Sunday, September 1, 2019

The Next Right Thing

FREEMAN, EMILY P.
THE NEXT RIGHT THING

When we have a decision to make, what we want more than anything is peace, clarity, and a nudge in the right direction. If you have trouble making decisions because of either chronic hesitation or decision fatigue, Emily P. Freeman offers a fresh way of practicing familiar but often forgotten advice: simply do the next right thing. This simple, soulful practice will help you

-- clear the decision-making chaos
-- quiet the fear of choosing wrong
-- find the courage to finally decide without regret or second-guessing

Whether you are in the midst of a major life transition or are weary of the low-grade anxiety that daily life can bring, Emily helps create space for your soul to breathe so you can live life with God at a gentle pace and discern your next right thing in love.

My Review:

Ha! Love the author's dedication -- "To anyone who's ever made a pro/con list in the middle of the night." With terms like 'chronic hesitation' and 'decision fatigue' I knew this book might have been written just for me. :-)

This quote really grabbed me -- I had to read it a couple of times before I got it. "It doesn't matter what the specific decision is. Unmade decisions hold power. They pull, they push, they interrupt where they aren't wanted and poke us awake at night." (p 12) Reading this book was like getting a huge, comforting bear hug. What sweet relief!

Because I'm surrounded by those annoyingly decisive types who sail through life making the right snap decision every time. Meanwhile I'm the waffler floundering in ambiguity. Always worried that whatever decision I make will be the wrong one and that leads to our friend procrastination which leads to putting off the inevitable decision making and just goes to prove that point about unmade decisions holding power. Now you see why I need this book. :-)

 Love the way the author brings prayer into the decision making process. Each chapter ends with a kind of prayer starter/guideline that really helps me focus my intention and brings clarity to wayward thoughts that thwart my decision making efforts.

Freeman has an easygoing writing style which is helpful to reluctant nonfiction readers like me. Easy to understand, inviting to read and lots to ponder. I've read it through once so that I could write a review but now I'm going to start over, using this book as a kind of devotional with specific decision making goals in mind. I'm actually kinda excited at the thought of ...dare I say it...making a decision!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Marting Communications Inc.

10 comments:

  1. LOL Sounds like a book I need right now

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  2. "THE NEXT RIGHT THING" sounds like a book that we all could gain knowledge and strength from by reading. I do love the quote about unmade decisions holding power. We can gain much by adding prayer to our decision making as well.

    Thanks for bringing this book to my attention!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Yes -- prayer is so important! That's really emphasized in this book.

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  3. THE NEXT RIGHT THING sounds like a timely resource. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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    1. I don't read many non-fiction books, but this one is a keeper for sure.

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  4. This is my second time reading this review, so I thought it nice would be a nice thing to comment. I'm definitely one of those people who struggle to make the right decision and end up anxious and overwhelmed by the process. Procrastination as a result is a REAL thing. Yet, all that does is cause more overwhelmed emotions when more thyan one decision is imminent. I guess it's sort of a bondage I've allowed to take hold. Therefore, the idea of freedom over indecisiveness sounds refreshing. Thank you so much, Kav, for sharing yourself and this recent read. I already have it on hold at my library.

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    1. We're kindred spirits that way, Terrill. I'm so glad that your library has a copy. I'm really getting a lot of this book in this second reading. Love when I can connect with a non-fiction book!

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