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The Next Right Thing

with Emily P. Freeman

For the second-guessers, the chronically hesitant, or anyone who suffers from decision fatigue, best-selling author and host Emily P. Freeman helps create a little space for your soul to breathe so you can discern your next right thing in love. Because out of the thousands of decisions you make everyday, chances are a few of them threaten to keep you up at night. If you're in a season of transition, waiting, general fogginess or if you've ever searched "how to make a decision" on the internet, listen in.

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Tuesday · 15 min
395: Find a Spiritual Practice That Fits Your Life
When it comes to spiritual practice, it helps me to remember that the goal is not to be good at spiritual practice. The goal is union with God, connection with each other, and love. I've been on a long path over the years of unlearning and relearning what spiritual practices are meant for and how to enter into it as a gift rather than a burden. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: 365: The Spiritual Practice of Looking Up and Down Order How to Walk into a Room Scan the QR code in the back of How to Walk into a Room to claim your free Blessings for Hellos and Goodbyes (plus the downloadable workbook) FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript
September 15 · 9 min
394: Keep Going
How can we be consistent without falling into rigidity? Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Learn more about Journal Club FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcripts
September 8 · 14 min
393: Signs You're Finally Beginning to Heal
After a long time off, welcome all the way back to the podcast. I'm glad to be here and I hope you are, too. We'll begin as we often do around here: by looking back, starting back in February when I discerned my word for this year would be HEAL. On this first episode of fall, I'll share the view from here, what healing means for me in this season, and how to know if healing is on the horizon. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Download grief resources Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamott Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Download The Quiet Collection app Order a How to Walk into a Room Join The Soul Minimalist Substack FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript
July 28 · 3 min
Psalm 100
It's the last week of Psalm Summer 2026, and I'll be reading three versions of Psalm 62. 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: The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book How to Walk into a Room Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
July 21 · 7 min
Psalm 62
It's week five of Psalm Summer, and I'll be reading three versions of Psalm 62. 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: The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book How to Walk into a Room Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
July 14 · 3 min
Psalm 54
It's week four of Psalm Summer, and I'll be reading three versions of Psalm 54. 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: The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book How to Walk into a Room Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
July 7 · 3 min
Psalm 13
It's week three of Psalm Summer, and I'll be reading three versions of Psalm 13. 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: The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book How to Walk into a Room Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
June 30 · 4 min
Psalm 8
It's week two of Psalm Summer, and I'll be reading three versions of Psalm 8. 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: The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book How to Walk into a Room Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
June 23 · 4 min
Psalm 3
It's the first week of Psalm Summer, and I'll be reading three versions of Psalm 3. 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: The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book How to Walk into a Room Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
June 2 · 42 min
Bonus Episode: The Formation Writers Guild with James Bryan Smith
Today I'm joining in conversation with my friend James Bryan Smith to finally share something that's been in the works for over a year now. Jim is the author of The Good and Beautiful book series. A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré, Smith is an ordained United Methodist Church minister and has served in various capacities in local churches. He earned his MDiv at Yale and his DMin at Fuller and is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, where he also serves as the director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation. About a year ago he called me up with an idea for a way to serve writers. That's where our conversation today begins. Even if you aren't a writer, our conversation will, I hope, shed light on how ideas become reality, how sometimes a good idea takes a decade to grow, and the beauty of collaboration, patience, and moving at a human pace. I hope you'll listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Learn more about the Formation Writers Guild The Good and Beautiful Series by James Bryan Smith Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation Renovaré FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide"
May 12 · 15 min
392: Find Your Inner Compass
