The Next Right Thing

LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: 10 Questions for Reflection and Discernment The Lazy Genius Chickpea Bowl Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

Today, I need to slow down for just a few minutes to take a breath, to take a beat here in the middle of December. And so I want to offer you a four minute and thirty-eight second meditation for being okay. It's from one of the Advent collections in The Quiet Collection app called Compassion. It's track eight, named simply Okay. It's one of the simpler ones, but it's one I personally return to over and over again. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Learn more about The Quiet Collection app and download the Advent Collections here Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

Emily Ley is the founder of Simplified, which is a bestselling brand of planners and organizational tools for busy women. She has spent nearly 13 years empowering, inspiring, and equipping women in the areas of organization, planning and simplicity. She's the host of the Simplified podcast and author of national bestselling books, but today, we're going to talk about concepts she writes about in her newest book, Near in the Night: A Collection of Reflections on Finding God's Peace and Rest. If you, like me, have trouble turning off your mind at the close of day and are hoping for some simple practices to help you do that with ease, listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Find Near in the Night by Emily Ley Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris The Quiet Collection app Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

There are a lot of reasons why the season of Advent might be a difficult one for you this year. Among them could be because you don't currently have a church or a faith community or it looks different than it used to, or you're about to move or make a change, or you just moved and made a change and it's all impacting your current reality, and you're feeling some kind of way about it all. If that's you, I hope you'll find welcome in today's conversation. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: The Quiet Collection app Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

It's time to share the scoop about this year's Advent resources in The Quiet Collection app. I've got good news, I've got medium news, and I have some fun news. You want to hear it all? Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: The Quiet Collection app Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

If you're feeling pulled in all directions, looking for grounding words but unable to form them, here's a short prayer of welcoming some things we need, some things we want, and others we would rather do without. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

What do we do when we realize our next right thing is to apologize? And how do we do it in a way that the person we're apologizing to will know that we're sincere? I'm so glad to welcome bestselling author, TEDx speaker, leadership consultant and psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Thomas. Jennifer is the co-author of The Five Apology Languages with Dr. Gary Chapman, and together they've also written a book in partnership with Paul White called Making Things Right at Work. With a PhD in clinical psychology and community psychology from the University of Maryland, Jennifer helps readers and leaders know the right things to say to keep growing. If you're curious about why the last apology you gave fell flat, or if you wonder why you just don't believe people when they're apologizing to you, today's conversation will hopefully provide valuable insight for your next right apologetic thing. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack where I'll be answering more questions in this week's essay The Quiet Collection app The 5 Apology Languages by Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas Making Things Right at Work by Gary Chapman, Jennifer Thomas, and Paul White Learn more about Dr. Jennifer Thomas Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

In honor of the 300th episode of The Next Right Thing, I'm giving you the microphone to ask me your questions. I love hearing your voices whenever I can and I think this will be a lot of fun. I'll do my best to offer some solid responses, if not answers. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack where I'll be answering more questions in this week's essay The Quiet Collection app Episode 32: Stop Collecting Gurus Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

How can we know the difference between a yes, an absolutely yes, a maybe, a probably not, and a no? And what do we do with the simple one line advice that doesn't always seem to apply? Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack The Quiet Collection app Ask Emily anything Essentialism by Greg McKeown Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers Episode 219: 20 Questions to Ask Before You Say Yes to a Great Opportunity Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

Today's question is a continuation of a conversation we started over 100 episodes ago, all about spiritual direction. I mentioned at the beginning of every episode that I serve as a spiritual director, and maybe you've heard that and wondered what it means or what that looks like. Well, I'll answer some of those questions about that today. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Spiritual Direction resources Episode 167: Spiritual Direction for Beginners Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

When it comes to spiritual practice and life with God, it might be your default to think you're doing it wrong. Even though I've walked with my friend Jesus for many decades, have written many faith-based books, hold a master's degree in Christian spiritual formation and even teach in a master's level program on the same topic, I still carry around that childlike question sometimes without even realizing it. Am I doing this wrong? Am I on the right track? Am I going to be okay? Let's talk about it. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

What's saving your life right now, specifically when it comes to autumn? It could be anything from a favorite product to a spiritual practice, a fun new show or a meaningful relationship. When it comes to naming what we love this fall, everything counts. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Our Unforming by Cindy S. Lee Get the monthly letter My Autumn playlist My sister's Autumnal playlist Kendra's Breezy Instrumental playlist More of what's saving my autumn life The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

In this episode, I'm sharing about one of my next right things. For the last two-ish years, I've been working on my next book and it's finally time to tell you about it. If you're standing at a threshold, this book offers a framework for knowing when it's good to stay and when it might be time to move on. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Preorder How to Walk Into a Room Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

Today I'm talking with not one, but two guests. From their rural homestead in Charlottesville, Virginia, it's husband and wife duo Daniel and Lauren Goans, known as Lowland Hum. With the release of their brand new album From Self, With Love, this seemed like the perfect time to have them on the podcast to talk about some of the key decisions they've made along their way. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Find Lowland Hum on Instagram Visit Lowland Hum's website Find Lowland Hum on Patreon The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

Our emotions and feelings can take up a lot of space at the table. There may have been times we've gotten in trouble for them, either because we've shared too much and regretted it later, or we've been scolded or blamed for being too sensitive or too much or too something. That's when we've tended to label our feelings as not okay. But this is not the only story there is. How do our feelings impact our ability to make wise decisions and what good role can they play? Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack The Journey Toward Wholeness by Suzanne Stabile Try Softer and Strong Like Water by Aundi Kolber Episode 170: Try Softer with Aundi Kolber Episode 213: How to Make Embodied Decisions with Dr. Hillary L. McBride The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

Today's questions, what do decisive people know that indecisive people don't know? Is there a common skill or mindset present in people who consider themselves to be decisive that those of us who are more indecisive might lack? Can we learn it? Can we cultivate it? We'll talk about it. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

Today's question: when is good enough great? We'll talk about when perfectionism keeps us stuck. I hope you'll listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Episode 325 of the Lazy Genius Podcast: Dealing with Differences on How Something is Done Mythical Me: Finding Freedom from Constant Comparison by Richella Parham Marketing Made Easy: Why You Aren't Taking Action The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

The kitchen is the room of our house where we make many of our daily decisions which means it also has the potential to be the root cause of a lot of decision fatigue. Today I'm glad to welcome one of my in-real-life friends, Bri McKoy. Bri is an accidental home cook, a lover of gathering people around her everyday table, and the author of two books: the first is Come and Eat and the second is her brand new release: The Cook's Book, the only cookbook I've ever read cover to cover. I'm thrilled to have her join us today to talk about our next right thing in the kitchen. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: The Cook's Book by Bri McKoy - Brand new this week! Visit Bri's website Find Bri on Instagram for inspiration for the everyday home cook Join The Soul Minimalist to continue this conversation Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing for simple, soulful decision-making practices Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

If we're going to be on the internet, because we are, how can we stay sane and remain soul minimalists in the midst of the constant stream of information? That's today's question. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack "Our Brains Are No Match for Technology" by Tristan Harris Episode 32: Stop Collecting Gurus Atomic Habits by James Clear Depression, Creativity, and the Dangers of Being Constantly Plugged In by Ally Fallon The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

Today's questions: why do I feel so exhausted? How can I remain a soul minimalist while having a maxed-out schedule? Does our soul have rules? And if so, what the heck are they, and how can knowing them help us in our next right thing? This isn't a conversation about pitting your schedule against your soul, but it is to elevate our awareness that trying to tackle soul things with a scheduler's mindset will almost always lead to frustration, disappointment, and exhaustion. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

This week I'm thrilled to celebrate another milestone: six years of The Next Right Thing podcast. Can we even believe it? Reflection is a key part of my own rhythm of life, so when I approach anniversaries of any kind, but maybe particularly annual ones, I like to pause and look back before moving ahead. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Episode 238: State of the Podcast 2022 Episode 198: Be Present Not Perfect with Shauna Niequist Episode 254: Honest Advent with Scott Erickson Episode 213: How to Make Embodied Decisions with Dr. Hillary L. McBride Episode 212: How to Walk Out of A Room Episode 206: What Worked in 2021 Episode 208: Hold the Tension Longer The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

It's the last week of Psalm Summer, and I'll be reading Psalm 63 from the New Revised Standard Version, then from the Contemporary English version, then from the Message. At the end of this series, we'll have all the Psalms for you as a collection in The Quiet Collection app. Listen in. A playlist of the Psalms we've done so far The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

It's week three of Psalm Summer, and I'll be reading Psalm 40 from the New Revised Standard Version, then from the Contemporary English version, then from the Message. At the end of this series, we'll have all the Psalms for you as a collection in The Quiet Collection app. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: A playlist of the Psalms we've done so far The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

It's week two of Psalm Summer, and I'll be reading Psalm 1 from the New Revised Standard Version, then from the Contemporary English version, then from Psalms for Praying by Nan C. Merrill. At the end of this series, we'll have all the Psalms for you as a collection in The Quiet Collection app. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: A playlist of the Psalms we've done so far The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

It's the first week of Psalm Summer, and I'll be reading three versions of your most requested chapter, Psalm 16. When this series is over, we'll have all the Psalms for you as a collection in The Quiet Collection app. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: A playlist of the Psalms we've done so far The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

It's time for Psalm Summer and today I'll share a few words about why I hold a tension with the Psalms. I'm hearing it among my friends, at retreats I've led, from graduate students I teach, and in the spiritual direction chair -- we have a complicated relationship with God, with the Bible, with people who make up the church. Complicated doesn't have to mean bad and it doesn't have to be negative. It just means there are a lot of layers and we've lived a lot of life together. We have love stories to tell, heartbreaks to grieve, faithfulness to celebrate. The Psalms don't tell us how to live, they reveal the many ways we might respond to life. They are songs and poems written by those who are angry, heartbroken, bereft, and elated. The words in the Psalms are not a rule book but a refuge, a record, a reality of human life in all its complexity. Today I'll share a few words about why I'm glad to bring Psalm Summer back. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: A playlist of the Psalms we've done so far The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript "For the simplicity on this side of complexity, I wouldn't give you a fig. But for the simplicity on the other side of complexity, for that I would give you anything I have." ― Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Today's question is a fun one. What's saving your life right now, specifically when it comes to summer? It could be anything from a favorite product to a spiritual practice, a fun new show, or a meaningful relationship. When it comes to naming what we love this summer, everything counts. And when it comes to decision making, it's fun to name these things. It's great to know what helps me come alive, what makes me smile, what's something I'm loving right now. All of these questions, though they may feel small, inform our next right thing more often than we might realize. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Supergoop Glowscreen Westmore Beauty 60-Second Eye Effects For the Love podcast with Jen Hatmaker A playlist of the Psalms we've done so far More of what's saving my summer life The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

For the third year in a row, I'm hosting a conversation with John, who I have shared life with in marriage for 22 years. We have two college-age kiddos who have just finished their freshman year and one rising high school junior. Professionally, John runs a local community funded nonprofit called Grace Discipleship, where he serves as a spiritual director providing soul care and discipleship for the next generation. John has been a steady listening presence for several decades here in our hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina, and he regularly meets with teenagers, college students, couples and ministry workers to hold prayerful space for them to discern what God might be up to in and around them. Today I'm glad to sit down with John again to answer some of the questions you tossed our way about the first years of marriage, the role spiritual direction plays in our life and work, and how we're faring as nearly-there empty-nesters. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Episode 184: The Next Right Thing In Marriage with John Freeman Episode 237: For When Things Are Changing (with John Freeman) Episode 167: Spiritual Direction for Beginners Episode 178: How to Find A Spiritual Director Order Sacred Companions by David Benner Follow John on Instagram @freemanjohn gracegreensboro.org The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

In today's episode, I'll be sharing some of my favorite summer-time decisions and then we get to hear from YOU! If you're already feeling in a summer rut, I hope these ideas will help if you find you need a little extra inspiration heading into summertime. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Episode 181: A Soul Minimalist's Guide to Summer Episode 229: A Blessing for the Graduates The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

If you find yourself at a crossroads in your life and you're asking the super common and also slightly terrifying question, "What now?", listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: We want to hear about your favorite summer decision! Do you have a tip, a hack, a mindset, a question, or an activity you've said yes to and you're so glad you did? Or maybe it's something you decide to stop doing every summer? Whatever it is, we want to be inspired by your next right summer. Leave us a voice memo and be sure to share your name, where you live, and your favorite summer decision in 90 seconds or less. We can't wait to hear from you. Share your favorite summertime decision here. What Now? by Ann Patchett The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

This episode is called One Question to Ask Yourself Every Quarter, but of course you can ask it more often than that. It's a question I always have in mind, and it's become such a part of my rhythm of life that I don't really even think that much about it in one particular time. I just think about it as I go along my way and record my answers as they come. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: The Wisdom of Your Body by Hillary McBride Episode 276: Why Self-Care Isn't Selfish with Taylor Elyse Morrison Get my monthly letter The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

I'm glad to welcome author Taylor Elyse Morrison, who's turned being bad at self-care into a career. She's the founder of the media company Inner Workout and the author of a book by the same name. She's a founder, facilitator, coach, and serial entrepreneur making wellbeing and personal development more accessible. She's all about supporting people's journey to know, care for, and become their full selves. I hope you'll listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Find Taylor Elyse Morrison on Instagram Find Inner Workout on Instagram Inner Workout by Taylor Elyse Morrison Find Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith on Instagram The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

Today I'm thinking in threes: three categories of reading, three books I recommend and three questions to help you reflect on the last several months before heading in to the new season that's upon us. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Jami Nato Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman Start with Hello by Shannan Martin The Lake House by Kate Morton The House at Riverton by Kate Morton The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

I'm glad to welcome one of my dear, in-real-life, local friends to the show, Anna Kimbrough. Anna and her husband, Tripp, met when they were both students at Chapel Hill and were married for 23 years until the spring of 2020, when Tripp died after complications with a biopsy. Now it's three years later, and I'm sitting down with Anna to talk about the difficulty and heartbreak of making decisions alone after losing your person as well as some of the hope she's received along the way. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

If you're someone who maybe grew up going to church or used to have a steady spiritual practice, but you've either grown tired, weary, bored, or skeptical, I get it, and you're not alone. Maybe lately you've been curious about God again, wondering if there's anything for you in the world of faith. Maybe you're tiptoeing back looking for something familiar, but then when you find it, you feel a bit cautious or hesitant. Maybe you have the desire to engage a spiritual practice, but you're not sure how to do that as yourself in this new space. If that's you, then this episode is for you. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: A Million Little Ways In the Shelter by Padraig O'Tuama The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

Birthdays can be fun and lovely, but also sometimes a source of our own chronic hesitation or decision fatigue. And this can add stress because we want to celebrate it, but we also may wonder how we can do that well as grownups. How can we approach our birthday like a soul minimalist, and why would we want to? Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Listen to Pantsuit Politics Order To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download this episode's transcript

A short blessing for all kinds of friendship and all kinds of friends. Here's to you, a friend to someone, and here's to your someone who is a friend to you. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Find a full transcript of this episode at emilypfreeman.com

What role do friendships play in our decision-making lives? How can we be friends people trust to come to when they have a decision to make? Are there any tips or tricks on how not to be an annoying friend when someone comes to us for advice? Well, there are, my friend. I hope you'll listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Follow @davidgatepoet on Instagram The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Find a full transcript of this episode at emilypfreeman.com

As we continue this short series on friendship, I'm glad to welcome one of my IRL friends, the author of one of my top 10 favorite books of 2020, Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First and host of the 10 Things to Tell You podcast, Laura Tremaine. Laura has written a book all about friendship for grownups and it's already helped me make some really important mindset shifts in my own relationships. It's called The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs and it releases on April 4. I'm thrilled to have her on this episode to talk about friendships, specifically what we get wrong culturally, what it means to believe the best, and what to do when a friendship ends. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: The Life Council by Laura Tremaine Visit Laura Tremaine's website Find Laura Tremaine on Instagram Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First by Laura Tremaine The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript

What's saving your life right now, specifically when it comes to friendship? It's the first in a several-week series on friendship inspired by my friend and fellow author, Laura Tremaine's new book, The Life Council, all about 10 friends every woman needs. We'll have Laura on as a guest next week, but this week we'll kick off the series by dedicating this quarter's "What's Saving My Life" to friendship. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: The Life Council by Laura Tremaine Visit Laura Tremaine's website Find Laura Tremaine on Instagram The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Find a full transcript of this episode at emilypfreeman.com DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT I'm Emily and I'm glad you're here! If you're struggling to discern your next right thing, grab this free guide to help you make any decision today.

