The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman

The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman

For the second-guessers, the chronically hesitant, or anyone who suffers from decision fatigue, best-selling author and host Emily P. Freeman helps create a little space for your soul to breathe so you can discern your next right thing in love. Because out of the thousands of decisions you make everyday, chances are a few of them threaten to keep you up at night. If you're in a season of transition, waiting, general fogginess or if you've ever searched "how to make a decision" on the internet, listen in.

That Sounds Fun Network Religion & Spirituality 180 rész
171: What to do When the World Opens Up
14 perc 180. rész
We've had a year of hearing about closings, shutdowns, and cancelations. We've become somewhat expert at navigating those last minute change of plans. But now that a new season is upon us and hope is creeping toward the door, maybe you're wondering why you still lack motivation and can't seem to get anything done? We've learned what to do when the world shuts down, but how are we supposed to move forward as it opens up again? Listen in.

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170: Try Softer with Aundi Kolber
35 perc 179. rész
As restrictions lift and the season changes, you might be facing more decisions now than you have all year. Instead of trying hard to move through decision fatigue, what if trying softer is your next right thing? I'm talking with author, counselor, and kind human Aundi Kolber. Listen in.

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169: Create Your 10 Minute Evening Routine
22 perc 178. rész
From dinner time to bedtime, evening can often feel like a mad dash to end the day. Instead of closing the day with intention, we have more of a hurry up and rest mindset. Rather than giving you guideposts to design your entire evening, I'll offer a framework to help you personalize a 10 minute evening routine to help you transition from the day into the evening that you can do anywhere, in any season, no matter where you are, who you’re with, or what’s gone wrong. Listen in.

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168: Is it Time to Dream Again?
16 perc 177. rész
Of all the things we lost in the last 12 months, one that has taken the longest for me to name is a sense of possibility. Maybe 2020 was the year the dreamers stopped dreaming. So much felt impossible for so long (and some things still do) — but a question is rising up in me and I wonder if it would be helpful for you too: is it time to begin to dream again? Here are three things to consider. Listen in.
 

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167: Spiritual Direction for Beginners
23 perc 176. rész
What is spiritual direction and how is it different from counseling, discipling, mentorship, teaching, coaching, soul care, or friendship? We'll answer this and more in today's episode, including how spiritual direction can be a helpful practice in discerning our next right thing. Listen in.

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166: How to Cope With Disappointment
16 perc 175. rész
What is our next right thing when we’re confronted with disappointment? What do we do when someone else’s next right thing leads to our own broken heart? What if their win is our loss? What if their freedom leads to our grief? We’re asking some difficult questions and not demanding answers but remaining open for the arrows. Listen in.

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165: Journal Your Seasons
15 perc 174. rész
One way to make more confident decisions for your future is to reflect on decisions you've made in the past. I do this on a seasonal basis, but the goal is not to obey the calendar. The goal is to pay attention to your life. Here are three ways to practice seasonal reflection even if you are in the middle of a season. Listen in.

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164: Start With the Punchline in Mind with Michael Jr.
31 perc 173. rész
When it comes to finding your purpose and knowing your why, many of us have mixed feelings. On the one hand, it's inspirational and motivating. But there is another hand, and that's the one filled with anxiety and questioning: how do we know if we're on the right track? What if we don't have a clear sense of purpose? Author and comedian Michael Jr. helps us discern our next right thing without making things complicated. Listen in.
 
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163: Reflection as Activism
19 perc 172. rész

When we witness dissonance in the world around us, when we see people make terrible choices on live TV or in the parking lot of a Starbucks or in the sanctuary of our churches or in the halls of a federal building and then we still have to decide what to make for dinner that night, it’s disorienting at best, traumatizing at worst.

Many of us want to know: What can I do? What is my next right thing in this? It's an important question and it's not rhetorical. Listen in.

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162: Is it Time to Move On?
13 perc 171. rész
It's one thing to change your mind when you're sure of your decision. But how can you know if it's time to move on when circumstance, desire, and opinions are mixed? Here are 8 questions to ask yourself to find some clarity. Listen in.

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161: Change Your Mind
14 perc 170. rész
You are allowed to change your mind. In fact, this might be the most courageous, spiritually forming thing you could do. If we want to participate in true transformation, we may have to be willing to let go of what we’re good at, to move away from what we once knew for sure (or thought we knew for sure), and take a step into the mysterious shadow of unknowing. You might be surprised what you find there. Listen in.
 

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160: The Welcoming Prayer
10 perc 169. rész
This time of year encourages a new start, a letting go, a shaking loose of old skins and embracing a new kind of strength. Maybe growing and maturity means releasing. But what if part of releasing is allowing? What if shaking it off without first holding it out only means it will come back around again (and maybe not in very kind ways next time.)
 
What if letting go starts with letting in? That's what The Welcoming Prayer from Father Thomas Keating is all about. Listen in.

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159: What We Made in 2020
18 perc 168. rész
From favorite foods to honest confessions, 2020 has been a year of making beautiful things. In our final episode of the year, I'm sharing seven categories of things I made and encourage you to reflect on the significant memories, confessions, decisions and more that you made this year as well. Listen in.

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158: 5 Favorite Things I Listened To This Year
19 perc 167. rész
This episode is part of a mini-series where I'm sharing my favorite things I read, watched, listened to, and made this year.
 
If your year had a soundtrack, what would be on it? Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite things I listened to this year. Listen in.

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157: 10 Favorite Things I Watched This Year
24 perc 166. rész
Today’s episode brings us to another level of our relationship because I’m going to share with you shows I watch and in doing so, you will learn something about me for better or for worse.
 
I tried to be super honest and share with you things I watch and love that came to mind immediately (and not just things that might impress you - these will not, I assure you) so some will be basic and mainstream TV and others aren’t TV at all because we have all kinds of ways we watch things these days. Maybe your next right thing is to kick it on back and find a new-to-you show!
 
This episode is part of a mini-series where I'm sharing my favorite things I read, watched, listened to, and made this year.
 

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156: 5 Favorite Books I Read This Year
14 perc 165. rész
In our brand new The Next Right Thing Guided Journal, we'll have one page per month dedicated to A Happy List: a place to record the things we read, watched, listened to, and made. In the spirit of celebrating my next right favorite things from this year, today I'm sharing 5 books I read and loved this year. Listen in! 

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155: Collect the Quiet
10 perc 164. rész

This year has led us to places we would rather not go. But here we are anyway, waiting for relief, praying for healing, and holding on to hope the best we can. To help usher us into the Advent season and companion us to the finish line of 2020, I've created a brand new version of The Quiet Collection for Christmas and it's available now. In today's episode, I'll share the story behind it and I hope you'll listen in.

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154: Remember Who You Are
14 perc 163. rész
Today I want to talk about Jesus. I can’t talk about the importance of remembering who you are without talk about who I am. And to talk about who I am, I have to talk about Jesus.
 
It’s funny when you do the kind of work I do,  some people think you don’t talk about Jesus enough and others think you do it too much. I’m not trying to strike any kind of balance here y’all, I’m just trying to be a person.
 
I mention our friend Jesus every now and then. You may be used to that by now. I want you to know you’re welcome in this space no matter what you believe about Jesus and I hope you’ll stick around for the conversation. Listen in.

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153: Keep Advent Simple (with Tsh Oxenreider)
22 perc 162. rész
In today’s episode I’m sharing about one decision I’ve already made for the holidays and I have a special guest to share the news with. Listen in.

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152: Say Words With Your Out Loud Voice
13 perc 161. rész
Most of us long for clarity -- in our decisions, our relationships, and our vocation. As Brene Brown has taught us, "Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind." Sometimes the simplest way to offer clarity is one we often overlook: saying words with our out loud voice. Listen in. 

