In an attempt to disrupt the cycle of overthinking and get out of my own head, I'm working to pay attention to my body, namely my five senses. This is not my most natural way. If you can relate, I hope that intentionally seeing, touching, smelling, tasting, and hearing might prove to be a grounding practice as we consider our next right thing in several areas of our lives. Today I'm glad to have my sister, Myquillyn Smith (The Nester), join me for a conversation about how to start with our senses at home. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode:

• Uncover personal stories about your past at ancestry.com
• Episode 141: Redo Your Morning Routine 
• Welcome Home by Myquillyn Smith
• Myquillyn's Autumn playlist
• Emily's Autumn playlist
• Myquillyn's website, The Nester
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing 
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download Transcript

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.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

• Get 30% off your first KiwiCo crate
• Episode 141: Redo Your Morning Routine
• My conversation with Susan Stabile on The Enneagram Journey
• Embracing The Body by Tara Owens
• Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing 
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download Transcript

Sometimes we create routines and other times, we have to break them down. Today's episode is an encouragement for anyone who feels stuck because the routines you had before aren't working anymore. Solidarity, sister. Listen in.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

• Uncover personal stories about your past at ancestry.com
• Episode 76: Create a Simple Morning Routine
• Episode 90: Start with This Simple Rhythm
• Episode 140: Do the Opposite
• Shannan Martin's Instagram account
• Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison
• Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing 
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download Transcript

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. 

Links + Resources From This Episode:

• Listeners of The Next Right Thing can get 2 free months of Skillshare premium membership here.
• Get The Between Places journal for 15% off with code NEXTRIGHTTHING here
• Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor
• Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing 
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download Transcript

I have invited one of my best friends in the world, author Kendra Adachi, to sit down and talk with us about simplifying our choices by deciding once (when we can) and remembering that we are the boss of our decisions and not the other way around. Listen in.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

• Get 30% off your first month and free shipping at Kiwico here.
• The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi
• Find Kendra on Instagram or online
• Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith
• Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing 
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download transcript

When it comes to the decisions we have to make, the choices we carry and the many potential roads we could walk down, its important to remember that we don’t face these decisions neutrally or at zero every time. Like a good novelist begins her story with the story already happening, that’s how we arrive at every decision we make. And that means we're carrying some things we may need to leave behind. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode:

• Episode 137: Remember What You Know
• Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
• The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi (Details about preorder bonuses here).
• Email me here with questions you may have for Kendra
• The Sacrament of Letting Go by Macrina Wiederkehr
• Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing 
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download Transcript

From the scientists to the school board, no one really knows for sure what the next best step is in the midst of this continuing coronavirus epidemic — and those who thought they knew for sure before keep changing their minds.   We have to make decisions without all the facts, with a rapidly changing landscape of advice, and with fewer certainties we’ve come to rely upon. Now more than ever it’s essential to remember what we already know and practice doing just the next right thing. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode:

• Today's episode is sponsored by Ancestry.com. The Next Right Thing listeners can get their AncestryDNA kit and free trial here.
• Episode 33: Gather Co-Listeners
• Psalm 23 (MSG)
• Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing 
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download Transcript

Today’s episode is inspired by a few comments I received after I shared on Instagram that I am a slow processor. Several of you raised your hand and said you are slow processors too and it’s good to hear from someone like me who continues to put content out weekly and seems to be a functioning human adult person but that I too am someone who thinks slow.   Is there room for slow processing in this fast moving world? How can we make thoughtful decisions when everything moves so fast? Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode:

• The Next Right Thing listeners can get 2 free months of Skillshare! Details here.
• 10 Things To Tell You: Has The Internet Ever Changed Your Mind?
• Episode 60: Start Before You're Ready
• Essentialism by Greg McKewon
• Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing 
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download Transcript

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.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

• The Actor's Life by Jenna Fischer
• The Nap Ministry on Instagram
• Episode 88: Come Away For A While
• The Rest of the Body // A Guest Post by Tara M. Owens
• Embracing the Body by Tara Owens
• Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing 
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download Transcript

How can we continue to move forward when so many things seem like they’re standing still? When we're still carrying grief? When our hearts are broken? Sometimes our next right thing isn't to solve a problem, it's to carry it longer. It's called lament and I'm learning it is my next right thing. Maybe it's yours too?

Listen in.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

• The Next Right Thing listeners can get 2 free months of Skillshare! Details here.
• This Too Shall Last by K.J. Ramsey
• Psalm 13 (NIV)
• The Redemptive Edge: Creative Action Begins with Lament
• Whistling in the Dark by Frederick Buechner
• Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing 
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download Transcript