The Next Right Thing Guided Journal

Emily is a guide I trust for counsel in decision-making as a way of making a life. Her podcast and book, the next right thing helped me through some life-changing choices; her suggestions worked for me. In this journal format she shares those same practical suggestions, spiritual insights, and gentle encouragement for those of us anxious, distracted, or in an episode of decision fatigue. This journal format flows from her own practices of reflecting. Undated, but sectioned by unnamed “month” and “season” sections, it’s flexible and doesn’t demand daily writing. Simple and practical, it includes sections for different kinds of reflections for monthly and quarterly lists and notes of the year. It includes helpful writing prompts, questions, and page outlines/structure that are inviting and provocative. Two examples helpful to me: Happy lists — a place to note by month the things that brought joy (books, music, video, podcasts), and, my favorite, the life energy list: events, places, people and experiences that affirm me and inspire me in life so that I pay attention! to what is life-giving. The hope is to capture the reflection for the joy of savoring the moment in gratitude AND so that I can use this information for the next big decisions — next job, retirement, school, other life events. Thick paper stock, lovely green printing, lays flat. Practical and inviting.

This is my favorite yearly gift for myself and I sometimes gift it to others. I love spending time each week to update it and journal. It's a great tool for journaling in a way that works for you to actually write and capture things but also helps it to serve a purpose and provide insight to your life. It truly helps me reflect.

I'm great at thinking about the future. Reflecting on the past? Not so much. But reflection is so important and there's something about writing down your thoughts and feelings that helps you get below the surface and open your eyes a bit. This journal is thoughtfully designed to build the framework around making "soulful" decisions, whether it's the small mundane everyday decisions or the big milestone ones. This journal is perfect for me because: -it's not just blank pages, most pages include a purposeful and intentional prompt to guide productive reflection over the course of a week, month, and season -it's low commitment and low pressure (there's no way I can journal every day!), there are no dates or falling behind -there's a wonderful topical resource section in the back to help you dig deeper in areas where you feel stuck -it's pretty! the design is simple and clean and a joy to use If you're feeling stuck in certain areas of your life, or you're spinning your wheels trying to figure out your next step, or just want to live a more reflective life, then I highly recommend this journal! Sidenote: I was initially shipped a poorly printed "oops" copy but amazon and the publisher have quickly resolved the problem and are sending me a correct copy

Ok, I needed this book. Thrilled I got it at the start of the year. Heard the author on a podcast and really enjoyed what I heard so had to get the book. I’ve just started and I’m ready to dive in. Great question and an easy to follow format. Book itself is good quality and will hold up from lots of use. Initially I thought I would not write in it I’d use a journal instead. So I could keep it looking nice. But it’s meant to be used. So I’m going to use it.

I love listening to the Emily's "The Next Right Thing" podcast. I've looked at this book several times before but didn't think it was for me. However this year I decided to get back into goal-setting again, and thought it may help. All I can say is "thank you, Emily," and I wish I had purchased it sooner! I now plan to get one every year. The book isn't at all about goal-setting (nor does it claim to be), but it is a fantastic guide to make the reader stop, think, and pay attention to what's going on in us now. For each month (and then with a seasonal/quarterly review--all undated), it lets the reader record what questions they're toying with, what is life-giving, what is life-draining, what they're thinking about doing, what arrows they're receiving, and more. The sub-title, "a decision-making companion," initially threw me off because I don't have one big looming question. But now I see that it's a guided journal to greater awareness of ourselves--with prompts that could help us with a big looming decision now, and also with general life plans and decisions in the future. For me--it will help me to focus more on the good, less on the bad, and to be aware of the differences within me. I have one suggestion, and that is to offer this with either spiral binding--or preferably lay-flat binding; writing in the center is OK as-is but I think that would be easier.

Fun and thoughtful journal. I only wish its binding made it easier to write inside. If it were spiral bound it’d be perfect. Or only printed on one side perhaps would make it easier to write inside.

Just received my journal and it is marvelous! I got an “oops” copy that Amazon printed on demand, a print mistake on the orders placed before 2020 Jan 5th. But even this copy is wonderful. (I can see that is printed as draft, but this is not a big deal for me, since this is a journal to write on...) Even though it’s beautiful, I got it because I needed some guide into journaling, and I don’t think there’s any better writer than Emily P. Freeman to help me on that! Her reflections and questions are thoughtful and relevant.

I have been using this journal for the last 2 years and just ordered my third copy as I'll finish my current one soon. It's a low-pressure, but meaningful way to record the happenings of life. I have always loved the idea of journaling and keeping a record of all the things I know I'll eventually forget, but end up only doing so in spurts-- partly because my expectations for journaling have been far too high for me to maintain! This is a real bummer when I look back at pivotal seasons of my life that were just too busy or stressful to keep a journal. For posterity AND for processing I wish I had journals from those times. This journal is a gamechanger-- it's really a guide to jotting down the most important things TO YOU in a way that is gently forumulaic (I say this as a good thing!) and helps you process as you write and reflect. I don't do every page every week/month-- even though I DO write in this weekly (!!)-- but that is a testemant to the freedom of this journaling. Do what works for you and don't feel bad about the rest (I confess I have never filled in the "quote for the month" section in my 24 months of writing in this journal). The fact that I have consistently journaled for two years through some pretty hectic life seasons is about the best recommendation I can give for this book. It has helped me sort through some tough questions, and it's such an encouragement to look back and see the process work itself out. Having the same "system" from month to month and year to year really does make reflecting so much easier. Plus, now I have a record of the origins of my husband and I's stupid inside jokes that seem to form and become vernacular every week. No more "Where did that even start??" and it's joyful to read back through those too! If you're a person who loves the idea of journaling but has a hard time keeping up with it or feels intimidated by it, this book is for you. If you're a person who has trouble making time to reflect and think about where you've been and where you're going, this book is for you. Thanks for this wonderful creation, Emily!

Just started but after flipping through and reading intro/explanation, this journal thoughtfully helps you organize your scattered thoughts and hone down the really important questions to enable self-reflection that is accurate and will inspire action. It's a gentle guide and a warm reminder and an encouragement in all the ways we need to pay attention to the challenges AND the positives in our lives, and make full use of their lessons.

I love my new guided journal. I have many blank journals and I always want to want to write in them but I never do. I love the prompts and lists in this journal as a means of sparking my reflection.

This unique planner, which guides users to do “the next right thing” month by month and season by season, is well worth using each year. It goes great with the book and podcast by the same name.