It's the last episode of our regular season but don't worry - we may pop in with a bonus episode in the next few weeks and we'll definitely be back in late June to begin Psalm Summer. Before I sign off, I want to leave you with the heart of why I do what I do here and what I believe is the most important thing to remember when we have decisions to make. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Inner Compass: An Invitation to Ignatian Spirituality by Margaret Silf Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Download The Quiet Collection app Order a How to Walk into a Room Join The Soul Minimalist Substack FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript
May 5 · 8 min
391: Don't Rush It
There are a lot of reasons to feel pulled in many directions this time of year which is why I'm delightfully surprised by the invitation I've been sensing to slow down and the surprising source from which it comes. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: "They Orbited the Moon, But I Keep Coming Back to the Crew." by Priya Parker FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript
April 28 · 11 min
390: 3 Benefits of Living a Reflective Life
April is my birthday month so every year I like to dedicate one episode to birthdays in general - maybe something you can come back to when your birthday rolls around. Of course birthdays are a time for celebration, for treating ourselves, for toasting to another year of life. They are also a good time for personal reflection. If you are someone for whom reflection does not come naturally, you may wonder why do it at all: We can't change the past so what's the point of looking back? What are the real benefits of reflecting on your life? I'm so glad you asked. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Purchase The Birthday Collection Episode 272: A Soul Minimalist's Guide to Your Birthday Episode 365: A Birthday Reflection for When You're Not Sure How to Celebrate How We Think by John Dewey Journal Club Check-In Get the monthly letter FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide"
April 21 · 10 min
389: What's Saving My Spring Life
Some seasons we're more aware of the ways we need our lives to be saved. For me it's always good to keep a list and pay attention to the small and big things that are saving me. It's been especially good for me this month. Maybe in hearing the things on my list you'll be inspired to make and share your own. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript
April 14 · 8 min
388: Do What You Can
Inevitably in life, all of us will face unexpected turns and be required to navigate terrain we didn't choose and don't understand. What do we do when life is interrupted, when the story you were happy to tell is no longer true? When the crisis isn't obvious or clear or public? When the help we need feels as desperate as a house fire but it's not fully ours to ask for? I have a few ideas. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Watch this episode on YouTube 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
April 7 · 3 min
On Being A Well by Macrina Wiederkehr
This episode originally aired on March 14, 2023. Today I'll re-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 Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
March 31 · 11 min
387: Learning to Let Go
Today I want to share a bit more personally about my own journey this last 6 weeks. As always, my only hope in sharing with you my inner processing is that perhaps it will help you begin to make sense of your own. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: The Holy Longing by Ronald Rolheiser FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript
March 24 · 10 min
386: Counter Your Weights
If you continue to struggle with knowing how to carry the hard stuff without becoming cynical, angry, or sad all the time and also how to carry the good stuff without feeling guilty or succumbing to toxic positivity you're in the right place. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Order Counterweights by Shannan Martin Join Emily and Shannan at Main Street Books Davidson on April 9th Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen Greensboro FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript
March 17 · 22 min
385: Our Friend Jesus
I've been hosting The Next Right Thing for nearly nine years and through sharing simple, soulful practices for making life decisions, I've also offered a window into my own walk with God, including my questions, struggles, gratitudes, and growth. Like you, I've experienced a lot of change in nine years – from parenting middle schoolers to now having college aged kids; going to graduate school and becoming a spiritual director; from loving our church to leaving our church, and finding a new one, including becoming curious about the Quaker expression of our Christian faith. In the midst of all these changes, many things have remained the same, one thing in particular and today I wanted to share more about what it has meant to walk with our friend Jesus through this winding path of life. I hope you'll listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Order your Next Right Thing Guided Journal and use code JOURNALCLUB40 for 40% off and free standard US shipping FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript
March 10 · 14 min
384: When to Protect Your Peace
Today I'm sharing another phrase we might hear often – Protect your peace. I like that phrase and I also wonder sometimes if we take it too far. Does our peace need protecting? When and to what extent? How can we know when our next right thing is to protect our peace and when instead we might need to extend it or even step into discomfort on purpose? That's today's episode. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Episode 383: How to Know if a Process is Worth Trusting New Heights with Taylor Swift David Brooks in the New York Times Find Brooke Romney on Instagram FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript

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