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151: 3 Steps to Restart Your Life-Giving Rhythms
21 perc 160. rész
No matter what happens in our elections, our churches, our families, and relationships we still have work to do, people to care for, places to go, dinner to make, homes to clean, proposals to write, losses to grieve, appointments to schedule, small wins to celebrate, emails to write and decisions to make. We still have life to live and if there’s one thing I know about you, it’s that you truly want to live your one life well.
 
I want that too and I’ve found this next right thing posture to be most helpful when this life begins to feel like a Rubik’s cube in the hands of a toddler. Having a rhythm to count on is key, but how to get there?
 
Let's return to 3 simple steps to help you restart your life-giving rhythms. Listen in.
 
P.S. We're celebrating 10 Million downloads and we would love to hear from you! Details here.
 

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150: A Guide for Personal Reflection
12 perc 159. rész
One common mistake we make when we have the desire to make good decisions is that we try to peer into the future to discover what it might hold, what the outcomes we want to achieve are, and what roadblocks we wish to avoid.
 
The only problem is the future hasn’t happened yet, so how can it possibly teach us? Instead of looking ahead and guessing about outcomes, there’s something to be said for looking back and gathering information. Today I'll share about my weekly practice of reflection and a brand new resource I created to help! Listen in.

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149: How to Stay Grounded During Election Season
13 perc 158. rész
With an important Presidential election coming up in the United States in just a few short weeks, we are preparing to make decisions that don't only impact our own households but also the people who live all over this beautiful country and all over the world. No matter how you choose to vote, chances are you've experienced a fair amount of anxiety, frustration, and relational conflict during this season. What are some ways to stay grounded and clear-headed as we do our next right thing? Listen in. 

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148: Remember the Medium Picture
10 perc 157. rész
When the big picture is impossible to grasp but the next thing feels inconsequential, it can help to remember the medium picture instead. If you're questioning if your daily decisions are adding up to something good, holding on to the medium picture can be a relief. Listen in.

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147: Be Anti-Racist
15 perc 156. rész

It’s been four months since we all put black squares in our Instagram feeds. While the messaging and origin of those blackout Tuesday posts may have become confusing and some of the initial intentions of that initiative was lost in the frenzy of the fast-paced nature of social media, I remain grateful for that day in early summer of 2020.

For some of us, it marked a beginning, or a maybe a new beginning — a moment we can point back to and say: “That was the day I made a decision to be more than not racist. That was the day I decided to be anti-racist.” Here's a personal update of what has happened since and what it could look like to be anti-racist in our everyday lives. Listen in.

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146: Life With God: Start With Your Senses
16 perc 155. rész
In this final episode in our senses series, today we'll discover the role our senses might play in our life with God. One of the most life-giving discoveries I've made over the past decade or so has been to understand that our expression of faith doesn’t have to look just one way. Listen in.

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145: When You're Afraid: Start With Your Senses
14 perc 154. rész
Fear can be our friend because it helps us to survive by telling us to avoid dangerous things. But when fear works too hard, it's easy to lose our context. We can become hyper-focused on certain cues while ignoring other ones. When fear starts to work overtime, it can help to engage in this simple practice to bring us back to center again. Listen in.

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144: When You’re Feeling Stuck: Start With Your Senses
14 perc 153. rész
Questions of timing, next steps, and which path to take can consume our thoughts, causing us to be distracted, lose sleep, or make a decision in haste just to have it behind us. That’s because unmade decisions hold power. If you find yourself stuck in the decision-making process, it could help to re-engage in the world around you in ways that have nothing to do with the decision. Maybe it’s time to get out of your head and into your body. 

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143: At Home: Start With Your Senses (with Myquillyn Smith)
33 perc 152. rész
In an attempt to disrupt the cycle of overthinking and get out of my own head, I'm working to pay attention to my body, namely my five senses. This is not my most natural way. If you can relate, I hope that intentionally seeing, touching, smelling, tasting, and hearing might prove to be a grounding practice as we consider our next right thing in several areas of our lives. Today I'm glad to have my sister, Myquillyn Smith (The Nester), join me for a conversation about how to start with our senses at home. Listen in.

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142: Start With Your Senses
9 perc 151. rész

If you have decisions to make but feel like you’re just circling around the same thoughts, fears, ideas, and possibilities in your head but can’t find an out to take action, I want to invite you to journey with me over the course of the next several episodes toward discovering better decision-making habits by engaging our bodies, particularly our five senses. Listen in.

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141: Redo Your Morning Routine
10 perc 150. rész

Sometimes we create routines and other times, we have to break them down. Today's episode is an encouragement for anyone who feels stuck because the routines you had before aren't working anymore. Solidarity, sister. Listen in.

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140: Do The Opposite
12 perc 149. rész

In the fifth season of Seinfeld, Jerry's friend George Costanza decided to do the opposite of his instincts and as a result, he had the best day of his life. Ignoring your instincts may not be good advice, but there's still something to learn from doing the opposite. Listen in. 

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139: Decide Once (with Kendra Adachi)
30 perc 148. rész

I have invited one of my best friends in the world, author Kendra Adachi, to sit down and talk with us about simplifying our choices by deciding once (when we can) and remembering that we are the boss of our decisions and not the other way around. Listen in.

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138: Leave It Behind
13 perc 147. rész
When it comes to the decisions we have to make, the choices we carry and the many potential roads we could walk down, its important to remember that we don’t face these decisions neutrally or at zero every time. Like a good novelist begins her story with the story already happening, that’s how we arrive at every decision we make. And that means we're carrying some things we may need to leave behind. Listen in.

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137: Remember What You Know
12 perc 146. rész
From the scientists to the school board, no one really knows for sure what the next best step is in the midst of this continuing coronavirus epidemic — and those who thought they knew for sure before keep changing their minds.
 
We have to make decisions without all the facts, with a rapidly changing landscape of advice, and with fewer certainties we’ve come to rely upon. Now more than ever it’s essential to remember what we already know and practice doing just the next right thing. Listen in.

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136: Decision-Making for Slow Processors
15 perc 145. rész
Today’s episode is inspired by a few comments I received after I shared on Instagram that I am a slow processor. Several of you raised your hand and said you are slow processors too and it’s good to hear from someone like me who continues to put content out weekly and seems to be a functioning human adult person but that I too am someone who thinks slow.
 
Is there room for slow processing in this fast moving world? How can we make thoughtful decisions when everything moves so fast? Listen in.

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135: Fill The Vault
11 perc 144. rész

For the last few years, I've created some intentional space to slow down a bit on purpose around the same time every year. In today’s episode I wanted to share with you what that looks like practically and a few ideas that could help you do the same. Listen in.

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134: How to Pray When You're Sad
13 perc 143. rész

How can we continue to move forward when so many things seem like they’re standing still? When we're still carrying grief? When our hearts are broken? Sometimes our next right thing isn't to solve a problem, it's to carry it longer. It's called lament and I'm learning it is my next right thing. Maybe it's yours too?

Listen in.

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133: Learn The Art of Asking Questions
11 perc 142. rész

American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer John Dewey once said, “We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.” At the end of every month, I take some time to reflect because in order to discern my next right thing, it's important to learn from the past. If you would like to practice refection but don't know where to start, asking and answering questions is a solid beginning. Today I'll show you how. Listen in.

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132: Why is Decision-Making So Hard?
12 perc 141. rész
In the United States, we place a high value on our independence, on our ability to choose for ourselves, and to have things the way we want them when we want them. And while I know I’m speaking in broad strokes and this doesn’t necessarily describe every US citizen, it does in many ways describe us as a whole. But this is not necessarily a shared value around the world. Why is it so hard for us to make decisions? Listen in.

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131: Start Where You Are
10 perc 140. rész

What can I do? This is a question many of us are asking as we're learning more about what it means to work towards hopeful change and justice in this country. And in that question, it can become quickly overwhelming to know where to start. Speaking as a fellow journeyer without easy answers, I still believe what we talk about here every single week is as relevant now as ever - do the next right thing. Listen in. 

