Engage Your Senses

cool article on mood, perception, and design

2010-08-16T18:31:00.001-07:00

http://www.researchdesignconnections.com/content/mood-and-perception-08-02-10

Posted via email from Mood-factory

Confused about colors and moods?

2010-04-07T07:12:00.001-07:00

Read our latest blog post to gain some clarity and learn from our experts! Check out

http://mood-factory.blogspot.com/

Posted via email from Mood-factory

Everybody is now a 'color expert', who do I believe?

2010-04-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

The time is finally here. Colors are going mainstream. While it s FANTASIC in many ways, in others it is confusing, mystifying, and downright frustrating!

Who do we believe? There is conflicting information everywhere! Just today, I was reading an article about colors and in one sentence it said blue is serene, then in the next sentence depressing! Who is right?!

We have tried to make that easier for you. In our research on colors and moods, we took the most commonly accepted / researched / agreed upon attributes and named them products! So for instance, Crimson red is Passion. Yellow is Happiness. Green is Renewal. Purple is Creativity.... and on and on....

We also have some of the best experts in the field that watch our work. For instance, Leatrice Eisemen, Director of the Pantone Institute (developed the standards in colors that people use around the world) and International Consultant on Colors, has studied for years and actually teaches a class on Color Psychology. So as you read articles on the web, you may find slight variations in what people say but our colors and moods should remain consistent.

The real trouble and confusion comes in when they give you conflicting advice like in the Serenity example above, or when they say red is good for passion, but don't use it in the bedroom. If red is a passionate color, why not use it in the bedroom? I agree. Why not?

My analysis is the point is not 'don't use it in the bedroom'. I think it is more 'too much of anything is not good'. Use it in moderation. When exposed to red for a long time it can move passion to anger. But seriously, isn't ANYTHING that you are exposed to for too long likely to drive you bananas? I think we must also apply some common sense.

The goal to understanding colors is to know what they can do for you, and too add them with thought and care to enhance your sense of well being. It is why we created mood lighting with products named easily so you can understand what it does to your moods. So instead of painting your bedroom wall red, why not add some red mood lighting so that you have just enough when the time is right? Or when taking a bath put on your Serenity lighting so you can really get engaged in the experience and feeling of serenity?

Why not give mood lighting a try and decide for yourself what is right for you?

Light your porch YELLOW for the Global Month of Hope!

2010-04-01T14:11:00.001-07:00

Check out iFred's latest newsletter... and be sure to brighten our world yellow!

http://community.icontact.com/p/wwwmoodfactory/newsletters/ifred/posts/5455220887849992514

Posted via web from Mood-factory

My First Blog Post

2010-03-30T09:58:00.001-07:00

Replace the subject line and body with your first blog post and hit send! Include pictures, an mp3, or anything else you want to share. It's just that simple.

Posted via email from Mood-factory

Great article on successful schizophrenia patient

2010-03-30T05:26:00.001-07:00

This is an absolutely brilliant and fascinating profile of someone with schizophrenia that really integrated a support system into his life to not only cope but thrive with is disease. Multiple degrees, four children, married... I love these stories as they serve as hope and inspiration to all.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2732294

Posted via email from IFred

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2732294

2010-03-30T05:21:00.001-07:00

via nationalpost.com

Posted via web from Mood-factory

The Color Yellow

2010-02-25T10:24:00.001-08:00

There was recently an article on WebMD talking about colors and moods, and I thought I would share with all you color enthusiasts. It is about the color yellow and depression, and it is fascinating to read as the nonprofit world starts campaigning with the color yellow to represent depression.

Make sure to incorporate a lot of yellow into your life! And especially on those days when you are feeling not so great or a little in the dumps, wear yellow to spice it up! Many people choose black or grey - they don't realize they are just making the situation worse.

Yellow is truly a symbol of joy, happiness, and hope. Get Your Yellow On!

2010 inspiring project

2010-02-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure about all of you, but this past year happened to be a rough year for me. There were a number of things going on, but this past weekend I just felt so overwhelmed with work, money, relationships, life... and I felt like I was bringing in baggage from the previous year into this year. I knew it wasn't good!

