The Next Right Thing

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: Episode 58: Welcome Silence The Monthly Letter Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocationby Parker Palmer Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God's Transforming Presenceby Ruth Haley Barton Have  One Last Thing delivered to your inbox on Saturday mornings To Bless The Space Between Us: A Book of Blessingsby John O'Donohue What's your next right thing today? Share it using #mynextrightthing + tag @emilypfreeman! Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Shattered Dreams by Larry Crabb Psalm 62:5-6 (The Message) Episode 57: Don't Dread Your Weird Life Sharing Silence by Gunilla Norris What's your next right thing today? Share it using #mynextrightthing + tag @emilypfreeman! Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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: The Prayer of Saint Patrick What's your next right thing today? Share it using #mynextrightthing + tag @emilypfreeman! Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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: Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith The Nester Cozy Home Tour  - I'll be at the Greenville, SC stop on Nov. 4! Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Ten Best Books I Read in 2017 Ten Best Books I Read in 2016 Ten Best Books I Read in 2015 Ten Best Books I Read in 2014 Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor Four by Sleeping At Last Christa Wells on Instagram  Psalm 23 Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: The Ministry of Ordinary Places: Waking Up to God's Goodness Around You by Shannan Martin The Ministry of Ordinary Places - That post I mentioned I wrote because I can't stop talking about this book Episode 53: Allow the Present to be Imperfect Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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.   Links + Resources From This Episode: Choosing Rest by Sally Breedlove Rhythms of Rest by Shelly Miller Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman The Lazy Genius Podcast Episode 77: The Lazy Genius Rests The Next Right Thing Podcast Episode 40: Keep Your Rest Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Episode 58 - Girls Night - My conversation with Stephanie May Wilson about life choices, decision-making, and more. The Holy Longing: The Search for A Christian Spirituality by Ronald Rolheiser Thanks @erinhmoon and @terrancedjackson for that delightful IG story review of The Next Right Thing! Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Churchill's Tribute to King George VI Painting As A Pastimeby Winston Churchill Hearing Godby Dallas Willard Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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. Links + Resources From This Episode: Things Above Podcast The Apprentice Series by James Bryan Smith Visit hope*writers to learn more about our membership Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman