The Healing Power of Colors: How Art Journaling Can Soothe the Mind

There was a time in my life when words just weren’t enough.  I’d sit there with my journal, pen in hand, but the sentences that used to come so easily felt stuck. My thoughts were tangled, my emotions too overwhelming. That’s when I discovered the magic of colors, and everything changed.

I remember the first time I chose a brush over a pen. The deep, rich blue of the paint felt like a sigh of relief. I spread it across the page, watching how it mingled with swirls of purple and soft strokes of  green. I wasn’t thinking about what I was creating—I was just feeling. As the colors blended and moved  together, something in me began to relax. It was as if the tension that had been gripping my heart and mind was slowly being lifted by the strokes of color.

This was my introduction to art journaling, a practice that has since become a lifeline for my mental well-being. There’s something profoundly therapeutic about it, if you let yourself connect deeply with colors, you’re using. 

Colors have the amazing power to communicate feelings directly to us in a way that words simply cannot. 

Take yellow, for example. Bright, warm, and full of life, yellow can bring a sense of joy and optimism, even on the darkest days. I remember a week where everything seemed to go wrong. One evening, feeling utterly drained, I sat down with my journal. I didn’t have the energy for anything complicated, so I just painted a page with broad strokes of yellow. As the paint dried, I could feel a tiny spark of hope flickering back to life inside me.

And then there\’s blue, the color that initially drew me to this practice. Shades of blue are calming, like the vast expanse of a clear sky or the gentle lull of ocean waves, so when my mind races and anxiety feels like it\’s going out of control, I turn to them. I let them wash over the page, over me, and gradually, my breath steadies and my thoughts return to calm waters.

But it\’s not just about the individual colors; it\’s about how they work together on the page.

Art Journaling isn\’t just about creating something pretty—It’s about letting the colors guide you through your emotions.

Somedays , my journal pages are filled with dark , stormy hues which reflect inner conflict or grief. On others, they burst with vibrant reds and oranges, celebrating moments of passion and excitement. It is so therapeutic to lay these colors down on paper and see them take shape.

In a world that often feels chaotic and out of control, art journaling offers a space where we can make sense of our feelings, even if just for a moment. You don’t need any special skills or training—just a willingness to explore and express. 

The beauty of art journaling is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it. 

Whether you’re scribbling, painting, collaging, or simply laying down color, it’s all valid, all part of the healing process.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, lost, or just curious, I encourage you to give art journaling a try..  Start with whatever colors speak to you, and let them lead the way. You might be surprised at the emotions that come up, at the stories that unfold on the page. And in that process, you might just find a sense of peace, a way to soothe your mind and reconnect with yourself.

Through my journey, I’ve learned that colors are more than just a visual experience—they’re a language of the soul. Art journaling has given me a way to speak that language, to heal wounds that words couldn’t touch. And in that healing, I’ve found a deeper connection to the world around me, and most importantly, to myself.

So, grab your journal, pick up a brush or a marker, and let the colors guide you. Your heart and mind will thank you for it.

And in the end, here are some art journal pages to inspire you.