Can we escape interruptions? You know the answer is we never will, but we can make partial, imperfect, or even settled peace with them. In this episode, I'll offer some encouragement for when your life feels like one big interruption. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Domestic Monastery by Ronald Rolheiser The Lazy Genius The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this episode at emilypfreeman.com

Today I'll share words from someone else for all of us to listen to and carry with us and reflect on together. I've chosen a poem by Macrina Wiederkehr, a writer who has been a companion for me for many years now (though she never knew it.) She was a master of everyday spirituality and had a lovely way of seeing and speaking of God in the midst of ordinary things of life. Macrina wrote a reflection on Jesus' interaction with the woman at the well, as recorded in John chapter 4. So here is "On Being A Well" by Macrina Wiederkehr from her book, Seasons of Your Heart. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Seasons of Your Heart by Macrina Wiederkehr The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Find a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

You have a decision to make or a move to discern. You ask a friend to listen and help you figure out your next right thing. And then they ask the question that is as dreaded as it is simple: "Well, what do you want?" If your response to that maddening question is no answer, no direction, no clue, then this episode is for you. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about fear, how and when it shows up, ways it lies and tells the truth, and what it means for us as we do the hard and holy work of making life decisions. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

Today I'm glad to welcome our favorite hope dealer and host of the podcast Human Hope, it's Carlos Whittaker. His brand new book How to Human, just released last month. In it he shares candidly from his own life about how he's wrestling through some of the biggest cultural issues of our current time and simple ways he's learning to refuse to let our disagreements define us. In his honest, relatable, Carlos way, we're invited on a path of radical love—one that requires us to become builders rather than demolitionists. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: How to Human by Carlos Whittaker The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

The decisions we make are evidence of the person who we are becoming. In the middle of our right-now, messy, beautiful, boring, terrifying wonderful lives, it's good to reflect on who we've been, who we are, and who we might become. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

Doing the next right thing is just that -- it's the next right thing for now, not forever. It's the next right thing as far as we understand what is good and right and next. Today I'll share my own story of continuing to discover what it means to do the next right thing in love. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

After a short break, we're back with a starter pack of episodes to turn to for particular situations, especially for you who might be new here or are looking for helpful, actionable decision-making content. Today I'll share specific episodes for when you feel stuck, for making decisions with other people, and resources for your next right thing. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Episode 242: Are You Afraid of Choosing Wrong? Episode 162: Is It Time to Move On? Episode 145: When You're Afraid: Start with Your Senses Episode 136: Decision-Making for Slow Processors Episode 226: When Someone You Love is Indecisive Episode 119: How to Help Children Make Decisions Episode 167: Spiritual Direction for Beginners Episode 172: Make These 2 Lists Now Episode 219: 20 Questions to Ask Before You Say Yes to a Great Opportunity A Great Wagon by Rumi The Quiet Collection app Get my monthly letter here Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

We're on a break! But not the Ross and Rachel kind, this one's only temporary. We're working to create content that meets you right where you are and we'll be back in a couple of weeks. But first, we have an announcement, a request, and a blessing, so listen in! Links + Resources From This Episode: Take our survey to be entered to win a $250 gift card to bookshop.org. Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

On this final episode of the year, I'll share my list of what worked in 2022 as well as a few tips and resources for you if you want to make your own list. Listen in! Want help looking back before moving forward? Download these 10 Questions for Reflection and Discernment. Links + Resources From This Episode: ThredUp - Here's $10 off your first order I'll share my list of what didn't work in my letter to subscribers at the end of the month. Get it here. Created Colorful Episode 189: How to Use The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.