The Next Right Thing

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. 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

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. 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

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. 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

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. 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

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. 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

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. 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

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. 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

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. 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

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. 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

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. 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