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130: Do What Sounds Fun
14 perc 139. rész

I'm used to asking what sounds smart, wise, kind, or thrifty. But when it comes to making decisions, one question I often forget to ask: what sounds fun? Here’s a personal story of how I’m learning to give that question some attention in my own life and how it's impacting my business and ministry. Listen in.

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On Racism: Learning to Speak and to Listen
5 perc 138. rész

This episode may seem a bit disjointed, last minute, and scattered. That’s because it is all of those things. But if we wait to speak out until we feel polished or impressive, I fear we’ll be silent for far too long. I confess that’s been true for me.

Sometimes our next right thing is to stumble forward together, not because we know exactly what we’re doing but for the sake of love and justice.

May we know when to speak up and when to stay silent. When we are silent, may it be because we are learning and listening and not because we are afraid.

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129: Where Are You At Home in The World?
11 perc 137. rész

Months of stay-at-home orders or even safer-at-home campaigns can drive even the most homebody among us to find ways to at least want to get outside or find a change of scenery.

But since travel might not be in the cards for us anytime soon, what might be a next-right-thing posture we could practice today? Inspired by Tsh Oxenreider's book At Home in the World, lately I’ve been thinking a lot about books and about home so today you’ll get some reflection on both.

Perhaps you, like me, could use a bit of reframing as it relates to this place called home. Listen in. 

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128: Use Your Reimagination
11 perc 136. rész

At the beginning of the year, you may have imagined what 2020 would bring. I feel sure no one imagined what we would end up getting. Today I want to invite you to join me in an exercise of reimagination. And here’s a hint: you’re already really good at it. Listen in.

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127: Don't Try To Be Great
11 perc 135. rész

In his book based on a commencement speech he gave at Dartmouth College in 2011, Charles Wheelan tells a story about advice he never forgot and wants to pass on to graduates: Don't try to be great. Let's put the pandemic aside, discover the freedom in that counter-intuitive advice, and give three cheers to the students, teachers, and families of the graduating class of 2020. Listen in.

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126: Being Consistent Is Not The Goal
12 perc 134. rész

These days, we all are making decisions with less awareness of what’s going to happen next, with less dependence on a predictable life rhythm, and with less solid information. It’s no wonder our daily decisions feel so hard.

Should we clean or rest? Watch the news or avoid it? Be strict with the kids or lighten up? Should we use this time to be productive or take a break? Work hard or calm down? See friends from a safe social distance or not at all? Celebrate now or wait for when we can all gather?

What is our next right thing and how can we know? That’s today’s episode. Listen in.

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125: Read Psalm 23
9 perc 133. rész

The six verses in Psalm 23 do more than comfort us in death. They guide us in life. And if we’re paying attention, these six lines can teach us how to walk into every room every day of our lives.

Psalm 23 is a next right thing kind of psalm and I will never get over it. Listen in.

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124: Reimagine Your Work Day
16 perc 132. rész

Today I’m revisiting a topic we’ve talked about here before but with a bit of a new spin in light of the world having changed and everything. I hope this will be especially helpful if you worked from home before the pandemic and now you have to find new ways to do that thing you’ve always done —  listen in.

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123: Practice Your Life
11 perc 131. rész

From Halley's comet in 1986 to the Total Solar Eclipse in 2017, I've been fascinated with sky things my whole life. Earlier this month it was the full April moon that reminded me of the truth I hold most dear: that in every transition, in every grief, in every goodbye, disappointment, offense, breakup, misunderstanding, and ending, there is mysterious potential. Listen in.

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122: Speak A Good Word
10 perc 130. rész

Sometimes the words we speak when we're afraid sound like fear. Other times, they sound like control, irritation, confusion, manipulation, ambivalence, shame, discipline, guilt or research. Fearful words come out naturally in all kinds of ways.

The fearful words find us. But good words are found by us. Let's find some good words together. Listen in.

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121: How to Discern and Decide
15 perc 129. rész

How can we trust ourselves to make wise decisions during an uncertain time? I have a couple of tools I hope will help. Listen in.

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120: What to do When The World Shuts Down
12 perc 128. rész

Doing the next right thing has been a life-line for me in parenting, schooling, work, relationships and all manner of decision-making. But these last few weeks navigating the rapidly changing situation in our world as we fight to slow the spread of Covid-19, doing the next right thing has taken on an entirely new level of meaning.

As we move forward together I want to walk along with you as you navigate your next right thing - for yourself, in your families, with your friends, and as you carry so many question marks as it seems the world has shut down.

Listen in.

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119: How to Help Children Make Decisions
15 perc 127. rész

Today’s episode is for parents, caregivers, or anyone with children in your life who may need help with their next right thing.

Though this episode was recorded just a few days ago, a lot has changed in the world since then as our global community continues to try to slow the spread of COVID-19. I only address the pandemic for a moment at the top of the episode and then continue with the regularly scheduled conversation about helping children navigate their own decision-making posture.

Perhaps more than ever before this is a good time to talk with kids about keeping our minds on just the next right thing in front of us. Listen in.

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118: Start Small
9 perc 126. rész

Today’s episode is for anyone who has let something go and is now considering what it might look like to re-invite that thing back into your life in a new way. If you’ve been thinking about returning to something you left behind but aren’t sure where to start, listen in.

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117: Don't Look At The Wall
10 perc 125. rész

Weighing our options is important. But overthinking options and possibilities can keep us from actually making a decision. It's possible to be so distracted looking at the wall that we spend all our time there and we forget where we’re going and why we’re on the road in the first place. Here's a 10 minute reminder to keep your eyes on the road. 

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116: See Through the Fog
12 perc 124. rész

In our last episode, I talked about the HALT method and how using that can help when we have big decisions to make. In summary, try to avoid making big decisions when you’re hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. Instead, do the next right thing - eat, breathe, find a friend, or go to bed

Today I've come up with another acronym to help us consider other states of being that could skew our ability to think clearly about decisions: FOGI (pronounced foggy - Are you annoyed with me yet? Hang in there!)

Listen in.

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115: Before You Decide, HALT
9 perc 123. rész

If you’re listening to this episode and you’re well-rested, well-fed, clear-headed, at peace, happy, even-tempered, and feeling basically great about life then this episode might not be for you today.

For the rest of us? The halt method could save us from making decisions more complicated than they need to be simply by asking these four simple questions. Listen in.

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114: Welcome Your Loneliness
16 perc 122. rész

In my letter to my readers last week I mentioned some loneliness I’ve been experiencing lately and a reader wrote back and asked me to share more about that.

My first response in my head was a sharp no way but then my second thought was maybe. And the ellipses that follow that maybe? Is today’s episode.

When we’re feeling lonely, what’s our next right thing? I can’t say I really have answers to that question, but I do have words and I do have stories and sometimes when you’re feeling lonely, words and stories land better than answers anyway.

Listen in.

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113: Decide to Decide
9 perc 121. rész

As I pay attention to my own life and the life of people around me, I’ve come to the conclusion that we can trace a lot of our anxiety, stress, and feelings of overwhelm back to a single or a series of unmade decisions. It’s not always because we are putting those decisions off. Sometimes It’s because we don’t even realize we’re carrying them.

Today’s episode is a simple practice in uncovering decisions that need to be made and doing the next right thing to make them. Listen in.

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112: Two Words to Avoid
9 perc 120. rész

A lot of what we talk about here isn’t necessarily about the specific decision you’re holding like which job to say yes to or whether or not you ought to marry that person. Instead, we talk a lot about mindset, posture, and cultivating a listening way of life so that when tough decisions come our way, we’re better equipped to move through them.

Today I’ll share two words we can eliminate from our vocabulary, especially when we’re talking about our roles, our work, or the roles and work of others. Listen in.

