The Next Right Thing

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Explore your creativity and a trial premium membership at Skillshare Episode 76: Create A Simple Morning Routine Episode 90: Start with this Simple Rhythm Episode 141: Redoing Your Morning Routine Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Get $20 off at Modern Fertility Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places by Eugene Peterson Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Try Talkspace for $100 off your first month with code NEXTRIGHTTHING Learn more about author and comedian Michael Jr. Funny How Life Works by Michael Jr. (available March 2) Know Your Why video on YouTube Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Get 15% off The Between Places Prayer Journal with code NEXTRIGHTTHING The Writing Life by Annie Dillard The Life of Reason by George Santayana One by Deidra Riggs Women I am listening to these days: Deidra Riggs, Dr. Lucretia Barry, Lisa Sharon Harper, Latasha Morrison, and Mattie James Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Next Right Thing listeners can enjoy a free trial of Skillshare premium membership Episode 161: Change Your Mind The Holy Longing by Ronald Rolheiser Real Church by Dr. Larry Crabb Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Get 15% off The Between Places Prayer Journal with code NEXTRIGHTTHING In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Help your child explore their creativity with 30% off a KiwiCo crate with code NEXTRIGHTTHING Episode 114: Welcome Your Loneliness Preorder The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Listen to the other episodes in this series here: 5 Books I Read, 10 Things I Watched, and 5 Things I Listened To Kendra's Blank Canvas Cake and Bri McKoy's Doubleshot Iced Coffee The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi Artifact Uprising Photo Book (get $20 off your first purchase!) My IG Live with Natasha Sistrunk Robinson Preorder The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Get $100 off your first month of Talkspace with code NEXTRIGHTTHING Taylor Swift's folklore and evermore The Popcast with Knox and Jamie (Episodes 337, 361, and 380) My Spotify Playlists, specifically The Work The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson Voxer app Preorder The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Enjoy 50% off your first month at Kiwico with code NEXTRIGHTTHING Today (December 15th) is the last day to get The Quiet Collection for Christmas Episode 38: Zoom Out Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript