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The Next Right Thing (with Emily P. Freeman)

emily@emilypfreeman.com
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Pub. DateTitleDuration
04 Jan 2022207: The Prayer of St. Francis00:06:55

One of the most helpful spiritual practices I’ve found in the last several years is borrowing the prayers of others when I can’t find words for my own. Today I’ll share one of my favorites and maybe it will be a favorite of yours too. Listen in.

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06 Oct 2020147: Be Anti-Racist00:15:32

It’s been four months since we all put black squares in our Instagram feeds. While the messaging and origin of those blackout Tuesday posts may have become confusing and some of the initial intentions of that initiative was lost in the frenzy of the fast-paced nature of social media, I remain grateful for that day in early summer of 2020.

For some of us, it marked a beginning, or a maybe a new beginning — a moment we can point back to and say: “That was the day I made a decision to be more than not racist. That was the day I decided to be anti-racist.” Here's a personal update of what has happened since and what it could look like to be anti-racist in our everyday lives. Listen in.

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22 Sep 2020145: When You're Afraid: Start With Your Senses00:14:28
Fear can be our friend because it helps us to survive by telling us to avoid dangerous things. But when fear works too hard, it's easy to lose our context. We can become hyper-focused on certain cues while ignoring other ones. When fear starts to work overtime, it can help to engage in this simple practice to bring us back to center again. Listen in.

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22 Aug 2023289: How to Find Relief From Information Overload00:23:13

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.

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17 Oct 201711: Wear Better Pants00:14:26

Perhaps today, your next right step is simply to release something you no longer need so that you can move one step closer to becoming who you already are. And no, this episode title is not a metaphor for something else. Today, we need to have a talk about pants.

Visit the thenextrightthingpodcast.com and click on episode 11 to download a copy of today's prayer for self-acceptance.

Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman or here: emilypfreeman.com

28 May 2024330: Mister Rogers and Decision-Making (Emily's Favorites)00:16:55

This week we'll finish up our walk through past episodes with one of my all-time favorites about Mr. Rogers. I had been wanting to do an episode related to Fred Rogers for quite some time, but it took me a while to finally pull some threads together and connect my thoughts just a little bit. This episode was originally published as episode 103 in November of 2019, and it explores how important it is to realize the impact other people have on the choices that we make for good or for ill. It's about the creativity that can come from frustration, the connection that can happen when we offer a little space, and the generosity that we all have the ability to spread. I hope you'll listen in.

 

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25 May 2021180: Use Your Voice00:11:23
If you’ve been doing the sacred work of watching, listening, and paying good attention, we're grateful for your hard work. You don't have to be in the spotlight to make a difference, I know that full well. But what if now is the time to tell us what you see, hear, and notice? What if now is the time to use your voice and let us hear how it sounds? Listen in.

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11 Apr 2019Bonus: Annie F. Downs00:21:09

If you've ever felt unable to move forward because you’re worried there’s only one right answer and you don’t know what that right answer is, today’s episode is for you.

This is part of a short series we’re doing this month to celebrate the release of my new book, The Next Right Thing. I’m sitting down with a guest to talk about their decision-making habits, regrets, quirks and questions.

Today I’m thrilled to talk with my dear friend Annie F. Downs, bestselling author, nationally known speaker, and podcast host based in Nashville. Her recent books include Remember God and 100 Days To Brave and you may also know her from her fantastically entertaining That Sounds Fun podcast.

Listen in to more Emily + Annie here: Episode 131 of That Sounds Fun.

03 Dec 2024347: The Most Important Vocational Question for the End of the Year00:19:48

There are a lot of questions you may ask yourself at the end of the year. When it comes to our vocation, I have found one question to be most helpful. Today, I'm sharing that question as well as how you might begin to answer it. Listen in.

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27 Oct 2020150: A Guide for Personal Reflection00:12:51
One common mistake we make when we have the desire to make good decisions is that we try to peer into the future to discover what it might hold, what the outcomes we want to achieve are, and what roadblocks we wish to avoid.
 
The only problem is the future hasn’t happened yet, so how can it possibly teach us? Instead of looking ahead and guessing about outcomes, there’s something to be said for looking back and gathering information. Today I'll share about my weekly practice of reflection and a brand new resource I created to help! Listen in.

