The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions

Synopsis:Whether we want to admit it or not, unmade decisions can cause a lot of turmoil and stress in our lives. In The Next Right Thing, Emily does her readers a great service by giving them practical ways to practice being better decision makers. A few chapter titles from the book include: "Know What You Want More," "Make a Most Important List," and "Be Where You Are." Each chapter begins with a brief story and/or guide post and ends with a prayer and a tip to actually put the aforementioned idea into practice. Within the book, Emily often repeats the phrase, "Do The Next Right Thing In Love" and encourages her readers to make space for their souls to breathe.My Thoughts:I picked up this book thinking that I didn't really need it because I'm actually pretty decent at making decisions. I was aware that I do often get "decision fatigue" and I figured Emily would probably address that within the book's pages. I've been listening to Emily's podcast (also named The Next Right Thing) for a while now and it always helps me to take a much needed deep breath. I also have the privilege of attending church with Emily and getting to hear her read scripture which is like an opportunity to slow down and be present as well. So, all that to say, I decided that this book might be a good thing for me and I started reading.I'm not exaggerating (something I tend to do just a little) when I say that I completely underestimated the truths that I would find within the pages of this book. As I read, it was almost as if Emily were speaking directly to me and helping me to see some things that I had pushed under the rug and refused to name.These past few years have brought a lot of changes into my life. Typically, I'm pretty good with change, but there were A LOT of changes to navigate this time around. Here are some of the major ones:I quit my job as a school librarian to become a stay-at-home mom. We bought our first home. My husband started his own business. I started my own business. My dad died. We had our second child. My husband's business grew a lot. My business grew a lot. My oldest became a very strong-willed 4 year old. My kids have been sick for what now feels like an eternity.Even after I list them out, there is a battle going on in my mind about how much change that actually is. The dialogue goes something like, "Oh, that's not too bad. Some other people have way more stressors than that." What Emily helped me to realize is that naming things for what they are is really important. I failed to name these changes as hard things and was continuing on as I always had; trying to do all the things as I always have. I have learned so much about myself during these years of big changes and one of those things is that I feel responsibility for many things, some of which are not mine to be responsible for. I'm a stay-home-mom who has transitioned into having a business that I mostly run by myself (I did hire part-time help this year, praise). Emily shares a similar story about being a stay-at-home mom who is also a work-from-home writer and as I read the words on the page it was like a light bulb turned on and helped me see some of the things I had been ignoring. I am no longer a stay-at-home mom. I am a mom who loves her kids dearly and wants to have a more flexible job so that I can be with them more, but I have a business that is a full time work-from-home gig. Y'all. This is huge. Just naming this truth has freed me up to see that my responsibilities have to change. I have added new things to my plate and therefore I must also take some things away. I can not, in fact, do all the things.I could go on for pages about these aha moments that I experienced reading The Next Right Thing. I flew through the pages on my Kindle because I couldn't wait to see what Emily was going to say next. I am incredibly excited to get a hard copy on release day (April 2nd) so that I can sit down for a while with this beauty of a book and underline and mark up all the goodness found within its pages. Do yourself a favor and reserve a copy for yourself.

As a fellow Enneagram 4, Emily P Freeman is definitely a kindred spirit. I read her previous book “Grace for The Christian Good Girl” and it definitely resonated with me. More recently, I have been listening to her podcast.Lately, I have been struggling with a decision about my job. I know it is not a good fit in so many ways. I often dread going to work and live for weekends and the end of the day. But I have good benefits and job security. But I am feeling more and more like it’s time to move on. But the problem is that I didn’t know what to move on to. I was thinking about going back to school to get my Master’s so I can become a counselor. But it would be a HUGE financial and time commitment. I did start the application process, but I just didn’t feel right about moving forward. So I decided to purchase this book.One of the things I like about this book is that the advice is simple and practical. I deal with a lot of decision fatigue. So I need things broken down into small steps. Emily asks the reader to ponder several questions. The one that really hit me was “What do you want?” I realized that I had never really considered that. I tend to focus more how how my decisions impact other people and what other people think I should do. When I pondered the wuestion “Do I really want to go to grad school? I was shocked to realize that my honest answer is “No, I don’t” I definitely was not expecting that. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was true. I realized I want to go in a completely different direction. This new direction will still enable me to change jobs. It will still require a financial and time commitment. But it will be significantly more manageable and won’t require going into debt the way grad school likely would. It would also enable me potentially incorporate my interest in counseling into my new job. The more I think about pursuing this new path, the more excited I become. It just feel right. That alone makes it worth the price of the book.If you are a Christian struggling with decision fatigue or feeling overwhelmed by too many options or choices, you need to get this book. It will help you. I have also ordered the journal. Thank you Emily!

I love Emily P Freeman’s writing but this is her best work so far. And it’s about so much more than just decision making. It’s wisdom for navigating so much of what happens in life...

This book was really helpful in showing me how to make good decisions and that the decisions we make are not necessarily the most important part of the process! There were a lot of things that caused me to stop and think, especially learning to name the narrative as I so often don’t do this!

While surfing and bookmarking umpteen no off books, I picked this one and must say everyone should read it once.This book has stories, explanation, journey etc but the biggest of all it develops a faith in God. Though being an atheist it's always a question, despite being an atheist I would say that one should read this book. Whatever one struggles to take decisions, it's helps you do the next right thing with the belief on God. Also the book has certain chapters stretched which wasn't necessary, still I think the author wants to take the reader through the journey which is more imp than start or destination.So even if you are an atheist, do read it once.

As a spiritual director, I’ve read a number of books on discernment, and this is one of the most beautifully and accessibly written. Life isn’t just made up of the big decisions, but of the ways we live the little decisions and moments of our real everyday lives. Emily helps to take the fear and overwhelm out of big decisions by teaching us to pay attention to our lives and to focus on taking the next small step, doing our next right thing. I’ve just finished the e-book version and will begin today to read the hard copy. Some books demand to be read with pencil in hand, and returned to again and again as we learn to live the truth that it offers, and this is one of them!

The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman is a book you will read and reread - most likely with a highlighter or pen in hand. Although it is on decision making, it is far more than just making decisions. It is about living life well and... doing the next right thing. Thoughtful prayers and practical assignments at the end of each chapter help apply the principles to one's life. Ms. Freeman's gentle, lyrical style is easy to read and yet causes one to stop and ponder her words often.I've read Emily' other books and couldn't wait for the release of this one. I've never been disappointed in her writings. The podcast of the same name, "The Next Right Thing", is one that supports this book as well