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111: Never Believe Anything Bad About God
8 perc 119. rész

We all want to make our choices with wisdom, courage, and discernment. Today we come back home to one of the most foundational truths I hold on to when making decisions. On the surface it may not sound like it has to do with decision making at all. But these six words from Dallas Willard have changed the way I make decisions.

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110: Build for the Years You Can’t See
12 perc 118. rész

Since adults make over 35,000 decisions every single day, it’s no wonder that this idea of doing the next right thing feels like such a relief. But there are also times when doing the next right thing doesn’t seem like enough.

Maybe you’ve been practicing this simple discipline for a while now and still, it’s not leading to where you thought it would lead or bringing results you hoped to see by now.

If you can relate, listen in.

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109: Wait Until The Morning
9 perc 117. rész

Back in Episode 70 we talked about The Best Time to Make A Decision. Spoiler Alert: Being a good decision-maker has less to do with having a certain kind of magically decisive personality and more to do with timing.

In today’s episode, I’ll share one simple practice that has helped me this very week to make better decisions for my own life. Listen in.

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108: Walk at Your Own Pace
11 perc 116. rész

Because I talk a lot about reflection and intention regularly throughout the year, when December/January come around and everyone else talks about it too, I find myself leaning forward to hear what they have to say.

So here on the last day of the month, the last day of the year and the final day of the decade, I’m asking myself as I share these words with you: do I have anything to add? I've decided that I do.  It’s a simple observation that I hope will encourage you to walk at your own pace in freedom.

If you want a little no-shame companionship as you stand between the year you’ve just lived and the one you’re entering into, listen in.

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BONUS: For Anyone Waiting for Home
6 perc 115. rész

Today’s episode is a bit different than our usual format so I’m offering a brief introduction to welcome you to it and give a bit of background.

Every year my church here in Greensboro creates one of my favorite offerings called Lessons and Carols. It’s a service of music, both original compositions and familiar favorites, as well as a collection of readings from scripture that tell the story of Jesus, this year it was told through the lens of home, both the one we have here and the one we continue to long for.

Advent is a season of waiting and this night of lessons and carols is a time to remember how God’s people waited many years for the Messiah, how he chose to make his home among us, and how we wait still for him to come again.

This year, my friend and pastor Michael Van Patter asked if I would be willing to write a short piece to end the night, a reflection to close our time together. It was an honor, as a writer, to hold space for this idea of home, to listen for the ways my own longing mixes with my current reality and how joy and sorrow coexist for all of us. That can be especially true at Christmas.

I wish I had the rights to broadcast the entire night right here on the podcast so you could hear how the creative image of God is so beautifully reflected in the music of some of my dearest friends at Hope Chapel. That would be my first choice.

Instead, I’ll settle for my second choice which is to simply share with you that piece I wrote to close Lessons and Carols service.

Whether you’re surrounded today by friends and family who know you well or if you find yourself in an unknown place this Christmas, I hope these words will bring a bit of comfort and clarity as you continue to honor the tension you may feel between being where you are and longing for a home you miss.

And Merry Christmas to you.

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107: 8 Books for Soulful Decisions
16 perc 114. rész

Today I'm sharing some trusted books I've turned to multiple times over the years. If you’ve been listening for any amount of time, these recommendations probably won't surprise you. But it seemed fitting to have them all in one place and dedicate at least one episode to some of the books I’ve turned to over the years that have helped to shape my own decision making process, path, and posture. Listen in.

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106: Let's Talk About Disney's Frozen 2!
18 perc 113. rész

Spoiler Alert! Today's episode will have spoilers about Disney’s new animated film Frozen 2. Months before the movie released previews of some of the songs were made available and one of those songs was called The Next Right Thing.

As the host of The Next Right Thing podcast and the author of the book, many have wondered what I think about Disney publishing a song with the same title as my own work. Well today I'll share my response to that question and more; like what we can we learn from an animated princess about love and sorrow? And where did the songwriters find their inspiration for The Next Right Thing? Listen in.

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105: How to Manage Holiday Decision Fatigue
12 perc 112. rész

Is there a way to enter this season thoughtfully with our whole hearts? How can we manage the holiday decision fatigue that seems inevitable? Is there a way to remain centered even in the midst of lots of activity? If you’ve had these questions too, listen in.

Plus: The Quiet Collection for Christmas is available starting today! Visit emilypfreeman.com/christmas to learn more.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

104: Make Soup (And Eat It, Too)
10 perc 111. rész

For those of us in the US, this is Thanksgiving week which for many may mean a shorter workweek, a few days off school, lots of travel and/or preparation for the arrival of friends and family.

Whether this holiday comes as a welcome pause or an unwelcome interruption, or if you’re listening during a regular week with regular routines, I hope these few minutes we have together can be for you like a deep breath and a kind friend.

This week I’m carrying a question with me: In what ways has my experience at the table ministered the gospel to me? How can I participate in sacred table moments in the midst of everyday life? Can our time around the table really change the way I see myself, my family, my decisions, and the world around me?

Listen in.

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103: Look for the Children: Mister Rogers and Decision-Making
14 perc 110. rész

Sometimes decision-making is a straightforward choice between two things. Those things may be both great things, both not great things, or one is greater than the other but the choice is nuanced and not as simple as it seems it should be.

But then there are other times where choices are clouded by the personality and demeanor of other people, where this one thing looks great on the surface but you know this situation isn’t so simple and you wonder how to move forward in a situation that is clouded by interpersonal conflict or relational tension.

If you can relate, listen in.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

102: Say Short Prayers
12 perc 109. rész

If your concerns, decisions and complicated problems feel like they need an extra complicated solution, I hope you’ll listen in and find some relief.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

101: Read Your Own Headlines
12 perc 108. rész

In the midst of what might be a busy schedule, a life transition, a big decision, or the constant demands of everyday life, it can be easy to lose the thread of the story our lives are telling. That may not seem like it matters . . . until it does. And that’s what today’s episode is all about. Listen in.

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100: Tell Me About You (and I'll Tell You About Me)
12 perc 107. rész

As we celebrate 2 years, 100 episodes and 5 million downloads, it seems like a good time to learn more about who you are and to share a personal update about my own next right thing.

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99: Tear Down the Old, Make Room for New
12 perc 106. rész

I am not a tear it down kind of person. But keeping things intact is not a character trait. It’s a decision, and it’s not always a good one.

The painful truth is that sometimes in order to experience wholeness, first we have to tear something down. It sounds counter-intuitive, and you’d better believe it often feels that way, too. But God himself understands the necessity of being torn down to be remade.

We don’t want to be people who shut our eyes to reality, hiding in comfortable corners and declaring the world is not our problem. We also realize every story has nuance and there’s no such thing as an “issue.” It’s all people and stories of people and I’m learning to pay attention. If you’re learning too or at least want to learn along with me, listen in.

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98: Don't Preach to Your Emotions
12 perc 105. rész

Making a decision is hard enough. But add the unpredictability of emotion to the mix and making a confident decision can feel nearly impossible.

What do we do when we have a decision to make but we have such strong emotions surrounding that decision that we feel paralyzed to move one way or another? It’s a great question and I can’t say I have a clean, linear answer. But I do have thoughts and I hope you’ll listen in.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

97: Take a 10 Minute Timeout
11 perc 104. rész

In nearly every major and sometimes not-so-major decision, I’ve prayed for clarity. I’ve shared here before how in times of cloudy decision-making frustration, I’ve even Googled how to make a decision.

More and more, though, every time the word “clarity” comes out of my mouth, I hesitate. I’m realizing for me, clarity can be a more acceptable word for control. If I could just see the future, I could make a good decision about this part of my life.

Today's practice is to take a 10 minute timeout and consider a few simple questions in the presence of God. Listen in.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

96: Listen to Your Crazy Ideas
12 perc 103. rész

When the problems of life feel big and the way through seems impossible, the last thing we want to do is to consider what we most want or to look desire in the face. But what if clues to our next right thing are embedded in the last place we feel free to look?