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15 Feb 2022213: How to Make Embodied Decisions with Dr. Hillary L. McBride00:36:18
What do you do when you feel like your decisions are running counter to your bodily experience? How can you know when you are living a disembodied life?
 
My guest today has asked (and answered) these questions and more in her years-long work as a psychologist, a researcher, an author and a teacher. Dr. Hillary McBride is the author of the new release The Wisdom of Your Body where she writes about what it means to find healing, wholeness, and connection through embodied living.
 
Listen in.
 

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17 May 2022226: When Someone You Love is Indecisive00:09:03
Maybe you're not the one who is chronically hesitant but someone you love seems to always struggle with making decisions. What’s the best way to help the indecisive along? How can you help them move forward in the midst of their hesitation? Great question.
Listen in.

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07 Apr 2020122: Speak A Good Word00:10:51

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.

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14 Nov 2023301: When Your Next Right Thing is to Apologize00:43:18
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.

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07 Feb 2023261: Where Trouble Melts Like Lemon Drops: A Story00:15:21
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.
 

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27 Jun 2023281: What's Saving My Summer Life00:17:05

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.

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28 Feb 2023264: Let's Talk About Fear00:11:54
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.
 

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13 Feb 201824: Look for Arrows (Not Answers)00:15:00

When I have a question, the first thing I want is an answer. Sometimes answers are fairly easy to come by – How do you make pizza? What should I wear today? Who can drive to piano practice?

But so often, the questions we have in life that give us trouble are the ones that aren’t so linear. In my experience, these usually have to do with things like faith, vocation, and relationships.

Today I'm sharing about a time in our life when my husband John and I desperately wanted answers but what we got instead was a series of arrows. This is a story of where they led.

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07 Aug 2017Introducing The Next Right Thing00:04:13

Created for anyone who struggles to make decisions, it's a brand new podcast! Because I'm never more open to advice, guidance, direction, and discouragement than when I have a decision to make. Maybe you too? Inspired from the commonly quoted advice to simply "do the next right thing," let's move forward together to discern what that might mean. To learn more and download a transcript, visit thenextrightthingpodcast.com

18 Aug 2020140: Do The Opposite00:12:22

In the fifth season of Seinfeld, Jerry's friend George Costanza decided to do the opposite of his instincts and as a result, he had the best day of his life. Ignoring your instincts may not be good advice, but there's still something to learn from doing the opposite. Listen in. 

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11 Mar 2025358: Pray However You’re Able00:29:59

What does it mean to pray? How can we do it in a way that both feels like us but also doesn't make all about us? And for lack of a better way to word this question: How can we know if it's working? In today's episode we'll share listeners' experience and questions about prayer as well as what may be important to remember as we engage with God and each other. Listen in.

 

 

23 Jun 2020132: Why is Decision-Making So Hard?00:12:46
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.

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20 Dec 2022258: A Blessing for Christmas Week00:04:40
A blessing for you and yours on this week before Christmas. You may recognize these words from Day 10 of last year’s version of The Quiet Collection for Christmas (2021). I hope they extend a welcome to you on this Christmas, when we mark the day God moved in and everything changed. Amen. Listen in.
 

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08 Feb 2022212: How to Walk Out of A Room00:11:28
Some rooms are not for us. Other rooms are not for us anymore. What do we do when a room we've walked into is no longer a room where we belong? Listen in.
 

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24 May 2022227: Trust the Process with Stephanie Duncan Smith00:44:47
How can you move forward when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, out of control, or like you’re doing it all wrong? My guest today brings simple advice with a nuanced angle inviting us all to trust the process.
 
Stephanie Duncan Smith is a senior editor at Baker Books, where she coaches and champions authors to bring the best out of their message. She’s worked in book and digital media publishing for over a decade, developing bestselling and award-winning writers, and personally pens SLANT LETTER, an email newsletter for writers looking to deepen their craft and tend to the soul of their work which we plan to tell you all about. So what does it look like to trust the process in parenting, faith, and writing? Listen in.
 

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28 May 201984: A Beginner's Guide to Self-Reflection00:17:30

This is a practice that has changed my life and, I believe if you do it regularly, will change yours as well. Here's a step-by-step explanation of how I reflect on my life and some questions I ask that make it both simple and meaningful.

