Episode 35 - Soulful Decision Making

SHOW NOTES

How many of you have been stressed or anxious about making decisions? (raising my hand!) Host Jeremy Frye talks with Emily Freeman, author of “The Next Right Thing” about how decision doesn’t need to be stressful, but can be a soulful practice, and how at the core it is not about making decisions but creating each of our lives.

2 Key Practices to start with:

1. Clearing the Decks – minimizing your things/clutter and your inner-life.

• Decluttering of desk = taking care of your space
• Silence = soulful moment:  embrace Silence without an agenda

Mentioned:

• Joshua Becker – Becoming Minimalist
• Parker J. Palmer

2. Recognize narratives about yourself, about this decision, and especially about God.

• What we believe about God will always color our decision – “Don’t believe anything bad about God” – Dallas Willard
• We need to expose our false narrative of god and our false narrative of ourselves

Mentioned:

• Dietrich Bonhofer – “I need the Christ that is in you, and you need the Christ that is in me”

Other practices mentioned:

• Pro Con List – lacks the nuance and heart, but can help
• Life energy list (**Preferred Method)

Example: Your job = Take certain amount of time to look at the job and make two lists. 1. What is life draining 2. what is life giving.

Mentioned:

• Marie Forleo

“You are one in whom Christ delights and dwells. You live in the strong and unshakeable kingdom of God. The kingdom is not in trouble and neither are you.” ~ James Bryan Smith

Special Guest

EMILY P. FREEMAN is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Simply Tuesday and A Million Little Ways. As host of The Next Right Thing podcast, she helps create space for the soul to breathe, offering fresh perspective on the sacredness of our inner life with God. Emily and her husband live in North Carolina with their three children.

• Website
• Book “Do the Next  Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions”

RESOURCES FROM PODCAST

Moment to Breathe - Do the Next Thing by Mrs. George A. Paull

Do the Next Thing by Mrs. George A. Paull

From an old English parsonage down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the doors the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration: “DO THE NEXT THING.”

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking for Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering, be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons thee, do the next thing.

‍

‍