But I did an exercise that I thought was fantastic so wanted to share. It really helped me get a fresh outlook and some new motivation and energy. It made things clearer to me than I could ever have imagined.

The funniest thing is that I almost didn't go. There were going to be eight other women there, and I wondered how I could possibly get anything done with them around and I just didn't have the energy for the drive and had too much to do. Does anyone know how that feels?

One of my hesitations I will also say is that I don't drink anymore, and there was going to be a bunch of alcohol. Not that I am tempted to drink I just always feel like an outsider. And sometimes it really sucks being an outsider.

But I got a fateful text that morning from the gang saying 'you coming? we are bringing supplies!'. so i saw it as a pretty huge sign as i was JUST about to e-mail them saying i wasn't coming. so i packed up my car wtih what I needed for the project along with some food, and off I went. (mind you, I didn't even bring a jacket... and I live in Michigan... I was just going with it).

I am reflecting now on what a difference a day makes. I got out, went hiking, laughed, laughed, LAUGHED so hard, maybe found an investor for my company (maybe not - but either way it was good energy!), learned from someone that had just sold their company, made cookies (ok so maybe they were the pop in the oven kind but still), ate chocolate fondue, rolled down the sand dunes in 30 degree weather (and watched others roll!), took photos, played games, figured out what NOT to wear, discovered new connections, and laughed some more. All in one day!

I went to sleep when I wanted (didn't even get harassed for going to bed early) and took the space I needed while still being with freinds and creating shared memories. And to top it off I worked on /finished my board the next morning after another fantastic hike.

The experience of creating the board itself was great. I put all my energy into the magazines and went on a mad cutting binge - I just snipped out anything that spoke to me, without questioning or critisizing or judging along the way. I just let it come.

The girls were around and I found the energy of the house exciting and inspiring while doing it. They then all left, went shopping, and I was left to finish my piece which was fantastic. I was able to really look at what I cut out, reflect, and piece together something that could inspire me and speak to me through the year.

I'm not saying it is any work of art - it isn't - and I am fine with that. But it means something profound to me and it gave me answers without me even knowing it. One was on my company -is it really time to give up - and the first thing I cut was a tree on a bright blue background on a white cement base.

As my hands whittled away at the object I realized I had cut it in the shape of a light bulb - my Serenity bulb - which I interpreted in a number of ways. The main message was don't give up, keep fighting. If you sat where I sat right now you would wonder how that could possibly happen, and I would respond with faith, feeling, vision, care and patience.

I think all too often we get caught in our to do lists and forget to just 'be', and let things come to us as they unfold. It is hard to sit back and let life happen, especially when there are a million things coming at you in all directions and you feel like you can't stop / need to do more. But sometimes 'stopping' gets you further along than you would have gotten had you been going the whole time.

There are a number of things I learned from this - you can figure most of them out I am sure. But the one most important to me is aligned with a famous quote that I believe with all of my heart - "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world". Each and every day we have the opportunity to be that 'world' to another person, and for me that statement was felt in my soul - each person that i touched had such a significant impact on my life in different ways. And I really think they didn't even realize it or know it but it is so true.

So it is not just the board I created, but the space around the board and the journey I took to create the board. Pay attention to what is around you. Don't push yourself. Accept yourself. Create space that works for you and be aware of that energy.

Practice Engaging Your Senses.

The smells. The sight. The sound. The taste. The touch.

If you are so inspired to create a board, or have one already, please do share.

And as one last note - another thought I had before going was that my NECK hurt!!! So badly. I had crimped it up whiel sleeping and did not have the time nor the money to go to a chiropractor during the week. So I was feeling it that morning and my head was seriously pained - it had been a week and just would not go away. IRONICALLY one of the women there was a massage therapist - and she worked on my neck that night, I felt extremely sore the next day (but good!), and by the following day the pain was completely gone. I was amazed (and thankful! - and if you ever need a fabulous massage therapist in Chicago I know just the person).