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12 Mar 201974: What's Your Decision-Making Style?00:11:04

We all approach our decisions from our own unique point of view, our own set of personal filters, and a particular posture that’s baked in to our personality.

Today’s episode will narrow all of that uniqueness down to three simple categories we’ll call your decision-making style. Take the quiz to find out yours!

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29 Oct 2024342: A Liturgy for Election Day00:11:27

As we approach Election Day in the United States, I wanted to provide a simple liturgy as a resource for us as we make important decisions about our elected officials at the local, state and national levels. This is a liturgy you can use as you prepare to walk into the voting booth, either physically or if you're voting by mail metaphorically. Hopefully it will be a grounding exercise for you between now and next week, perhaps one you can listen to on your way to the voting booth or anytime before. Listen in.

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26 Apr 2022223: How to Move Through Small Disappointments00:09:36

Whether you're making plans to travel, to be with friends or family, or to host people at your house in your very own neighborhood, chances are you have some expectations for how things will go. So what do you do when the day comes, the trip is lovely, the food is great and the company kind, but you get stuck in a disappointment that you can't seem to shake? Sometimes our next right thing turns out differently than we thought, and even if it's not life threatening or earth shattering, we feel disappointment and we may not even know all the way why. Here's a way to move through it. Listen in.

 

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18 May 2021179: Stop Overworking with Megan Hyatt Miller00:30:16

Years ago, Megan Hyatt Miller found herself at a crossroads where she felt like she had to choose between being present with her family and present at her work. It felt like an impossible choice until she created a third way. And that’s where we’ll start off. Listen in.

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01 Feb 2022211: The Daily Examen00:12:18
What is the Daily Examen? How does it work? What is the purpose? And what does it have to do with discerning my next right thing? Today I'll share a spiritual practice that I’ve found to be personally transformative in my daily life. Listen in.
 

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17 Oct 2023297: Am I Doing This Wrong?00:13:59
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.

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14 Feb 2023262: For Who You Might Become00:09:15

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.

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03 Sep 2024334: Silence Tells A Story00:14:53

There are a lot of gifts that silence can bring and it's good to name what they are. But before we can enter into a practice of meaningful silence, it may be important to name some reasons why we may be avoiding it in the first place. Silence always tells a story. Listen in

 

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18 Jul 2023284: Psalm 100:03:40

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.

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06 Nov 201858: Welcome Silence00:14:14

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.

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17 Sep 2024336: The Quaker Practice of Silence with Carrie Newcomer00:39:44
My guest today is internationally known as an Emmy-winning songwriter, recording artist, educator, activist, and poet whose work centers around finding beauty in a world that often feels broken. As a practicing Quaker, Carrie Newcomer's albums include Betty's Diner, The Gathering of Spirits and A Permeable Life, which has an accompanying book of poetry and essays.
 
I'm so glad to speak with Carrie today on what we can learn from Quaker practice about silence, about discernment, and our next right thing. Listen in.

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07 Dec 2021204: A Soul Minimalist's Guide to Christmas00:16:40

A minimalist asks, "What am I holding on to?" A soul minimalist asks, "What has a hold on me?" Let's ease some of the decision fatigue that can come along this time of year with another Soul Minimalist’s Guide, this one specifically for Christmas. Listen in.

 

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24 Nov 2020154: Remember Who You Are00:14:20
Today I want to talk about Jesus. I can’t talk about the importance of remembering who you are without talk about who I am. And to talk about who I am, I have to talk about Jesus.
 
It’s funny when you do the kind of work I do,  some people think you don’t talk about Jesus enough and others think you do it too much. I’m not trying to strike any kind of balance here y’all, I’m just trying to be a person.
 
I mention our friend Jesus every now and then. You may be used to that by now. I want you to know you’re welcome in this space no matter what you believe about Jesus and I hope you’ll stick around for the conversation. Listen in.

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09 Jun 2020130: Do What Sounds Fun00:14:15

I'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.

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21 Apr 2020124: Reimagine Your Work Day00:16:22

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.

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01 Aug 2023286: Psalm 6300:05:20

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.