Instead of talking yourself out of your crazy ideas, maybe it's time to listen to them. I’m not here to say listening to your crazy idea will lead to big things. But what I truly believe is that at least listening to your crazy idea is often the thing that will lead you home - to your greatest contribution and the place where God wants to meet you.

Listen in.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

95: Practice Friendship
12 perc 102. rész

For a few minutes each Tuesday, our directive is to do the next right thing, not to think about doing the next right thing. Of course thinking is a part of doing. But they at least have to work together to bring about meaningful change.

We practice what we want to improve and certain things lend themselves well to our idea of practice - playing piano or a team sport, learning to paint, draw, dance or sing. In elementary school we practiced math problems, cursive letters, how to share our toys.

As adults, we may still practice some of those things, but we also practice in more nuanced ways, things that have to do with our faith, our identity, and our relationships.

Listen in.

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94: Ask the Second Question
12 perc 101. rész

It’s often the simplest phrases that have the power to change our lives. Like “I love you” and “I’m sorry” and “You’re not alone.”

Since adults make over 35,000 decisions every single day, it’s no wonder that this idea of simply doing the next right thing feels like such a relief.

My goal in these few minutes we have together on Tuesdays is to make one simple suggestion that could help ease the load of your own daily decision-making. If you’re feeling stuck, confused, hesitant, or overwhelmed today, maybe it will help to ask and answer the second question.

Listen in. 

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93: Borrow Prayers
14 perc 100. rész

We’ve been told not to borrow trouble and to be careful borrowing money, but when is borrowing okay, even welcome? Listen in.

*Content warning: This week's episode references the events of September 11, 2001. 

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92: Point and Call
12 perc 99. rész

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that help to ease our decision-fatigue the most.

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91: Be A Placemaker
14 perc 98. rész

If you’re in the ellipsis in your own life right now, you might have more questions than answers, more furrowed brows than nodding heads.

But there are some things you can still choose - like making a place where roots are lacking, like believing for sure that God is with you, like doing your next right thing in love.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

90: Start with this Simple Rhythm
17 perc 97. rész

I talk a lot about the importance of creating space for your soul to breathe. One question I often hear is how?

What does it look like to create space for your soul? Practically, on a Tuesday, in the middle of your regular life?

Links + Resources From This Episode:

89: Come Back With Peace
16 perc 96. rész

In our last episode I shared about my plan to take a six week sabbatical, but going away to plan, pray, and create is only helpful if you return. Today I'll share about the equally important task of coming back. 

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88: Come Away for Awhile
17 perc 95. rész

Is there a difference between a vacation, a sabbath, and a break? How can we tell and why does it matter?

Links + Resources From This Episode:

87: Create Space
16 perc 94. rész

Creating space for the soul is part of being a healthy human. For some of us that phrase sounds delightful. But for others, not so much.

What does it mean to create space for the soul and why does it matter?

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86: Decision-Making with James Bryan Smith
26 perc 93. rész

The second most often quoted phrase from this podcast is one I didn’t even say. The first phrase people repeat the most is obvious, do the next right thing. Want to know the second most often quoted phrase? Well it comes from James Bryan Smith and here's where he'll share the story behind it.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

85: Hold Space When Someone Dies
13 perc 92. rész

Grief descends as a permanent part of our rhythm of life, coloring everything, reshaping the narrative, changing us in ways we would never ask for but there it is anyway. Death changes every part of life, including our ability to do our next right thing.

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84: A Beginner's Guide to Self-Reflection
17 perc 91. rész

This is a practice that has changed my life and, I believe if you do it regularly, will change yours as well. Here's a step-by-step explanation of how I reflect on my life and some questions I ask that make it both simple and meaningful.

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83: Remember What's More Important Than Your Decision
12 perc 90. rész

Today I’m stepping away from the daily nuts and bolts of decision-making to remind us what it’s all about. Yes, we want to make better decisions. More, we want to make decisions in a better way — but what does that mean, exactly?

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82: Find the Beginning in the Ending
16 perc 89. rész

Are you facing the end of something but find yourself dragging your feet to the finish line because you aren't sure what will come after?

Today I'll offer 3 things to consider just before or right after an ending as you discern your next right thing.

 

Links + Resources From This Episode:

A Blessing for the Mothers
4 perc 88. rész

Today I’ll offer a short blessing for all the mamas everywhere - both the newest ones, the most experienced ones, the ones who are still waiting as well as those who don’t think of themselves as mothers but they mother us in their own ways.

Maybe you'll see yourself in a few of these lines or maybe you'll see a friend, a sister, a cousin or a daughter. We all need to be mothered and this is a small celebration of the mother-work all women are doing in the world.

I raise my coffee mug to you.

Find me at emilypfreeman.com or on Instagram @emilypfreeman.

81: Listen to This Before Graduation
15 perc 87. rész

If you are a graduate, have a graduate, or love a graduate, this episode is for you. It's help for that question people keep asking: So what will you do after graduation? Here are 3 things to remember as you respond and plan your next right thing.

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Bonus: Myquillyn Smith, The Nester
20 perc 86. rész

Do you have a no mentor? Someone who helps you find both your brave yes and your life-giving no?

If you’ve been around here for any amount of time, you know my sister Myquillyn is my No Mentor and today I’m thrilled to host her as my guest.

Where to find Myquillyn:

80: Don't Take Offense
12 perc 85. rész

 

If you feel like you don't have enough time in the day, here's one way to open up some space: Refuse to take offense. It's not easy, but it is interesting. Let's get curious about it. 

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Bonus: Kendra Adachi, The Lazy Genius
21 perc 84. rész

Do you prefer to make decisions quickly, acting first and thinking later? 

This episode is part of a short series we’re doing this month to celebrate the release of my new book, The Next Right Thing.

Today's guest is sitting my dear friend Kendra Adachi and I’m sitting down with her to talk about her decision-making habits, regrets, quirks, and questions. 

You may know her as The Lazy Genius and she hosts a podcast by the same name where she teaches us all how to be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t.

Links from this episode:

Find Kendra at thelazygeniuscollective.com and if you just can't get enough of the two of us together, you can listen in to another conversation on The Lazy Genius Podcast episode 102.

Want to know your decision-making style? Join over 15K people who have taken our decision-making style quiz: It's short, it's fun, and from what we've heard, it's pretty accurate. Go here and click on "quiz" at the top of the page to get started.

79: Find Relief From Regret
15 perc 83. rész

What if you try to do the next right thing but later you look back and realize it wasn’t the right thing after all? What do we do when our next right thing turns out to be wrong? And how do we handle regret?

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Bonus: Annie F. Downs
21 perc 82. rész

If you've ever felt unable to move forward because you’re worried there’s only one right answer and you don’t know what that right answer is, today’s episode is for you.

This is part of a short series we’re doing this month to celebrate the release of my new book, The Next Right Thing. I’m sitting down with a guest to talk about their decision-making habits, regrets, quirks and questions.

Today I’m thrilled to talk with my dear friend Annie F. Downs, bestselling author, nationally known speaker, and podcast host based in Nashville. Her recent books include Remember God and 100 Days To Brave and you may also know her from her fantastically entertaining That Sounds Fun podcast.

Listen in to more Emily + Annie here: Episode 131 of That Sounds Fun.

78: Feeling Stuck? Start Again
13 perc 81. rész

If you set a goal and haven’t been able to meet it, it doesn’t mean you set the wrong goal. Maybe it means you’re measuring it the wrong way.

Instead of starting over, here's how to start again.

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Bonus: The Next Right Thing Live Show!
42 perc 80. rész

Listen in as we gathered in my hometown the night before The Next Right Thing book released into the world! You can now grab a copy of the book wherever books are sold - learn more at NextRightThingBook.com.

With special guests Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius), and  Myquillyn Smith (The Nester).

