"Clarity is the torch that illuminates the darkest corners of confusion, making the journey of understanding a clear and guided path."
"Alignment with your beliefs is the compass for a clear and purposeful journey through life."
~Sources Unknown
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— in peace because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NRSV)
About Me
Welcome to “The Focused Life”!
I'm Gerda Jacobi, and I'm delighted to have you here in my little corner of “The Focused Life”.
I'd like to share a brief glimpse of who I am and the perhaps somewhat unique perspective I bring to the table in this corner that I have called “The Focused Life”.
If you haven't met me before, you may be wondering who I am, so let me introduce myself and tell you what shapes my perspective.
First, I want to say at the outset that I bring a perspective to the table that is inspired by Christian beliefs and principles. I aim to align myself with the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
My motivation is not to trust my own understanding but to let Scripture guide my path toward focused clarity and alignment with my identity as a Christian.
Over the years I've been blessed to accumulate a wealth of valuable experiences, embracing a lifelong journey of learning. And a good part of my life has been devoted to teaching.
In this space, my goal is to draw from the knowledge, insights, and resources I've been blessed to learn from and to make this space, “The Focused Life”, a space to grow and learn together.
So this is not just about what I've learned but also about creating a community where we can learn and grow as a community.
A Lifetime of Learning
So, who am I?
I'm an educator by profession, an aspiring entrepreneur, and a writer by ambition.
Speaking of life, I have a fair bit of it under my belt. I've worked my way through the halls of learning and the corridors of healthcare in various clinical and leadership roles and as an educator.
Nursing was my primary career. Along the way, I armed myself with a BA in Psychology and a Master's degree in leadership. I've also dialed up my coaching skills with training from CoachU and Coach Training Institute.
Let's say I'm at least somebody equipped and ready.
But I haven't stopped learning there. I also dig into theological studies, soaking up the wisdom from the scholars, teachers, and deep thinkers in that realm.
Always hungry for more knowledge. Always cutting through the tangles and knotty challenges of life.
And I'm in a perpetual state of thinking, questioning, and delving into areas of learning.
I'm not just a serious, contemplative type, though. I can't help but weave humour into my life and writing. Sharing stories about my dog's lovable antics adds a touch of levity to my musings and reflections.
So picture this: a life aficionado with a knack for blending dry wit with occasionally profound introspection.
Aficionado? Miriam Webster defines that quite helpfully:
A person who likes, knows about, and appreciates a usually fervently pursued interest or activity.
I figure that's quite apropos. I pursue a variety of interests and topics fervently and with passion and zeal.
And I hope my passion and zeal will inspire some readers to join me in dialogue.
Cutting Through the Tangles & An Invitation
So you might be wondering “Why this and why now?” Or, as they say, “What's up?” Well, I decided to stop hiding and I decided to toss my contemplative hat into the ring.
My blogs are meant to be a peek into my musings and reflections, the questions from my reading and the conversations and writing around issues that come up in life.
I'm seeking out kindred spirits who want to ask the deeper questions and bring the hard questions out of hiding and sometimes have fun doing so.
So I'm on the lookout for folks who want to unravel the threads of confusion and disconnection and to work with me to promote focus and clarity on topics that often get messy and tangled and that sometimes lead to broken relationships.
I want to share ideas and questions that will ripple into conversations.
My aim is to spark discourse.
So I'm not just writing. I'm inviting.
A Bit Of Wit & Lessons from Rabbits
Some of you may be saying, "Okay, I get it. But why now? And what took you so long?"
Well, here's the thing. I've consumed the equivalent of several courses in the last year or two. I've been to school, let's say.
I wanted to prepare myself to write and to invite others to engage with me. Writing comes from reading and listening to others, so I read and listen a lot. For me, it's the equivalent of enrolling in courses. Rather than just giving answers, I read to ask questions. Each book leads to more questions, so I dig deeper to prepare myself for writing
Strangely, then, my books are both my place of retreat and my nemesis. They inspire, challenge, and stimulate more ideas and reading, and they lead to writer's block - the paradox of ideas and the never-ending pursuit of more learning.
"Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write."--Annie Proulx
And I can definitely relate to this sentiment:
"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.”
~John Burroughs
There are so many things to think and write about. Every book, every sermon, podcast, article, and every conversation has the seeds of so many more thoughts I want to share.
I'm constantly stimulated with more questions and ideas I want to write about.
In the words of John Steinbeck:
"Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen." --John Steinbeck
Ideas, just like rabbits, multiply. The art lies in taming these ideas. And then, the challenge is to pull out one idea at a time, work with it and make it manageable.
And there's the challenge: how to tame and release one rabbit at a time. There are many rabbits.
And rabbits when they live out in the wild, live in a warren, a network of interconnected underground burrows and tunnels, where they grow and multiply, not unlike my ideas.
Like rabbits, some of my ideas stay underground, never to see the light of day, while others take off.
A Bit Of Grit
Navigating the complex "warren" of my ideas, I find myself walking the fine line of being an analytical thinker and teetering on the edge of that fine line, grappling with the hazards of perfectionism.
So Erica Jong's words resonate within me:
"I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged." --Erica Jong
That's very true, and that does hold me back.
I might be judged for my inability to wrangle and tame my rabbits.
The intricate dance between getting it right and gathering my courage to put myself out there is real. It feels like a walk out on a cliff.
Real risks are involved, and you have to get it right to walk or dance on a cliff. So you do need a measure of perfectionism.
Or at least a good measure of grit.
I'm aiming for clarity and congruence in my writing, and to do that I find I need to be gritty.
“To be gritty is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. To be gritty is to hold fast to an interesting and purposeful goal. To be grating is to invest day after week after year, in challenging practice. To be gritty is to fall down seven times and rise eight". ~Angela Duckworth.
It takes a measure of grit to go public with your thoughts and writing, especially if you want to convince others to engage with you. At some point, though, it means just getting it out there.
So I'll heed the wisdom of the writer William Faulkner:
"Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything really good." --William Faulkner
Conclusion & Invitation
So I'd like to invite you on a journey with me, where clarity becomes our compass, where we're clear about our true north, and where being congruent matters.
As you'll learn in another post, [coming soon] I'm on a mission to promote focused clarity and a tapestry of congruence for stronger connections and meaningful relationships.
So whether you're here to gain insights, seek inspiration, or simply to connect, I'm delighted to have you on this journey.
Make yourself at home, explore the content, and feel free to join the conversation.
Thank you for visiting. I hope you're just a wee bit curious, and if so you'll want to stay updated on the blogs and other content and offers from "The Focused Life".
Please hit the subscribe button below for regular updates. Don't forget to explore my blog page where you'll find my latest musings and reflections.
I look forward to connecting with you
Until next time. Take care and stay curious.
~Gerda
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