23 Nov 2021202: Abuelita Faith with Kat Armas00:34:00
 
What if the greatest theologians the world has ever known are those whom the world wouldn’t consider theologians at all? I'm glad to welcome theologian and author of Abuelita Faith, Kat Armas, who tells the stories of unnamed and overlooked theologians in society and in the Bible--mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters--whose survival, strength, resistance, and dedication to the next deeply right thing teach us the true power of love and faith. Listen in.

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24 Oct 201712: Practice Presence00:15:08

Scattered and rushed doesn't have to be the norm. Listen in for one simple way to gather yourself and practice presence today.

Come join our little tribe for even more help to create space for your soul to breathe: emilypfreeman.com/join and find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman.

Mentioned in This Episode:

27 Feb 2024316: The Faithfulness of Staying and Leaving00:12:29
One thing that's important to talk about when we consider leaving and staying is that faithfulness can be found in both. Listen in.

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Order from your favorite bookseller below (or another one not listed):
17 Dec 2019107: 8 Books for Soulful Decisions00:16:44

Today I'm sharing some trusted books I've turned to multiple times over the years. If you’ve been listening for any amount of time, these recommendations probably won't surprise you. But it seemed fitting to have them all in one place and dedicate at least one episode to some of the books I’ve turned to over the years that have helped to shape my own decision making process, path, and posture. Listen in.

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13 Sep 2022244: When A Public Figure Dies00:13:14
The news of the passing of a public figure can be both sobering and disruptive, no matter how far removed from us they were. How we navigate the loss of a public figure depends on the age of the one who dies, the manner of their death, and the degree to which we paid attention to their work their art, or their life of service. And it depends on us, our experience and perception of this person and their impact on our individual lives and on the arc of history.
 
When someone who seemed larger than life stops living, there is often a collective pause and there should be. Today let's consider the strange dynamic of reckoning with the loss of a public figure. Listen in.
 

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04 Apr 2019Bonus: The Next Right Thing Live Show!00:42:44

Listen in as we gathered in my hometown the night before The Next Right Thing book released into the world! You can now grab a copy of the book wherever books are sold - learn more at NextRightThingBook.com.

With special guests Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius), and  Myquillyn Smith (The Nester).

31 Aug 2021190: Psalm 13900:03:40

May this simple reading of Psalm 139 be a reflection you can return to as you discern your next right thing in love. Listen in.

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04 Jun 201985: Hold Space When Someone Dies00:13:05

Grief descends as a permanent part of our rhythm of life, coloring everything, reshaping the narrative, changing us in ways we would never ask for but there it is anyway. Death changes every part of life, including our ability to do our next right thing.

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22 Mar 2022218: A Story of Discernment with Jamin Goggin00:47:03
What do you do when you work hard on something for years of your life, you believe you’re being faithful to your next right thing, and then you release your prayed for work into the world only to later learn new information that forces you to question what you worked so hard to offer? Author, pastor, and spiritual director, Jamin Goggin, had to wrestle with that very question and is here to tell the story. Listen in.
 

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18 Sep 201851: Choose A Pastime00:17:10

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.

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18 Mar 2025359: The Spiritual Practice of Looking Up and Down00:11:25

So far this year I’ve been engaging a simple little practice you can do right now that is helping me feel a little bit more grounded than I would without it. And if you’ve been around here very long you know that any practice can be a spiritual practice if we do it with an awareness of God. Listen in.

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17 Apr 201833: Gather Co-Listeners00:13:43

If you are facing a big decision that could lead to a new start, perhaps you don’t need a collection of gurus as much as you need a a group of co-listeners. Here’s how I found mine.

 

Find show notes and a complete transcript at thenextrightthingpodcast.com

Find me on instagram @emilypfreeman

 

31 Dec 2024348: What Worked in 202400:36:54
At the end of every year, I write down a list of what worked and what did not work that year. I share this in hopes that it helps you as you reflect on your own life and maybe it can give you some confidence that there really is no wrong way to do it. And maybe in hearing my lists, it will help you make your own. Listen in.

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17 Nov 2020153: Keep Advent Simple (with Tsh Oxenreider)00:22:32
In today’s episode I’m sharing about one decision I’ve already made for the holidays and I have a special guest to share the news with. Listen in.

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14 Jul 2020135: Fill The Vault00:11:32

For 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.

