Momtaz Begum-Hossain - Hello Rainbow: Finding Happiness in Colour

I love a bright colour. Always have. As a teenager growing up in a small town during the 1970s, my favourite colour combination was hot pink and purple. As if I didnt stand out enough. My mother had taught me to sew and I used this creative skill to customize much of my wardrobe. When I left home to study dance, my stand out lycra numbers were the talk of the class (or so I imagined). As a not-so-young mother, I was drawn to colour and pattern when I started my side hustle, making bags out of vibrant Ankara fabric in the early 2000s. It took a couple of life-changing events for me to truly understand how important colour would become to my personal wellbeing journey. When my Aunt Monica passed away suddenly in 2015, I turned to clothing, some of it her own, to help me navigate my grief. Add leaving my teaching career behind and a diagnosis of anxiety and depression into the mix and it was a heady combination to wade through. Healing was a gradual process. My approach to fashion altered slowly and it took another year before I was making conscious clothing choices with colours, texture and memory, amongst other things, to help me get dressed every day. Wear Your Happy was born: choosing clothes to lift my mood and even get me out of the house.

Vibrant hues make my pupils dilate. I can feel the change in my body. They make me smile. They lift me up and make me stand tall. As an older woman, whilst society keeps trying to tell me to fade into the background I have found that I am drawn to do the exact opposite. I love the fact that growing older and coming through depression has helped me find my voice and live loudly and proudly in technicolor awesomeness. I cant tell you how thrilled I am that this book exists. Each page sings with fun, facts and tips to help all of us embrace colour and step out with a positive gait. When the world around us sometimes feels like it wants to drag us under, realizing that we can choose to look for rainbows in everyday moments can help us all. Im in all the way.

KAREN ARTHUR,
FOUNDER OF WEAR YOUR HAPPY

Every book is a journey and this one involves relaxing while reading, learning life-enriching rituals and releasing your creative energy into the world.

SEVEN SUGGESTIONS

Here are my recommendations for how to get the most out of this book. Just a little note: most colour therapy techniques can be practised by anyone safely at home but for a professional colour therapy treatment, visit a trained therapist. Like all holistic therapies, if you have a health condition, speak with a healthcare professional before you try a new therapy.

FLIP THROUGH

When you first pick up your copy of Hello Rainbow, have a look through the pages to get a feel for the vibrant adventures that lay ahead. Then, turn to the introduction.

BOOKMARK CHAPTER 1

explains the colour philosophy Hello Hue, my seven-point manifesto for welcoming colour into your life. Keep referring back to this section to remind yourself how to apply the tools of Hello Hue.

SAY HELLO HUE

Use these as moments in the book to pause and reflect. They are opportunities to think about what youve read and then try the suggested activities.

TRY THE RAINBOW RITUALS

Throughout the book, youll find practical exercises and chances to pause and reflect on what youve read. These rituals will show you how to make colour a part of your intuition and routine.

GET ARTY!

Find the Mindful Colour Crafting project at the end of each chapter, to encourage you to play, design and discover the creative joy of colour.

MAKE NOTES AND SHARE YOUR INSPIRATION

Highlight any passages that youd like to remember, so that you can find them easily. If youd like to share a quote from the book on social media, dont forget to tag me @momtazbh.

COME BACK AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE

On days when you need a mood-lift, flick through, enjoy the colourful images, and allow them to give you an energy boost.

I hope you enjoy your adventures in colour!

INTRODUCTION

THE JOY OF COLOUR

BACKDROP REMEMBERING A BRAVE NEW WORLD BY CHILA KUMARI SINGH BURMAN

WELCOME TO HELLO RAINBOW

FINDING HAPPINESS IN COLOUR

Has colour ever stopped you in your tracks? Perhaps your eyes hone in on a tantilizing tint, or a perfect pigment. Maybe you spot an intriguing leaf on the floor, spy sensational packaging while out shopping, or, the ultimate in magical moments: you glimpse a sunrise as the heavens are beaming with golden rays.