The Next Right Thing

“Think about the things that are good and worthy of praise.  Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.”  Philippians 4:8

In the Movie, “Frozen II,” Anna sings the song – “The Next Right Thing.”  Here are part of the lyrics -

“I’ve seen dark before but not like this.

This is cold, this is empty, this is numb.

The life I knew is over, the lights are out

Hello darkness, I’m ready to succumb

I follow you around…

This grief has a gravity, it pulls me down

But a tiny voice whispers in my mind

You are lost, hope is gone

But you must go on and do the next right thing.

I can’t find my direction, I’m all alone.

The only star that guided me was you. And true

How to rise from the floor

When it’s not you I’m rising for

Just do the next right thing.”

As I listened to this song, it describes grief in such a profound way.  Grief is a darkness that envelopes us and pulls us down.  In the beginning of our grief, we feel lost without hope.  We have no direction because our loved one guided our path.  Our purpose in life has changed and it seems impossible to go on without our loved one.  But as we continue down this path of grief, the reality of life is revealed.  This is now our life.  We must go on, but how?  This song states, “Just do the next right thing.”

How do we know what the next right thing is?  I have come to accept that the next right thing is doing just the next thing.  It is completing something.  In our grief, it is difficult to think with a cloudy mind and to make decisions.  I have learned over time, to slow down and complete one task at a time.  Our minds may have thoughts circling all around and so much is undone.  I just complete whatever is in my mind first or whatever I see first.  It helps give me confidence and I can complete something else.

In dealing with anxiety, this concept is helpful.  Anxiety focuses on the future and all that needs to be completed.  If we slow ourselves down and just do the next thing, we can live and be in the moment instead of so far into tomorrow.  When thoughts begin racing of all that should be done and we have created a “to do” list which seems overwhelming, we need to slow ourselves down.  Take deep breaths and pray, “God, hold my hand.”  Breathe in God’s Spirit and out our anxiety.  One moment at a time.  Finish one thing and move to the next right thing.  Stay in the present and do not rush ahead until one task is behind you.

It is keeping our thoughts focused on what is good and right and true as Philippians 4:8 states.  What is in your thoughts?  Our thoughts go all over the place and usually build up inside our head and then spin around and around.  Even in writing this blog, I had so many things circling in my head.  I had to stop, pray, and keep reminding myself to finish one thing before doing the next right thing.  It is becoming more God focused than self-focused.  In my grief journey, I am learning to live in each day, each moment and not worry about what happens next.  It is doing the next right thing and living in the next right moment.