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08 Jan 201965: Take Off Your Crown00:10:15

One question can make the difference between living with all consuming daily stress and a lighthearted sense of hope. 

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05 Mar 2024317: When Things End Without Closure with Sharon McMahon00:49:51

Today's guest is a former high school government and law teacher who earned a reputation as America's government teacher amidst the historic 2020 election proceedings for her viral efforts on Instagram to educate the general public on political misinformation.

Her name is Sharon McMahon and her simple mission is to share nonpartisan information about democracy. I am one of over a million people who learn from Sharon on a weekly basis, who call ourselves the Governerds, and we're regularly grateful for the truth and logic that Sharon brings in a society that's often plagued by bias and conspiracy.

I brought Sharon on because one of the many things she reminds us of is the importance of changing your mind when you receive new and better information. So what do you do when the new information it seems someone has received is about you? And what about when that information is false? How can we navigate the various endings in our lives, especially the ones we don't choose, didn't want, and don't offer any closure?
 
I'm grateful for Sharon's willingness to share vulnerably about her own experience of being forced out of a room. Listen in.

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Order from your favorite bookseller below (or another one not listed):

 

13 Dec 2022257: A Soul Minimalist's Guide for the End of the Year00:11:24

We have a little over two weeks until the end of the year with a lot of potential activity between now and then. Here's the soul talk we all need for the finish line. Listen in.

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29 Apr 2025365: A Birthday Reflection for When You're Not Sure How to Celebrate00:09:40

It’s the last week of April and before the month gets away from me, I wanted to have a short birthday episode for you to return to when your birthday rolls around. For today’s episode I’ll keep it short and sweet with just 4 questions you can ask yourself during your birthday week. Listen in.

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31 Oct 201713: Quit Something00:17:29

We usually save this conversation for January, but maybe we need it now more than ever.

If you feel busy but not productive or rushing to get somewhere but never feel like you’ve arrived, it's time to focus on what is essential.

To connect beyond the podcast, join our little tribe at emilypfreeman.com/join and find me on instagram @emilypfreeman

Mentioned in This Episode:

 

06 Jun 2023278: What now? For When You Don't Know What's Next00:11:05

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.

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22 Jun 2021184: The Next Right Thing in Marriage with John Freeman00:41:45

In honor of 20 years of marriage, I've invited John to join me today. We'll talk about life together through various transitions, griefs, fears, and personality quirks. We'll also share about how we met and what the Enneagram has taught us in marriage. Listen in!

 

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21 May 2024329: Decision-Making for Slow Processors (Emily's Favorites)00:14:12

This week, we're continuing our walk through past episodes doing something we've never done before. I'm looking back at some of my personal favorites. This episode was originally published as episode 136 in July of 2020, and it explores the question, "Is there room for slow processing in this fast moving world? How can we make thoughtful decisions when everything moves so fast?" It's a great one to revisit. I hope you'll listen in.

 

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20 Aug 201990: Start with this Simple Rhythm00:17:59

I talk a lot about the importance of creating space for your soul to breathe. One question I often hear is how?

What does it look like to create space for your soul? Practically, on a Tuesday, in the middle of your regular life?

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01 Nov 2022251: Why Sabbath is For Everyone with Ruth Haley Barton00:35:16
Today I'm glad to welcome Ruth Haley Barton to the podcast to talk about an important and often misunderstood spiritual practice: sabbath. Ruth has spent over 20 years as a student, a practitioner and a leader in the area of Christian spirituality and spiritual formation. She served on the staff of several churches before founding the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to creating space for God to strengthen the souls of leaders, equipping them to lead transforming communities. Ruth has written several books that have been transformational in my own life, and her most recent release is called Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again which is what I can't wait to talk with her about today. Listen in.

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05 Feb 201969: Tell Someone00:11:22

One life-giving choice I’ve made when I’m feeling overwhelmed with indecision is to decide not to walk through it alone.

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05 Nov 2024343: A Grounding Practice for Anxious Times00:10:33
Today's episode is a little bit different. We're going to engage in a grounding practice for an anxious time. You may likely recognize this as the 5-4-3-2-1 method. Even if it's familiar, I invite you to keep pace with me and follow along. You can do this while driving, walking, in a crowded space, alone in your office or room, or even while you're laying down to sleep at night. All you need is to stay present with me and with yourself. Listen in.

