Meet Jacqueline Jensen

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jacqueline Jensen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jacqueline, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Oof. That is a doozy of a question—mostly because a lot of days, I feel like I’m still figuring it out. I can say though, looking back on my life, there are a couple of things that really made a huge impact on my confidence and self esteem, helping me to solidify my worth. The most important being, music and art.

I was really fortunate to start my musical journey early, at the age of four. My mom, knowing the value of music education, got me started with piano. (I added voice about a decade later). She leaned into my innate talents, with the hope of instilling confidence and pulling me out of my shell. And it worked, slowly, but surely. My mom also noticed how much I loved art, and did everything she could to foster those talents and give me an outlet for creativity and my very big emotions.

Taking piano lessons, doing art, studying voice, participating in recitals and musical shows—these were the things that fed my soul and eventually led to me developing more confidence and self esteem. My mother and my music and art teachers created space for me to be brave, try new things and push myself out of my self-imposed boxes.

Trying, failing, following through with commitments and then eventually succeeding, laid the foundation for me to build confidence in not only my talents, but who I am as a person. I learned that even though I was shy and often felt different, I was capable of persevering, doing hard things, and *thriving*. I also learned that I am worth the effort, love and care that it took to create those environments. Everyone is.

Being a teacher now, is really a full circle moment for me. Despite still being a work in progress, I get to help “little Jacquelines” realize their worth and help them grow their confidence and self esteem. I’ve had so many wonderful people in my life pour their love and support into me, and it is a privilege to do that for others.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’ve been fortunate to speak about my career and what I offer a few times, but for those unfamiliar, I am a multi-genre vocal coach and piano instructor (that dabbles in guitar and ukulele, when asked) and I also work as a vocal producer.

I teach all ages, and do in person lessons in the Nashville TN area, and teach virtually around the globe. My students range from total beginners, to established artists looking to polish skills and work through original music. I teach many genres and place an emphasis on music theory and confidence.

I host multiple events a year, have raised thousands of dollars for various charities and causes, am a member of the Recording Academy (The Grammys), and have taught more than 22,000 lessons, to date. I take great pride in the music I create with my students and continuously strive to make music accessible and empowering for everyone!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

For my journey, the three most impactful skills I’ve had to implement are boundaries, clear communication, and compassion.

Learning to set clear boundaries in your business, creative, and personal life, is life-changing. This often looks like learning to say “no”, even when it’s uncomfortable. Is important to remember that saying “no” is not an act of aggression, it’s simply saying “no”. For someone on their hustle grind, this could look like declining a gig on Sunday, your only day off, or maybe even upholding clear contractual agreements. Saying “no” is something everyone should be comfortable doing and respecting.

Going hand in hand with boundaries, we also need clear communication. Learning how to clearly and effectively communicate makes life so much easier. When we leave no room for misinterpretation, our relationships are healthier, stronger and are more filled with my third skill, compassion.

I’ve always believed that moving through life with true compassion grants far more open doors than anything else. As Brené Brown says, “Clear is kind, unclear is unkind.” If we pair compassion with clear communication and healthy and firm boundaries, we are unstoppable.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Some days I truly feel like being overwhelmed is my specialty. Because, dang. Life hits hard sometimes. When that happens though, there a few things that help. First and foremost is breathing. I’ve learned a good number of meditative and somatic breath practices throughout the years, that work wonders. Two of my most used breathing patterns is “box breathing” and the “physiological sigh” when I’m in a state of overwhelm. Having a partner to guide your breath in that state is also a wonderful tool.

Aside from breathing strategies in the moment, I’ve found that keeping my home tidy helps a ton and generally leaves me less overwhelmed (I bet you can hear my mom say “I told you so” if you listen hard enough). Carving out time for hobbies and self care also helps me keep overwhelm at bay. In particular, I love books. doing little craft projects and sitting at the piano and singing my heart out.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://JacquelineJensenMusic.com
• Instagram: @Jacqueline.Jensen.Music
• Facebook: @Jacqueline.Jensen.Music
• Youtube: https://YouTube.com/Jacquelinejnsn

Image Credits

Madison Jackson