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?

• Episode 76: Create a Simple Morning Routine
• Simply Tuesday
  • Get the Simply Tuesday audiobook for free in August courtesy of Christian Audio
• A Million Little Ways
• Invitation to Retreat by Ruth Haley Burton
• Guerillas of Grace by Ted Loder
• Placemaker by Christie Purifoy
• Whistling in the Dark by Frederick Buechner
• Grab a copy of The Next Right Thing
  • August 20th Only: Get The Next Right Thing 50% off at Barnes & Noble
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download a transcript of this episode

In our last episode I shared about my plan to take a six week sabbatical, but going away to plan, pray, and create is only helpful if you return. Today I'll share about the equally important task of coming back.

• Episode 88: Come Away For Awhile
• Quiet: The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain
• Astronaut Scott Kelly walking on Earth after a year in space on the Verge
• Rob Maddock on Atmospheric Reentry on PhysOrg
• How Astronauts Return to Earth by Beth Wilson
• Whistling in the Dark by Frederick Buechner
• Grab a copy of The Next Right Thing book
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
• Download a transcript of this episode

Is there a difference between a vacation, a sabbath, and a break? How can we tell and why does it matter?

• Episode 87: Create Space
• Subversive Sabbathby AJ Swoboda
• The Power of Introverts: A Manifesto for Quiet Brillianceby Susan Cain
• Episode 40: Keep Your Rest
• Invitation to Retreatby Ruth Haley Barton
• The Gift and Necessity of Time Away With God: Renovare Podcast with Ruth Haley Barton
• Faithful Presenceby David Fitch
• Meeting God In Scripture by Jan Johnson
• Grab a copy of The Next Right Thing book
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

Creating space for the soul is part of being a healthy human. For some of us that phrase sounds delightful. But for others, not so much.

What does it mean to create space for the soul and why does it matter?

• The Solace of Open Spacesby Gretel Ehrlich
• Soul Keepingby John Ortberg
• Episode 7: Faithfulness, Fame, and the Gift of Obscurity
• Holy Listeningby Margaret Guenther
• #LiteraryLondon+ #TravelsWithTsh
• Grab a copy of The Next Right Thing book!
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

The second most often quoted phrase from this podcast is one I didn't even say. The first phrase people repeat the most is obvious, do the next right thing. Want to know the second most often quoted phrase? Well it comes from James Bryan Smith and here's where he'll share the story behind it.

• Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation
• The Apprentice Gathering September 26-28 Wichita, KS
• Hidden In Christby James Bryan Smith
• The Apprentice Seriesby James Bryan Smith
• Grab a copy of The Next Right Thing book!
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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.

• Will Smith Remembers the Last Conversation with Prince
• No Wonder They Call Him the Saviorby Max Lucado
• The Year of Magical Thinkingby Joan Didion
• Rachel Held Evans
• A Grief Observedby C. S. Lewis
• Grab a copy of The Next Right Thing book!
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

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.

Links + Resources From This Episode:

• Episode 04: Record What You Learn
• Episode 61: Look Back - How Reflection Can Help You Make Better Decisions
• Discern + Decide: An online course to help you discern a personal and communal rhythm of life
• Grab a copy of The Next Right Thing book!
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

Today I'm stepping away from the daily nuts and bolts of decision-making to remind us what it's all about. Yes, we want to make better decisions. More, we want to make decisions in a better way — but what does that mean, exactly?

• Visions of Vocation by Steven Garber
• Episode 82: Find the Beginning in the Ending
• The Sovereignty of Good by Iris Murdoch
• Writers: hope*writers is open for enrollment through May 24!
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

Are you facing the end of something but find yourself dragging your feet to the finish line because you aren't sure what will come after?

Today I'll offer 3 things to consider just before or right after an ending as you discern your next right thing.

• The Next Right Thing book
• Episode 03: Make The Most Important List
• To Bless This Space Between Usby John O'Donohue
• Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman

Today I'll offer a short blessing for all the mamas everywhere - both the newest ones, the most experienced ones, the ones who are still waiting as well as those who don't think of themselves as mothers but they mother us in their own ways.

Maybe you'll see yourself in a few of these lines or maybe you'll see a friend, a sister, a cousin or a daughter. We all need to be mothered and this is a small celebration of the mother-work all women are doing in the world.

I raise my coffee mug to you.

Find me at emilypfreeman.com or on Instagram @emilypfreeman.