77: Do The Next Right Thing
11 perc 79. rész

You never know how your simple next right thing could have an impact on people 100 years from now. Today is the official US release of The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions -- and it all started with a little poem written 122 years ago.

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76: Create A Simple Morning Routine
15 perc 78. rész

Where is your fixed point in the midst of life transitions? I want to suggest that fixed point can be found in the morning and it's simpler than you might think.

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75: Tell Yourself the Truth
15 perc 77. rész

On Tuesday March 12, 2019, fifty people in six different states were accused by the Department of Justice of playing a part in a major college admission scandal.  

Our belief informs our action. What we believe will always direct our next steps. So what happens when we believe something that isn’t true?

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74: What's Your Decision-Making Style?
11 perc 76. rész

We all approach our decisions from our own unique point of view, our own set of personal filters, and a particular posture that’s baked in to our personality.

Today’s episode will narrow all of that uniqueness down to three simple categories we’ll call your decision-making style. Take the quiz to find out yours!

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73: Design A Rhythm of Work - Theme Days
15 perc 75. rész

Today’s episode is all about the one thing I’m doing in my work that is saving my life this year.

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72: Design A Rhythm of Life
13 perc 74. rész

If we want to make life decisions in a better way, then we can’t wait to start with the decision. We actually need to start with the life. That’s what a rhythm of life is for. I’d love to help you create one.

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71: Let Time Be Your Friend
14 perc 73. rész

If you’ve ever felt like you could make better decisions if only you had more time or wished for time to stop just for a while so you could catch your breath, today’s episode is for you. 

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70: The Best Time to Make A Decision
11 perc 72. rész

Being a good decision maker has a lot to do with timing. When is the best time to make a decision? Research has some actual answers. Listen in.

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69: Tell Someone
11 perc 71. rész

One life-giving choice I’ve made when I’m feeling overwhelmed with indecision is to decide not to walk through it alone.

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68: If You're Afraid of Making the Wrong Decision
13 perc 70. rész

If your fear of making a wrong choice is keeping you from making any choice at all, this episode offers 3 simple things to remember.

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67: Wait Now Go
12 perc 69. rész

So much of our lives are filled with waiting but no one really ever teaches us how to do it. How do we know when we need to wait? How do we know when it’s time to move?

There’s several kinds of waiting, today I’ll share four: the kind we talk about, the kind we don’t talk about, the kind that sneaks up on you, and the kind that needs to stop.

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66: Don't Let the Ending Define the Whole Story
15 perc 68. rész

When an ending is difficult, it's easy to color the entire reality through the lens of how it ended, whether it's a relationship, a job, a dream project, or a life.

The ending does not get to define the whole story. Maybe it's time to take back the narrative. This could be a life-giving part of your healing. This could be your next right thing.

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65: Take Off Your Crown
10 perc 67. rész

One question can make the difference between living with all consuming daily stress and a lighthearted sense of hope. 

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A Blessing for the New Year
3 perc 66. rész

Before you make any major decisions in the new year, here's a 3 minute blessing to start things off.

64: Acknowledge Your Soul
10 perc 65. rész

We don’t want to wait until the other side of Christmas to finally pause and say, hello soul. I’ve missed you this month.

Instead, we work to create space now. For a few minutes today, we’ll make room, we’ll take a moment to acknowledge our soul and remember the miracle of God With Us.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

63: Make Room
8 perc 64. rész

During Advent, it’s true we wait expectantly. It’s also true we’re preparing for an arrival. 

What does preparation look like for you today? Might it include creating some space? Making some room? Clearing some clutter - and not just the kind you can see?

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62: Sit Down on the Inside
16 perc 63. rész

If you want to find relief from seasonal anxiety, I would love to help. 

 

Links + Resources From This Episode:

61: Look Back - How Reflection Can Help You Make Better Decisions
18 perc 62. rész

Our choices define our lives - not just the ones we’re carrying now about our future, but also the ones we’ve already made in our past.

Wouldn’t we do well to bring them to mind and see what they have to teach us?

In this episode I’ll share my own simple rhythm of reflection in hopes that it could inspire you to come up with your own.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

60: Start Before You're Ready (PLUS A Big Announcment!)
19 perc 61. rész

Starting before you’re ready moving even when you’re not sure where you’re going is only possible when you have a next-right-thing mindset.

Today I'll share a story from my own life and, in the process, offer what I hope will be as fun an announcement for you to hear as it is for me to give.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

59: Find A Quiet Space
13 perc 60. rész

It’s possible to be surrounded by silence everyday and completely miss the point. It’s also possible to lead a full, loud life and still receive the gifts God has to offer us in the pockets of silent time we can find.

You can be busy and soulful at the same time. The key is in paying attention.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

58: Welcome Silence
14 perc 59. rész

In 2012 singer John Mayer had surgery on his vocal chords and was ordered not to speak for two months or sing for six. His healing depended on his silence. 

While his need was physical, perhaps silence is required for all kinds of healing: the wounds of the body and of the soul. Today's episode offers a short practice to help ease into silence, one small moment at a time.

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57: Don't Dread Your Weird Life
14 perc 58. rész

To take action and make a decision requires something of you. But make no mistake — putting decisions off require something too, and that may be even more expensive. 

Links + Resources:

56: Focus on One
17 perc 57. rész

Focus is hard because there’s both so much going on and often not enough information. When you have a big idea but aren't sure where to start, listen in. 

 

Links + Resources From This Episode:

55: Learn to Walk in the Dark
13 perc 56. rész

There’s a skill to walking in the dark: you have to go slow, trust what you know, and take it one step at a time.

After the winds and rain of hurricane Michael knocked out power in the city, we navigated our way through our dark house, not a beam of light from a street lamp or a night light or even the moon.

Whether darkness comes as an absence of light or a waning faith, the way to walk through it is by doing the next right thing.

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54: Find Someone to Mother
12 perc 55. rész

In a world that seems to only value a twisted kind of angular strength, let’s find ways to receive the curves, to be nurtured by God and one another.

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53: Allow the Present to Be Imperfect
14 perc 54. rész

The rest from decision fatigue doesn’t descend upon me when my work is finally finished. Instead, it comes slowly as I'm willing to allow the present to be imperfect.

 

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52: Grow as You Go
12 perc 53. rész

Decision fatigue can creep into our life for any number of reasons, but one isn’t as obvious as some others.

When change rises slow or comes up from behind, it can turn your life a different color so gradually you don’t realize it until you compare things to this time last year. 

Discover what slow change might be happening within or around you and see if that might help clarify your next right thing.

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51: Choose A Pastime
17 perc 52. rész

If you are feeling overwhelmed, carrying a heavy decision, or live with what seems to be a growing imbalance between the work you do during the week and the rest you’re supposed to be doing on the weekends, choosing a pastime could be a worthy next right thing.

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50: Go Forward
13 perc 51. rész

Last year I decided to enroll in grad school. But first, I lost sleep, asked everyone's opinion, and made myself crazy. Here's what happened next.

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49: Collaborate
13 perc 50. rész

Making the decision to move forward with an idea is hard enough, but one thing that can keep us feeling especially stuck is trying to move forward with a decision alone because we are afraid.

When it comes to collaboration it takes a certain amount of courage to say yes to an invitation. But for some of us it takes courage in even greater measure to extend the invitation in the first place.

 

Links + Resources From This Episode:

 

48: Receive the Waiting Time
8 perc 49. rész

As we continue to make our way through an ever changing set of circumstances, the seasons will keep rolling on, bringing with them both dreaded and hoped-for hellos and goodbyes.

You may be holding on to a hopeful vision for your future, but perhaps you're questioning what that means for today. What do we do while we wait for seeds to grow? Listen in.

47: Receive One Another
5 perc 48. rész

When someone around us is struggling, what is our next right thing? Listen in.

 

46: Receive the Shadows and Light
7 perc 47. rész

Both the light and the shadows have an important role in our lives and embracing them both helps us grow towards our next right thing.