 

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11 Oct 2022248: Start With Hello with Shannan Martin00:38:37
All the world's a neighborhood and everyone's my neighbor. How to begin to live as such? Today's guest submits it's simple: Start with hello. Today I'm glad to welcome one of my favorite writers and also favorite humans, author Shannan Martin. Her most recent book is called Start With Hello (And other simple ways to live as neighbors). In it, she speaks directly to that part of us that wants to reach out, wants to belong, wants to embody connection with our community in a way that is tangible, accessible, equitable, and with hearts bent toward justice. Listen in.

 

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04 Apr 2023269: Friendship Breakups with Laura Tremaine00:47:14

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.

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12 Sep 2023292: What Every Decisive Person Knows00:20:03
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.
 

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15 Jun 2021183: Real Talk About Overfunctioning00:17:27

How can you know when responsibility and being a caring grown up turns into overfunctioning? Is this exhaustion and overwhelm just a season or has it become a pattern? Today I'm sharing honestly what this looks like for me. As always, our next right thing starts with naming what is really going on. Listen in.

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19 Nov 2019103: Look for the Children: Mister Rogers and Decision-Making00:14:16

Sometimes decision-making is a straightforward choice between two things. Those things may be both great things, both not great things, or one is greater than the other but the choice is nuanced and not as simple as it seems it should be.

But then there are other times where choices are clouded by the personality and demeanor of other people, where this one thing looks great on the surface but you know this situation isn’t so simple and you wonder how to move forward in a situation that is clouded by interpersonal conflict or relational tension.

If you can relate, listen in.

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02 Feb 2021164: Start With the Punchline in Mind with Michael Jr.00:31:06
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.

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05 Dec 201718: Wait With Great Hope00:14:01

Astronaut Scott Kelly was the first American to spend 340 consecutive days in space. But the night he returned home, the news cameras were looking in another direction.

In our last episode of 2017, we'll take a few moments to consider what it means to wait with great hope during one of the busiest months of the year.

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25 Oct 2022250: One Secret to a Light(er) Heart00:12:05
Doing the next right thing won't necessarily protect us from harm, regret, or embarrassment. But hopefully, it can be a practice that keeps us present, moving, and from being too hard on ourselves. Listen in.
 

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08 Oct 201997: Take a 10 Minute Timeout00:11:29

In nearly every major and sometimes not-so-major decision, I’ve prayed for clarity. I’ve shared here before how in times of cloudy decision-making frustration, I’ve even Googled how to make a decision.

More and more, though, every time the word “clarity” comes out of my mouth, I hesitate. I’m realizing for me, clarity can be a more acceptable word for control. If I could just see the future, I could make a good decision about this part of my life.

Today's practice is to take a 10 minute timeout and consider a few simple questions in the presence of God. Listen in.

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04 May 2021177: The Next Right Thing for People Pleasers00:16:02
We all have the capacity to live our lives in such a way that we forget to remember who we are, we hurry through our minutes looking for the next important thing, we are overly attentive to what people think of us, and we are addicted to our own press.
 
So what is the next right thing for those of us who are so aware of other people’s opinions that we have a hard time knowing our own, making wise decisions, or doing our next right thing in love? Listen in.

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26 Oct 2021198: Be Present Not Perfect with Shauna Niequist00:37:36

Today I’m joined by a writer who deeply understands what it means to live life on autopilot, chugging through the day "on fear and caffeine." As it turns out, that life is a train to nowhere and Shauna Niequist decided to get off. I’m happy to sit down with her to talk about writing, connection, and her next right thing. Listen in.

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30 Jan 201822: Embrace Your Limits00:12:31

When you finally find, name, and move toward the things you feel most called to, you will quickly discover some roadblocks in the form of some kind of limitation like time, money, fatigue, or support.

Instead of fighting those, perhaps your next right thing is to embrace them.

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Visit The Next Right Thing Podcast show notes to download a complete transcript of this episode.

01 Sep 2020142: Start With Your Senses00:09:28

If you have decisions to make but feel like you’re just circling around the same thoughts, fears, ideas, and possibilities in your head but can’t find an out to take action, I want to invite you to journey with me over the course of the next several episodes toward discovering better decision-making habits by engaging our bodies, particularly our five senses. Listen in.

