being open to doing something new and more constructive. If worrying about money is keeping you up at night, call your creditors to arrange payment plans.

3. Know your capacity. Proceed at your own pace. Start out by being more assertive with your spouse and friends if you need to practice before talking with your boss.

4. Come up with alternatives. Take advantage of quiet times to brainstorm new strategies you can use when you are under pressure. List productive and enjoyable activities you can substitute for gambling or other habits you want to break.

5. Make time to relax. Reducing daily stress will make it easier to handle intense emotions. Begin a daily meditation practice or start out the day by listening to instrumental music during your drive to the office.

6. Consider therapy. If you’re having trouble making progress on your own, professional help could make a big difference. Ask your physician or people you trust for references or call the psychology department at your local universities.

7. Live healthy. One simple way to make yourself more resilient is to take good care of your body and mind. Eat right, sleep well, and exercise regularly. You’ll be better prepared to bounce back from any obstacles that may arise.

8. Develop a strong support network. Close family and friends are vital to feeling validated and nurtured. When you’re dealing with stubborn issues, it’s good to know you have people who care about you and want to help.

9. Show compassion. The more you know about your own triggers, the more insight you can develop into what the people around you may be struggling with. Strive to be a little more patient and forgiving and people will be more likely to do the same for you.

We all have our own unique emotional triggers. Learning to handle them constructively enables us to fix the issues that get in our way and move ahead in life.