 

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45: Receive a New Beginning
8 perc 46. rész

We want see evidence of growth in our lives, but it can be discouraging when we can't figure out how to release old habits.

Perhaps true maturity and a growing faith show up not in our ability to stand up straight and blameless, but in our willingness to turn, again and again, back to the face of God.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

 

44: Receive Healing
7 perc 45. rész

If you know you need to make a move but something is holding you back, listen in.

 

You can read the transcript to this episode here.

Instagram: @emilypfreeman

Website: thenextrightthingpodcast.com

43: Receive Silence
7 perc 44. rész

Psalm 139 is a familiar chapter, but what does it take to let your heart be searched by God and be led in the everlasting way?

It sounds lovely, maybe a little terrifying, but mostly out of reach. Maybe it isn't as hard as all that.

Maybe we just need a little bit of silence. I hope these few minutes will lead you right to it.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

42: Receive Peace
7 perc 43. rész

Studies show our brains process spoken and written language differently. 

We may often sit to read scripture, but how often do we allow scripture to read us?

 

It might be surprising how a small amount of intentional time can begin to smooth out the chaotic edges of your soul.

This continues our summer series of still moments.

41: Take A Breath
9 perc 42. rész

When we take a deep breath, it sends our body a message: You're going to be okay.

In the beginning, God breathed life into mankind -- breath was the beginning. So it makes sense this is the first step to decluttering the soul, especially in the midst of transitions as we learn what it means to begin again.

Today I'll share how I am working to maintain the integrity of my own offering to you by creating some space for my own soul to breathe.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

40: Keep Your Rest
14 perc 41. rész

Beneath our hectic schedules, our proud accomplishments, and our self-sufficiencies, we simply long to be loved and cared for right where we are, no strings attached.

Maybe in these few minutes we have together, our God will father and mother us in all the ways we need the most.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

39: Don't Give Your Critic Words
10 perc 40. rész

The voice of the critic can keep us from our next right thing. But not all critical voices are created equally. Here's help to discern who to listen to and who to ignore. 

A few links from the episode:

38: Zoom Out
10 perc 39. rész

This one simple sentence from a New York pastry chef could help you shift your perspective and take your next right step. Listen in.

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37: Take a Hometown Tour
12 perc 38. rész

With our full schedules and daily concerns, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with even the slightest disruption to our routine.

With that in mind, today’s suggestion might seem counter-intuitive:  disrupting our routine can sometimes be exactly what we need to get unstuck.

36: Stay in Today
15 perc 37. rész

Two things guaranteed to make your day more complicated: unawareness of your current situation and exaggeration of your future inability to handle it.

 

Here's one simple practice to help you stay in today and simply do the next right thing.

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35: Be Kind (with Candace Cameron Bure)
25 perc 36. rész

When you're on a roll in Hollywood, you don't leave the industry. But that's exactly what actress, producer, and author Candace Cameron Bure decided to do.

In the midst of the fear and second-guessing, one character trait remained certain throughout her life and career transitions - kindness.

Listen in as she shares her story, because when you're in the midst of making a big decision, it helps to hear the decision-making process other people go through. 

 

Links + Resources From This Episode:

34: Pick What You Like
12 perc 35. rész

The decisions that add to our fatigue aren't always big and significant ones. Sometimes things in life that are meant to be fun and delightful - choosing a paint color, wrapping a present, picking out plants - turn out instead to be one more decision we feel incapable of making.

What is the next right thing in situations that overwhelm us but shouldn't? How can we move forward as a beginner in areas where we may not feel a lot of confidence but wish we did?

Links + Resources From This Episode:

33: Gather Co-Listeners
13 perc 34. rész

If you are facing a big decision that could lead to a new start, perhaps you don’t need a collection of gurus as much as you need a a group of co-listeners. Here’s how I found mine.

 

Find show notes and a complete transcript at thenextrightthingpodcast.com

Find me on instagram @emilypfreeman

 

32: Stop Collecting Gurus
12 perc 33. rész

At a time when I felt pulled in many directions, I realized I was looking outside myself for a plan when I needed to look inside for a vision.

My email inbox told me the story and this time, I had the good sense to pay attention.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

Visit The Next Right Thing for a complete transcript of this 12 minute episode.

31: Be A Beginner
14 perc 32. rész

It's one thing to experience a new beginning, to usher in a time of new roles, new adventure, and new season of life. No matter what kind of new beginning a transition might bring, it also brings a new identity for us: a beginner.

I've discovered I don't love being a beginner. I'd rather be an expert, thank you very much. But being a beginner is an unavoidable part of life transition.

Let's close the gap between the joy of a new beginning and the dread of actually being a beginner by simply doing the next right thing.

For Writers!

30: Hold One Thing at A Time
21 perc 31. rész

The way we move through our days is a lot more instinctual than we care to admit. We like to think we have clear reasons for things when in fact, most times we are feeling our way through.

Do I feel safe? Do I feel seen? Do I feel heard? Do I feel in control? Do I have what it takes?

On the surface, the decision could be as simple as deciding to join the PTA or not join the PTA. But deeper down and further in, it isn’t always quite so clear cut.

Today rather than tell you one of my own stories or the story of someone who has inspired me, I want to guide you through telling yourself your story, particularly as it relates to a decision you’re carrying.

New! Grab the free downloadable Practice Guide: How to Make One Decision at A Time right here.

29: Remember the Real Art
11 perc 30. rész

When you hold a dream – to craft a song, write a book, open a shop, get a degree – it can be hard to let it go even when the dream no longer fits. It feels like more than a loss, it feels like failure.

But it doesn’t have to. In fact, what if the letting go was actually a making room?

The real art isn’t the song, the book, the shop or the degree. The real art is something more, something deeper, something good. 

Today I'll share a story of a couple who realized their next right thing was to let a long-held dream go. But because they understood the real art, the dream lives on.

Download a complete transcript at thenextrightthingpodcast.com

Links + Resources From This Episode:

28: Stand on Your Head
14 perc 29. rész

Any de-clutterer knows the only way to make room is by letting stuff go. It's true for your house and equally true for your soul.

Today I'll share 3 ways standing on your head can make room for something good - even if you never physically get upside down.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

27: Stop Rushing Clarity
15 perc 28. rész

If you are distracted and overwhelmed by a particular decision and you just can't seem to move forward, you might feel like either something is wrong with your process or something is wrong with you.

Neither one of these has to be true. In today's episode, I'll share two things you can let go of today that will help you take your next right step.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

If you prefer reading to listening, download a transcript of this episode right here.

26: Choose Connection
14 perc 27. rész

Doing the next right thing in relationships starts with how we enter a room. It can mean the difference between connecting with them or comparing ourselves to them.

Fair warning, today’s episode is brought to you by some healthy self-reflection and a dash of narcissism. It's for a good cause. I hope you'll stick with me.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

25: Come Home to Yourself
16 perc 26. rész

The only person you’re guaranteed to be with every day of your life is you. Maybe your next right thing is to make some peace with yourself and come back home.

24: Look for Arrows (Not Answers)
15 perc 25. rész

When I have a question, the first thing I want is an answer. Sometimes answers are fairly easy to come by – How do you make pizza? What should I wear today? Who can drive to piano practice?

But so often, the questions we have in life that give us trouble are the ones that aren’t so linear. In my experience, these usually have to do with things like faith, vocation, and relationships.

Today I'm sharing about a time in our life when my husband John and I desperately wanted answers but what we got instead was a series of arrows. This is a story of where they led.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

23: Release Your Agenda
12 perc 24. rész

How can we discern our next right thing when we're confronted with unpredictable people? Today we'll explore the difference between a loving intention and a fear-based agenda. 

More From This Episode:

22: Embrace Your Limits
12 perc 23. rész

When you finally find, name, and move toward the things you feel most called to, you will quickly discover some roadblocks in the form of some kind of limitation like time, money, fatigue, or support.

