The Next Right Thing

The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman

Thank you to Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.

I first heard of Emily Freeman on Jen Hatmaker's podcast For the Love.  When this book was offered as a review book I knew I needed to jump on it.  The premise of the book is dealing with decision fatigue, and just doing "the next right thing".  I found it interesting that some famous people, whom I really respect and love, have used a version of this quote.  Mother Teresa, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Theodore Roosevelt, and Anne Lamott.  pg 13 "It's become a common catchphrase for coaches and athletes, in boardrooms and corporate motivational speeches.  So what is the advice? Do the next right thing."

I found this book just OK. I really thought her set up of the chapter was great. She gives content and then has a prayer and practice activity that coincides with the chapter's message.  She writes beautiful prayers and those really spoke to me.  I'm not good with praying so I felt her words could be used as my own prayer practice.  Where I became a little "meh" about the content was there was at times too much "filler" for me and I just wanted to get to the "what to do" about x, y and z in regards to decision making.  I also at times felt uncomfortable with her answer being "God's in control", "God's got a plan", and "God knows what will happen."(my own paraphrasing).  I think this is my own deal though and not on Emily Freeman to "fix" or "sell me on".  Work in progress regarding my faith journey.

I did take several things from this book and surprisingly think I will read it again sometime.  I'm also planning on sharing it with a family member who is struggling with decision fatigue and I think it would give them some ideas on how to approach decision making in a more peaceful, helpful, healthy manner.  Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

pg 18 Prayer:

O God, I am open.

The decisions I'm facing have become too much.

Ease my fatigue with your presence and my hesitation with your peace.

Here is an issue that has me tied in knots, will you begin to untangle me?

What do you want me to know today?

O God, I am open.

pg 34 "to know a person's names is to know something of them."

pg 93 "Make the Most Important List"

"Is the life you're living the same life that wants to live in you? Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you."- Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak

This chapter had you write a Life Energy List.  It is to replace the old school Pro/Con list.  You look back on your "season you just experienced" and ask yourself these two questions:

What was life draining?

What was life giving?

pg 99 "We can't always eliminate the life-draining things... We will always have things we have to do in our lives, no matter how we feel about them... But the truth remains: we always have things in our lives we say yes and no to based on knee-jerk reactions, expectations, or fears, and it's helpful to know what they are. 

pg 100 "The Life Energy list is simply one tool to help you pay attention to your actual life so that you can discern what your next right thing might be."

pg 208 "Dallas Willard says ' If a discipline is not producing freedom in me, it's probably the wrong thing for me to be doing."

A timely book as "life seasons" are changing and decision need to be made.  The reminder mantra "the next right thing" is one I think all of us could benefit when making those decisions.