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24 Jul 201847: Receive One Another00:05:40

When someone around us is struggling, what is our next right thing? Listen in.

 

16 May 2023275: 3 Questions and 3 Books00:14:21
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.
 
10 Nov 2020152: Say Words With Your Out Loud Voice00:13:49
Most of us long for clarity -- in our decisions, our relationships, and our vocation. As Brene Brown has taught us, "Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind." Sometimes the simplest way to offer clarity is one we often overlook: saying words with our out loud voice. Listen in. 

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18 Feb 2025355: What’s Saving My Winter Life00:15:56

It's that time again for our seasonal episode of What's Saving My Life Right Now. I'll be sharing the things that are life-giving to me during this current winter season, and I'll encourage you to make your own list. 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 winter, everything counts. Listen in.

11 Sep 201850: Go Forward00:13:23

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.

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23 Apr 2024325: How to Know What You Like with Myquillyn Smith00:35:11

I'm so glad to welcome New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Myquillyn Smith. You may know her best as The Nester and I know her best as my big sister. The good news for all of us, is that Myquillyn has a brand-new book available on this very day.

It's called House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style and Budget. She's never met a house she didn't love, and today, she's here to help us learn how to do the same. If you struggle knowing where to start or feel overwhelmed with the number of decisions you believe stand between you and the room that you love, I hope you'll listen in.

 

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18 Feb 2020115: Before You Decide, HALT00:09:12

If 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.

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05 Nov 2019101: Read Your Own Headlines00:12:05

In the midst of what might be a busy schedule, a life transition, a big decision, or the constant demands of everyday life, it can be easy to lose the thread of the story our lives are telling. That may not seem like it matters . . . until it does. And that’s what today’s episode is all about. Listen in.

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13 Jun 2023279: Our Favorite Summertime Decisions00:18:30
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.

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01 Jan 2019A Blessing for the New Year00:03:03

Before you make any major decisions in the new year, here's a 3 minute blessing to start things off.

20 Nov 201860: Start Before You're Ready (PLUS A Big Announcment!)00:19:49

Starting before you’re ready moving even when you’re not sure where you’re going is only possible when you have a next-right-thing mindset.

Today I'll share a story from my own life and, in the process, offer what I hope will be as fun an announcement for you to hear as it is for me to give.

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31 Mar 2020121: How to Discern and Decide00:15:23

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.

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09 Apr 2024323: The Kind of Quiet that Wakes Us Up00:14:02

They say May is the new December, and we all know it's true. Though we have a month until we get there, chances are this season's activities are in full swing now and not likely to stop until June. It's times like this when I often find myself busy doing the things that don't matter as much, and avoiding doing the things that do. Sound familiar? How can we start to wake up in a world that seems intent on keeping us asleep? Listen in.

 

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23 Jan 2024311: Bless Your Hellos and Goodbyes00:14:40
In this episode, I'll share what it could look like to begin to bless the hellos and goodbyes of your life no matter what they are. I'm also so excited to share a few free resources that will help you do just that. Listen in.
 
14 Jan 2020110: Build for the Years You Can’t See00:12:43

Since adults make over 35,000 decisions every single day, it’s no wonder that this idea of doing the next right thing feels like such a relief. But there are also times when doing the next right thing doesn’t seem like enough.

Maybe you’ve been practicing this simple discipline for a while now and still, it’s not leading to where you thought it would lead or bringing results you hoped to see by now.

If you can relate, listen in.

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01 May 201835: Be Kind (with Candace Cameron Bure)00:25:49

When you're on a roll in Hollywood, you don't leave the industry. But that's exactly what actress, producer, and author Candace Cameron Bure decided to do.

In the midst of the fear and second-guessing, one character trait remained certain throughout her life and career transitions - kindness.

Listen in as she shares her story, because when you're in the midst of making a big decision, it helps to hear the decision-making process other people go through. 

 

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28 Jan 2025352: Don’t Feel Bad for Not Having Clarity00:15:39

It’s the time of year when I think a lot of us are looking for clarity in various areas of our lives and also where we may feel bad or behind if we don’t yet have it. If that’s you then this episode is for you. Listen in.

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26 Sep 2023294: Standing at the Threshold with Lowland Hum00:49:43

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.

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