Instead of fighting those, perhaps your next right thing is to embrace them.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

Visit The Next Right Thing Podcast show notes to download a complete transcript of this episode.

21: Find A No Mentor
17 perc 22. rész

What do you do when you can't make a decision and you’re too close to even know what you want and don’t want?

You need to find a No Mentor and eventually, learn to be your own.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

20: Ignore With Intention
17 perc 21. rész

With computers in our pockets, the truth is we all have low-grade anxiety that messes with our ability to discern our next right thing.

Today I'll share practical steps to take to eliminate of one of the most common anxiety triggers: the ones that show up in our feeds, our follows, and our online accounts.

Mentions in this Episode:

Find a complete transcript for this episode right here.

19: Choose Your Absence
15 perc 20. rész

In January it's tempting to search the horizon for what might be next and open ourselves up to new opportunities.

But decision fatigue can set in when every opportunity that comes our way seems to have potential. How can we choose which opportunities to take and which ones to pass up? That's today's episode.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

18: Wait With Great Hope
14 perc 19. rész

Astronaut Scott Kelly was the first American to spend 340 consecutive days in space. But the night he returned home, the news cameras were looking in another direction.

In our last episode of 2017, we'll take a few moments to consider what it means to wait with great hope during one of the busiest months of the year.

Mentions in this Episode:

17: Let It Count
16 perc 18. rész

When it comes to discerning your next right thing, maybe this one small word will make a difference for you as it has for me.

Visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com for a full transcript and a copy of today's prayer.

Mentions in This Episode:

16: Walk Slow and Carry Questions
18 perc 17. rész

During the holidays, the transition from our regular schedule to extended time with family can be great in theory but more difficult in practice.

Here's one simple step you can take to help you be a sane person with your people this week.

Mentions in This Episode:

Find complete transcripts at thenextrightthingpodcast.com

15: Name the Narrative
12 perc 16. rész

In 2014, Nancy Writebol was one of the first Americans diagnosed with the Ebola virus infection in West Africa.

What happened after that could provide surprising comfort for anyone who feels stuck or discouraged in the midst of a hard time.

Visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com for resources mentioned + a full transcript.

Join our little tribe at emilypfreeman.com/join and say hi on instagram @emilypfreeman.

14: Know What You Want
17 perc 15. rész

Knowing what you want is not selfish; it's actually crucial to making decisions. It builds confidence, hastens healing, and is a gift to the people you love.

Visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com for resources mentioned in this episode + a full transcript.

To connect beyond the podcast, join our little tribe at emilypfreeman.com/join for weekly reminders to help create space for your soul to breathe so you can discern your next right thing in love.

13: Quit Something
17 perc 14. rész

We usually save this conversation for January, but maybe we need it now more than ever.

If you feel busy but not productive or rushing to get somewhere but never feel like you’ve arrived, it's time to focus on what is essential.

To connect beyond the podcast, join our little tribe at emilypfreeman.com/join and find me on instagram @emilypfreeman

Mentioned in This Episode:

 

12: Practice Presence
15 perc 13. rész

Scattered and rushed doesn't have to be the norm. Listen in for one simple way to gather yourself and practice presence today.

Come join our little tribe for even more help to create space for your soul to breathe: emilypfreeman.com/join and find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman.

Mentioned in This Episode:

11: Wear Better Pants
14 perc 12. rész

Perhaps today, your next right step is simply to release something you no longer need so that you can move one step closer to becoming who you already are. And no, this episode title is not a metaphor for something else. Today, we need to have a talk about pants.

Visit the thenextrightthingpodcast.com and click on episode 11 to download a copy of today's prayer for self-acceptance.

Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman or here: emilypfreeman.com

10: Be Where You Are
16 perc 11. rész

If your to-do list feels never ending, here is one action and one question to help you take your next right step today.

Visit The Next Right Thing Podcast for show notes + full transcript + more resources to help you create space for your soul to breathe today.

For weekly reminders to do your next right thing, join our community right here.

09: Listen for Specifics - Moving Forward After Tragedy
16 perc 10. rész

This week, our country grieves after the horrific mass shooting Las Vegas. We belong to each other. But how do we move forward together without losing hope or becoming overwhelmed that we can't do anything at all?

One way to discover your next right step in the aftermath of tragedy is to push away blanket statements and generalities and instead, start to be specific.

To print out today’s prayer and/or a complete transcript of this episode, visit The Next Right Thing Podcast.

You can also find me on Twitter + Instagram.

Mentions in this episode:

08: Expect to Be Surprised
16 perc 9. rész

Fear of choosing wrong or missing what's best can lead to an obsession with clarity and the quick fix.

Today’s collection of stories shows how often the best parts of life can't be planned and how God often works in small surprises in the midst of the long haul.

If you’ve left a review or just want to say hello, visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com and tell me so I can thank you directly!

You can also find me on Twitter + Instagram.

Mentions in this episode:

07: Faithfulness, Fame, and the Gift of Obscurity
17 perc 8. rész

Fame is messing with us, interfering with our ability to discern our next right thing because maybe we're waiting for the next big thing. What a singer, a cyclist, and a make-believe boss have to teach us about faithfulness, fame, and the gift of obscurity.

If it seems like the people around you are taking big steps while all yours feel small and inconsequential, listen in.

Visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com for show notes + a full transcript. Find me on instagram @emilypfreeman

06: Know the Power of Naming
14 perc 7. rész

Sometimes indecision is the result of a busy schedule or a hesitant personality. Other times, though, it's because there is something within us that remains unnamed.

In today's episode: what a robocall and a New York chef have to teach us about the power of naming to help us take our next right step.

Visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com for show notes + resources mentioned. Find me on instagram @emilypfreeman.

05: Offer Your Work With Hope
15 perc 6. rész

It can be easy to dismiss our work as ordinary or even unimportant, especially when we consider all the pain and heartbreak in the world around us.

How can we simple do the next right thing in our work when it doesn't seem like enough? That's today's episode.

And here's that offer I mentioned to help you have a sane September:

The Quiet Collection - set your mind before you start your work.

Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman + show notes at thenextrightthingpodcast.com

04: Record What You Learn
15 perc 5. rész

Indecision is often a direct result of overwhelm. Even the most grounded and professional among us can suffer from decision fatigue given the right circumstances.

In today’s episode, we’ll take a look at what happens in otherwise sane people when we are hit with unexpected overwhelm and I'll share a few tips to ease the burden of hustle when it comes. And it always comes.

Visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com for resources, a transcript and a free gift. Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

03: Make the Most Important List
18 perc 4. rész

There's at least one major flaw with the typical pro/con list. In today's episode, I'll share how you can make a different kind of list that will help inform all future decisions.

Visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com for show notes + a full transcript. You can find me @emilypfreeman on Instagram + Twitter.

02: Do This Before Every Hard Decision
12 perc 3. rész

Is there a decision you know you need to make but you keep putting it off? There could be many reasons why this particular decision is giving you trouble, but I want to offer one question you can ask that could help you move forward.

Access show notes + a full transcript at thenextrightthingpodcast.com and find me on Twitter + Instagram @emilypfreeman

01: Become A Soul Minimalist
14 perc 2. rész

When a decision requires the deep work of discernment, it can be difficult to move forward when our minds and souls are filled with clutter. Let's talk about what it means to be a soul minimalist and how it can help clarify the decision-making process in just 5 minutes a day.

Visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com for show notes + a full transcript of this episode. Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

Introducing The Next Right Thing
4 perc 1. rész

Created for anyone who struggles to make decisions, it's a brand new podcast! Because I'm never more open to advice, guidance, direction, and discouragement than when I have a decision to make. Maybe you too? Inspired from the commonly quoted advice to simply "do the next right thing," let's move forward together to discern what that might mean. To learn more and download a transcript, visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com

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