Blessings to all!

Engaging Multiple Senses

2009-10-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Do you know the benefits of engaging multiple senses? Basically, the more senses you engage to create a particular mood (using the correct triggers, of course), the more profound effect on the mood. So if you engage the sense of smell and use scents with tranquil properties, you can feel tranquil. However, once you start introducing more senses (taste, touch, sight, and sound), you create a much more profound experience.

Visit our Colouromatherapy video to learn more about this and how colors / scents and work together.

http://www.mood-factory.com/colouromatherapy/colouromatherapy.html

Brighten Our World Pink in Michigan for Breast Cancer Awareness

2009-10-08T05:18:00.001-07:00

Brighten Our World Pink in Michigan for Breast Cancer Awareness

Posted using ShareThis

Field of Hope

2009-07-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

Dan saved the field of hope! After a drowning of the field, he was able to get it pumped and additional seedlings added. He also was able to get this sign donated.

Plant a seed in honor of someone you know that is affected by depression.

www.thefieldofhope.org

Thank you Dan!!!

Music and Moods

2009-07-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

We all have songs that we love, and I think intuitively know that somehow music affects us. But I think a lot of us are not necessarily sure how and why. That is why I loved the article I just read on Why Music Moves Us, from the July / August edition of Scientific American.

Some three interesting facts that the article pointed out:

1. Recent research has shown that what we feel when a piece of music is played in the room is remarkably similar to what another person feels. I think that is amazing, when you consider the range of emotions we have and variety of cultures and languages. However, it is a universal language and theme.

2. Some experts that study the brain and music think that music's influence over us is a 'chance event', as it takes over other systems of the brains and has them work together - parts that are responsible for language, emotion and music.

3. Songs bring us together as cultures. They facilitate bonding and connections among people - marching, dancing, drumming. They also affect us on an individual level, manipulating our mood and human physiology more effectively than words can. I find this fact amazing.

It is interesting because they compare words and music - music brings forth an emotional response where words generally don't (of course many do, but in general conversation). Yet they both use the sense of sound. It is magical if you really think about it.

We are going to be studying how different music affects moods, and will be launching mood music in the future to go with our other product lines. Engaging all senses is so important if you want to feel a certain way - and this includes knowing the research behind how different sensory experiences affect moods. We plan to be experts in all areas.

Let us know how music has transformed your life.

Music as medicine?

2009-06-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

It is true, music is good for the soul. Spefic music can make different people feel differently - choose the music that makes you feel the way you want to feel (Energized? Renewed?). Incorporate it into your life and read on to find out more..

A recent article published some great tips on how music can benefit you - clinical studies and anecdotal evidence from music therapists suggest that the sound of music:

manages pain
improves mood and mobility of people with Parkinson's disease
reduces the need for sedatives and pain relievers during and after surgery
decreases nausea during chemotherapy
helps patients participate in medical treatment that shortens hospital stays
relieves anxiety
lowers blood pressure
eases depression
enhances concentration and creativity

Read the full article to find out more about the studies on each.
http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/music-as-medicine/ff9350d1fa803110VgnVCM10000013281eac____/health/natural.remedies/0/0/0/1

Scent and Passion

2009-06-03T08:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true! A fascinating article showing how research suggests that adding scents can not only make you feel more attractive, but also more Passionate!

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/dating/scent-and-seduction

According to a study by the Human Emotions Lab at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, floral notes lead men to remember you in an attractive lite, and sweet notes like vanilla can actually increase the blood flow to his sexual organs and boost his libido.

And you wonder why our Passion has vanilla and rose!

Scents and driving - great article!

2009-05-26T17:51:00.001-07:00

I read an article today about driving and moods - and they recommend using peppermint for alertness. You should try our Mood-scent Energy or Happiness - both fantastic for helping keep you alert and alive on the drive!

http://www.moods-inc.com

Check out the article for other great research and ideas:

http://health.yahoo.com/tips/do-you-have-good-driving-scents/realage--4929.html