Janet Raino Coaching

A play on the word exfoliate, which is a verb usually associated with 'purposefully shedding dead cells'.


I’m encouraging us all to ex-FALL-iate, at this time of year.

Let go of anything that does not serve you in your happiness and well-being.
 
We’re midway(ish) through Fall here in the Northern Hemisphere. I took a walk in the forest today and was moved by the sights, sounds and scents. 

Most especially, the trees wowed me in their process of letting their leaves fall to the ground (hence making a beautiful outdoor carpet in an array of colors!)
 
Their process of shedding leaves serves as inspiration.  Allow what no longer serves you to leave you.
 
If something you do, or have, does not fuel your

• emotional
• physical
• mental
• spiritual

happiness or well-being - then let it go!

To this end, I vetted at least four dozen top-rated articles regarding each topic below -  and then linked you to the advice that really resonated with me and my philosophies. 

The general topics are:

• Giving up an unhealthy habit or addiction.  I know, easier said than done and you may wish to seek assistance, guidance or expertise from a trusted advisor or a trained professional.  Here is a link to some great starting advice.
• Ending a toxic, draining or unfulfilling relationship (another toughie, I get it).  15 Signs of a Toxic Relationship. (keep in mind that a toxic relationship isn’t necessarily an intimate one.  I’ve ended several friendships and work relationships due to toxicity. It is empowering.)
• Catching your negative self-talk and replacing it with affirming statements or gratitude.  Read this excellent article to get yourself started on this type of letting go.
• Purging clutter.  This article gives an excellent strategy and rationale for clearing space in your physical environment. If the thought of this overwhelms you, just start by picking just one closet or cupboard in your home, and purging it of unused or unwanted items. ​

​Life coaches agree that, in order to attract and garner the things that you do desire, often requires that you create space for it – a void or vacuum - opening up a place for the coveted thing/experience to come in and fill that space.
 
So... make space for a healthier you, a fabulous new relationship, happy thoughts or better energy flow in your home or office.

Not your belly button, your personality type! Do you know which one you are?  There are 2 cornerstone categories in Myers-Briggs personality typing. Before we go any further though, let’s reframe the label from “Personality Types” to “Personality Tendencies”, which are…
 

• Extroverts (personally, I think this group would be better described as “Outroverts”)
• Introverts

 
It used to be thought that the majority of the population were Extroverts. Then, based on the work of Dr. Carl Jung, Ambiverts became recognized. 
 
Ambiverts apparently exhibit both Extrovert and Introvert tendencies (perhaps with one more dominant than the other.)  It has recently been estimated that Ambiverts represent anywhere from 33-50% of the population and true Extroverts and Introverts make up the rest.
 
Knowing your dominant Personality Tendency could be a game-changer for you.
 
Why?
 
Because what fuels Extroverts is very different from what fuels Introverts. The simplest way to differentiate the two is as follows
 

• Extroverts are driven by lots of interaction and socialization. They gain energy from being around other people and engaging in lots of conversation.  Extroverts are comfortable in groups and noise, plus frequently enjoy being the center of attention.

 

• Introverts gain their energy from alone-time and one-on-one time.  They can feel drained by too much social interaction and loud events, and can often become quiet in large-group settings. Introverts are often, mistakenly, perceived as anti-social.

 
I recently read a quote that said   “Introverts are not failed Extroverts!”
 
And I loved it!!!
 
Because I tend far more toward Introvert, I am going to speak from that perspective in the balance of this post.
 
People who know me say that I’ve been – ahem -  “misdiagnosed”, so to speak.  I think many Introverts, myself included, “masquerade” as Extroverts to try and fit in with a very busy, competitive society and demanding lifestyle.
 
This masquerade actually denies the Introvert the space needed to re-charge.
 
The person who can embrace their Introvert Tendency will actually find empowerment.
 

• You will know how to manage your energy so that you recharge, rather than deplete. 
• You’ll become comfortable to allow yourself the time and space to re-energize after you’ve had occasion to be in an over-stimulating (for you) environment.
• You might feel a sense of freedom and release, knowing there’s nothing wrong with you, it’s simply that you have a different way of taking care of yourself and setting yourself up for success - by your own definition.

 
Introverts’ brains are just wired differently than Extroverts’, which is explained simplistically, and well, in this article, written by an Introvert
 
Recognizing my own Introvert tendency brought a huge wave of self-acceptance and self-love to my life.  It helped me to stop wronging myself for being content in my own company and honouring activities and a lifestyle that keep me feeling at peace.
 
If you are unsure of which type you are (tendency you have), here is a link to a free Personality Type test based on the theories of Dr. Carl Jung and the work of the Myers-Briggs mother/daughter team.
 
When I took the test, upon conclusion, I received a report which gave me enormous insight into my personality traits and way of processing the world around me. 
 
It was invaluable for me, at 56, to embrace and nurture my “Innie”.
 
If you know you’re an Introvert and have struggled with that, please, please, puh-lease be much kinder to yourself. 
 
There is nothing wrong with you!
 
Yes, we all do have flaws, but being an Innie is NOT a flaw. 
 
Whatever you do, remember to Be FLAWSOME…. Accept Your Flaws. Still Feel  Awesome!
 
Namaste
 
 
*I write in the interest of entertainment. Nothing I write is intended to offend.  I love writing and my fondest desire is that you’ll enjoy my post AND find even just one little nugget of value in what I write. I am not an expert in this blog topic, which is why I provide links to supporting information. As always, I caution readers to do their own due diligence and research as to whether what ever I’ve written about is suitable for them.  My full cautionary statement and disclaimer are at the bottom of this Blog page.
 
