Have you ever watched a child play with a magnifying glass? 

It’s best outside in the warm sunshine.  They crouch down with the toil of it.  Consider how focused they are in exploring their world.  They watch the ants, as if ants were the only creature on earth. 

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Just one focus.  Simple.

In life, we achieve simplicity when we focus on what matters most. 

That’s a secret of Learn Forward.  Where our eyes gaze, our hearts turn.  When we gaze at what’s most important, everything else comes into focus.  Learn Forward offers ideas on where to focus for the sake of children.

It’s our tree.  The tree illustrates the most important journeys of a child: 

• Faith is belief.  Belief that something better is coming.  Belief in yourself.  Belief in a higher power.  Belief in a God of forgiveness and grace.  Wherever you are on your belief journey, we call that faith.
• Worthiness is the gift of faith.  It makes one feel “I am cherished.” And ‘I am enough.”  I blogged about worthiness over the past four weeks.
• Selfhood is an ever-emerging sense of personal identity. Emergence comes within the context of secure and safe attachments with caring adults.  On the journey of discovering a sense of selfhood, we hope to see curiosity, passions, and intrinsic motivation.
• Belonging represents the journey of creating meaningful relationships.  Complex social-emotional competencies must develop for each child to be equipped for this journey.  Key handholds are communication, problem solving, and empathy.
• Changemaking happens when the other themes harmonize.  Children first begin to understand personal responsibility for shaping and changing for good within their own context (families, classrooms).  As they expand their understanding of different contexts, they also come to understand their personal capacity to shape the world for good!

It’s Chapter One.  It’s the beginning.  Throughout the journey, we weave back and forth, circling and diving into these themes, like a bird near her home. 

When we focus on these journeys, we simplify our lives.  We have a frame on which we can build our nest and rest.  It’s learning from the inside out, helping us hold the significant, the meaningful, and the sacred.

I wonder, how simple is it, really?  How simple is it to hold all 5 of the Learn Forward themes, remembering and focusing on what’s most important? 

This month Learn Forward is bringing you an app, a simple tool right on your smartphone, providing you with inspiration and meaningful direction for each week.  The app is designed to help you stay focused on what really matters:  change from the inside out.

Additionally, if you want concrete tools for applying this philosophy in your homes, mark your calendars for our LIVE retreat in Kelowna for parents on April 24-25:

The Builder and I are enthusiastic about hosting it together.

The tree is a focal point of the season for me:  Spring, Easter, the cross.  New life on display!

I hope you’ll embrace the season with us.  To keep up-to-date with the app release, events, and everything Learn Forward, sign up for our newsletter now.

For the sake of the children,

Karine

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]