Emily Freeman explains how to know your "next right thing"

“Do the next right thing” has been famously iterated and recommended by the likes of Mother Teresa, Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as Alcoholics Anonymous groups and motivational speakers.

Determining what is the “next right thing” for you is a different story. Author, speaker and podcaster Emily P. Freeman has taken on the task of helping people listen to their souls and discern their best decisions.

Freeman’s book and podcast “The Next Right Thing” explains how to overcome hesitancy and decision fatigue for life’s biggest decisions, as well as the little daily ones that can bring anxiety and indecisiveness.

Become a soul minimalist. Being a “big picture thinker” can be valuable, but it can also make it harder to determine the small but necessary steps which must be taken in pursuit of that larger goal.

You can get overwhelmed as you consider the bird’s eye view of a situation, the future and all its possibilities. Instead, have a laser focus on what is most important to do now in line with who you are and what you want for your life.

Multitasking is the enemy of good decision making and soul minimalism. It is possible, but often not profitable. Relish in the freedom of giving yourself permission to focus on doing just one thing at a time and doing it well.

Clear your soul of decision-hindering things like fears over the future and regrets over the past. Purge these and concentrate on calming the inner and outer chaos. Embrace silence and use it as a tool for clear-headed thinking.

Fear is the enemy of good decision making. It convinces you to do things you don’t want to, while also keeping you from things you truly desire.

In the midst of a decision consider the question: Am I making this decision out of love or fear?

Bottom line: There are many great reasons for taking action, but fear is not one of them. Clear your mind of worries masked as possibilities and fear masked as caution. You will more accurately see the present and determine your best course of action in the moment.