The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman
Older episodes
- 121113: Decide to DecideAs 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Grab a copy of my book, The Next Right Thing What Now? by Ann Patchett Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 122114: Welcome Your LonelinessIn 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Episode 113: Decide to Decide Matthew 11 Sign up to receive my monthly letter Grab a copy of my book, The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 123115: Before You Decide, HALTIf 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Episode 114: Welcome Your Loneliness Episode 109: Wait Until The Morning Jean Yang's tweet from December 6th Grab a copy of my book, The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 124116: See Through the FogIn 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Episode 115: Before You Decide, HALT Episode 21: Find a No Mentor Episode 80: Don't Take Offense Grab a copy of my book, The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 125117: Don't Look At The WallWeighing 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Learn more about hope*writers Learn more about Tsh Oxenreider and Literary London Episode 100: Tell Me About You (and I'll Tell You About Me) Grab a copy of my book, The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 126118: Start SmallToday'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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Episode 11: Wear Better Pants My book Simply Tuesday - small moment living in a fast-moving world Zechariah 4:10 Grab a copy of The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 127119: How to Help Children Make DecisionsToday'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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Episode 94: Ask the Second Question Too Small to Ignore by Wess Stafford Families Where Grace is in Place by Jeff VanVonderen Mark 10:15-16 Grab a copy of The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 128120: What to do When The World Shuts DownDoing 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Psalm 31:14-16 Get the ebook version of The Next Right Thing for free via Amazon Prime Grab a physical copy of The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 129121: How to Discern and DecideHow can we trust ourselves to make wise decisions during an uncertain time? I have a couple of tools I hope will help. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Discern + Decide, my online self-paced course. Enrollment open until April 8, 2020 That Discomfort You're Feeling is Grief from the Harvard Business Review Episode 120: What to Do When the World Shuts Down The Holy Longing by Ronald Rolheiser Parks and Recreation on Netflix Proverbs 20:27 Get the ebook version of The Next Right Thing for free via Amazon Prime Grab a physical copy of The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 130122: Speak A Good WordSometimes 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Discern + Decide, my online self-paced course. Enrollment open until April 8, 2020 Will the Circle Be Unbroken? by Sean Dietrich Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 131123: Practice Your LifeFrom 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Colossians 1:27 The Holy Longing by Ronald Rolheiser 2 Corinthians 4 Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 132124: Reimagine Your Work DayToday 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Episode 01: Become a Soul Minimalist Episode 88: Come Away For A While Episode 84: A Beginner's Guide to Self-Reflection Episode 73: Design Your Rhythm of Work – Theme Days Episode 121: How to Discern and Decide A Case for Single-Tasking by Jason Fitzpatrick for Lifehacker Episode 90: Start with this Simple Rhythm Walking on Water by Madeleine L'Engle Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 133125: Read Psalm 23The 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Psalm 23 (NASB) You Learn By Living by Eleanor Roosevelt Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 134126: Being Consistent Is Not The GoalThese 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 135127: Don't Try To Be GreatIn 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: 10 1/2 Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said by Charles Wheelan Life Without Lack by Dallas Willard Souvenirs of Solitude by Brennan Manning Episode 81: Listen To This Before Graduation Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 136128: Use Your ReimaginationAt 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Grace Discipleship: John Freeman Here and Now by Henri Nouwen hope*writers: We're open for enrollment May 18 - 22, 2020! The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 137129: Where Are You At Home in The World?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. Links + Resources From This Episode: My interview with Anne Bogel on What Should I Read Next My book, Simply Tuesday Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary How Ramona Quimby Helps Kids Make Sense of This Unstable World by Rachel Richardson At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 138On Racism: Learning to Speak and to ListenThis 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Brownicity and Dr. Lucretia Berry Osheta Moore on Instagram Download a transcript of this episode.
- 139130: Do What Sounds FunI'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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Episode 114: Welcome Your Loneliness Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Annie F. Downs and her podcast That Sounds Fun That Sounds Fun Network Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 140131: Start Where You AreWhat 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: On Racism: Learning to Speak and to Listen Ephesians 2 (NIV) One by Deidra Riggs Start Where You Are by Rashawn Copeland One by Deidra Riggs Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 141132: Why is Decision-Making So Hard?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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Literary London with Tsh Oxenreider In Europe, little refrigerators hold a grand reason for less waste by Evan Kleiman for the LA Times Sheena Iyengar's TED Talk The Art of Choosing and her book by the same title How cultures around the world make choices by Amy S. Choi What's Your Decision? by Fathers Michael Sparough and Tim Hipskind Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 142133: Learn The Art of Asking QuestionsAmerican 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Sign up to receive my monthly newsletter The Book of Waking Up by Seth Haines With You Now by Ellie Holcomb Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 143134: How to Pray When You're SadHow 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: The Next Right Thing listeners can get 2 free months of Skillshare! Details here. This Too Shall Last by K.J. Ramsey Psalm 13 (NIV) The Redemptive Edge: Creative Action Begins with Lament Whistling in the Dark by Frederick Buechner Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
- 144135: Fill The VaultFor 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. Links + Resources From This Episode: The Actor's Life by Jenna Fischer The Nap Ministry on Instagram Episode 88: Come Away For A While The Rest of the Body // A Guest Post by Tara M. Owens Embracing the Body by Tara Owens Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript
Get the Pray app
Keep listening to The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman on your phone, and pick up where you left off.
