I'm Emily P. Freeman and welcome to The Next Right Thing. You're listening to episode 380.

This is a podcast about making decisions, but also about making a life. If you struggle with

decision fatigue, chronic hesitation, or if you just need a few minutes away from the constant

stream of information, and the sometimes delightful but

distracting hum of entertainment, you're in the right place for discerning your next right thing.

I'm an author, a spiritual director, and an occasional workshop leader. I live in North Carolina

with my family, and through my work, I've helped thousands of spiritually thoughtful people

overcome decision fatigue

so that they can discern their next right thing in faith, work, and life.

We're technically off for the season, but I have one more bonus episode for you as we usher in

the season of Advent. I hope you'll listen in.

Thank you. the season of Advent. I hope you'll listen in. If you're not already feeling it, you likely will soon.

It's that low-grade anxiety and pressure that seems to permeate the air this time of year.

If you don't feel it, chances are high. You've done a lot of intentional work over the years.

To remain centered, to creatively keep your peace, and to resist the shiny, oxymoronic pull of

buying and scheduling more, while somehow also at the same

time supposedly being able to create deeply meaningful and nostalgic memories.

It is not realistic, but I admit I still sometimes fall for it.

And I'm not here to say that it's a foregone conclusion that you will feel pulled in every

direction, but I do think it's an unfortunate result of our Western way of life this time of

year.

That this season of the darkest and coldest days where I live anyway, where we ought not feel

...