If you were a color, what would you be—and what would that choice reveal about how you move through the world? A simple writing prompt from my teenage years became a breadcrumb trail that eventually led me to a profound understanding of my sensitivity and intuitive nature.
If you could choose any of the infinite variations of color of the rainbow to represent how you experience yourself, what color would you pick? Dusty rose? Cobalt blue? Emerald green?
In my high school junior year creative writing class, I wrote an essay answering the question: “What Color Am I?”
I remember this assignment not because I aced it, but because it opened something in me that, for decades, has felt unresolved. That is, until last year.
But first. What color did 15-year-old me pick as a representation of self? Yellow. It’s probably not what you’re thinking. I didn’t like yellow because I thought it represented a sunny, cheerful disposition.
I picked yellow because, in my teenage mind, yellow was the most “influenceable” of all colors.
As I reasoned, you put yellow next to Kelly green, and you’ve got a cheerful burst of springtime. But if you put yellow next to olive green, you’ve got the makings of slimy mold.
The funny thing is, I don’t remember the grade I received. But I do remember Mr. Oliver’s comment in the margin: “You’re too hard on yourself.”
Now, that would have been a great conversation starter. Teenage me would have loved to have followed that up with, “So, what do I do about that?” But instead, those words just sat there, silently, without anywhere to go. And they’ve been sitting there with me all these years.
Fast forward to 2020 when… well, you know, 2020.
I was looking for something new to read, so I ordered Judith Orloff’s Empath Survival Guide. Up until then, I had shied away from exploring material on empaths. Mostly because I’m not crazy about labels. In healing work, sometimes labels get in the way of being present with people and supporting in-the-moment transformation.
But, 2020… So, I decided to take a gander.
The day the book arrived, I read it straight through in one sitting — highlighter in hand, nodding my head, “yes, me too,” at every turn of the page.
What a healing it was to have someone articulate so clearly what my experience has been my whole life… of being like a radio receiver for the energy in my environment, and of the exhaustion that comes along with that and the need to retreat into nature to restore myself. Of the self-judgment ingrained from being told over and over, “you’re too sensitive.” And, of the excellent intuitive awareness that comes from this hypersensitivity.
It wasn’t until reading this book that the high school assignment resurfaced from the depths of memory. And what a gift it was, because it was like the question I had asked many decades ago finally getting answered.
Why am I sharing this with you?
Because, first of all, you never know when you’re going to make new connections in your life.
When you think you understand yourself, some new piece of information can matter-of-factly slide into your awareness. And, turns out, it’s a spontaneous excursion into new oceans of self-discovery.
So, if you’re feeling a little stuck or a little bored in your relationship with yourself, give it a minute or two. Chances are something will come your way and invite you on a surprise trip to uncharted realms of you. So, ahoy there!
Secondly, I offer a course for sensitive souls to learn how to manage their energy, create inner peace, and be empowered in the world.
It’s called The Inner Shift Course—a 4-week program that teaches foundational energy healing practices to ground, clear, and restore your natural balance. These are the techniques I’ve been using myself every single day for years.
And, if all this empath talk has struck a chord and you want to learn a little more, you can begin here with this article: What Does It Mean To Be An Empath & How Does It Affect Your Energy.