A * next to a link means that I have used and loved the product or service, AND become an affiliate. If you use my link, I’ll get credit for it, and that makes me happy.  Thank you!

What color will become YOUR new black?
 
How many other people out there have a closet-full of black clothes? Granted, it makes getting dressed easy but, even though black is associated with sophistication, it’s seriously not very inspirational!
 
Also, unlike other “colors” (we all know black isn’t considered a color, per se), it does not provide any well-being benefits.
 
Each of our 7 bodily chakras – energy centres - correlates to a specific color, from the order of the rainbow. 

• Crown Chakra – VIOLET
• Third Eye Chakra – INDIGO
• Throat Chakra – BLUE
• Heart Chakra – GREEN
• Solar Plexus Chakra – YELLOW
• Sacral Chakra – ORANGE
• Root Chakra – RED

 
What is color? Color is simply light vibrating at different wavelengths.
 
If you are experiencing an imbalance or challenge of some sort within your life, by wearing the color that relates to a specific Chakra, you may improve or negate the issue because, not only do we benefit from seeing color with our eyes, we actually absorb color vibrations through the pores of our skin!

I’m not talking about food, here (although I will mention something about that later in this post.)
 

I’ve recently discovered the power of cleansing my environment and objects in my home with salt.  I’m pretty gobsmacked by the results!
 
Salt, as the smallest crystal – yes crystal – on Earth, has the ability to absorb negative energy and transmute (break it down) and transform it into beneficial energy. 
 

​So, you might be rolling your eyes thinking that this sounds a little far-fetched or “woo-woo”, but stick with me.
 
Consider the ways that salt has been used since the beginning of time as evidence of it’s amazing ability to transform harmful things into non-issues.
 
For instance, salt is used to preserve meat and in the pickling process.  It was even used in mummification.
 
Why? Because not only does salt absorb moisture, it also inhibits dangerous micro-organisms and renders them useless.
 
If salt can do that to flesh and cucumbers, how could a person not believe that it can do that for their energy field?

Story time.  It’s short.
 
In my career history I managed a senior home care franchise office and we had a business advisor that was hired by Head Office.  This fellow, when asked, “How are you?” had an interesting, standard answer.
 
He would always reply, “I am, in fact, unbelievable!” Of course he was intending this to come across as a positive statement, that ‘life was great’ for him and he was ‘amazing’.
 
But…. it always struck me as an odd declaration to make, and consequentially, I had a hard time accepting his advice because he was, after all “in fact, unbelievable”!
 
That was a bit of (intended) humour to warm us up to the subject of Affirmations or Declarations. 

I think just about  everyone has heard the song by the Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations”. Right?
 
Well, in my humble opinion, they almost got the line in the chorus right – the one that goes...
♪♪♪♪ “I’m pickin’ up good vibrations….” ♪♪♪♪. (C’mon, sing it with me!)
 
What I personally wish they’d said, instead was “I’m GIVIN’ out good vibrations…”

So what is all this stuff about vibration, anyway? Let me start by introducing you to The Emotional Vibration Spiral.




(You can download a full-sized, printable version of the diagram, to the left by clicking here)

Emotions are truly Energy in Motion – emotions create energetic vibrations.  They can’t be seen or heard, like some other vibrations, but you can almost always feel – "pick up on" -  energetic vibrations.
 
You (and everyone else) are constantly emitting an evergetic vibration of one sort or another – depending upon how and what you are feeling. 
 

To illustrate this… think about when someone enters a room you’re in and they are feeling grumpy.  You don’t even have to talk to that grumpy person to know they are feeling bad - you just “pick up on their vibe”.

With the Christmas Season upon us, we enter into a time where family gathers to commune and celebrate, and then many or most of us get very introspective and thoughtful to prepare for The New Year.
 
So, this is a tender topic to bring up at any time, especially at Christmastime.  The topic is abortion.
 
I deeply apologise to anyone who might view it as insensitive of me to write about this – now, or at any time of year. 
 
However, what I have come to realize (as being even more insensitive than my writing about “it”), is that there is a body of evidence that PASS, Post-Abortion Stress Syndrome, (akin to PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is very real and it is very painful.
 
What has saddened me is that PASS is under-recognized, under-diagnosed and under-treated.
 
PASS can bring an aftermath of issues to a person’s life – most especially to women. (Men suffer as well, but not the same way women do.)
 
I suffered, and had unknowingly done so for several decades. Holidays were especially difficult for me to navigate through.
  
So, here is my number one New Year’s Resolution.  I am going to make it my purpose and mission to shed light on this topic and reach out to others to let them know that their feelings are real and valid and recognized.
 
I also want people to know that there is a path to healing from post-abortion stress syndrome.  I know this, because I found it. And I’m going to share my path and my process in the early part of the New Year.
 
If, as you read this, you are offended… again - I am sorry.  You can unsubscribe from my newsletter, my Blog and unfriend, unfollow and unlike me.  I will respect your decison.
 
As for me, I will wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2018!
 
Love and blessings… Janet

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude's many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time.

That's why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.

Remember that gratitude isn't a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It's more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being.

Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: colorful autumn leaves, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, fresh eggs, warm jackets, tomatoes, the ability to read, roses, our health, butterflies. What's on your list?
​
Some Ways to Practice Gratitude... Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.
• Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine.
• Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.
• When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.
• Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.
Feel free to download your own Gratitude Journal, complete with prompts and printable pages to get you started on your practice of gratitude.
Wishing you much love... Janet
Author’s content used under license, © 2017 Janet Jacobsen