When I was a high school social studies teacher, I would occasionally notice that a student had fallen asleep while I was teaching. Since I knew I was generally respected and well-liked by my students, I felt compassion instead of offense. Falling asleep in class is embarrassing. The drool, the head slam, the risk of an uncontrollable snore. And in the age of students filming each other's foibles and broadcasting them on Snapchat? Falling asleep in class could be humiliating. I always took note of it, smiled, and asked the other students to let him/her sleep. What must be happening that left the student so exhausted that they would fall into such a vulnerable state? Likewise, I was just happy they felt safe in my classroom, soothed by my voice, trusting they wouldn't be shamed. They could catch up on the work later.
I first used ear defenders on an air boat ride in Florida. I remember telling my sister that I needed those for restaurants! I did eventually get some noise-cancelling headphones but I also have some Loop earplugs and they do the trick better for me - easier to carry around and don’t squish my ears.
I do Pilates & prayer to come back to centre (or to The Well). And audiobooks - usually something I have listened to or read before - no surprises, just peace.
I love the idea of going to sleep near the well. Like going to sleep near the campfire. Near the Source.
Loop earplugs are my go to for many situations. I have some for my waking hours and the sleep I get with the night time ones is the best, most uninterrupted sleep!
Walking my dogs! I love to listen to the podcast doing 2 of my favorite things in the early morning! Being in God’s beauty and giving the dogs exactly what they need to have a great day! The podcast always leads me into prayer and chit chat with the Father! Thank you for just being you and following the Spirit!💖
Since last week I have been literally opening my hands to the light, releasing and lifting prayers. But going to the well...I need that too! I am very visual, and I can see the light and the well. Thank you Emily.
A friend introduced me to The Next Right Thing Podcast in 2018. My family and I had recently moved to a new state, and finding new rhythms was crucial for my sanity. We had made a lot of decisions in a short amount of time and nothing felt secure. Enter this podcast.
When my friend shared it with me, she said something along the lines of, "You have to listen to this. Her voice is so soothing!" And oh, it was. Every Tuesday morning, I would drop my kids off at school, and the next episode would be cued up to listen to. My drive to work was about the length of an episode, so it was absolutely perfect. It helped me calm down after the rush of the school morning and settled me in to a long day at work. I knew if I listened to Emily's guidance into how to do the next right thing in love, then I could tackle the day ahead.
Fast forward six years, and my Tuesday morning rhythm has changed as we moved again in the summer of 2020, but The Next Right Thing Podcast is still my go-to when I need a podcast to bring me back down to earth. To help me see that not every decision has to spin me out of control.
And, hilariously enough, any time I tell people about this podcast, the first thing I mention is Emily's voice. I joke and say she could literally read me the phone book, and I'd be content.
Hi Emily! Thank you for highlighting the importance of noise reduction and calming all the way down. Earlier this year I started wearing earplugs at bedtime to quiet the noise of the air purifier and oscillating fan. I was so surprised by this gift of calmness, peace and quiet. I did not know I needed this nor did I know it was available. I find your voice incredibly calming to my soul and spirit. During my daily sauna session I have the ability to utilize Bluetooth so that I can listen to you reading scripture in The Quiet Collection. A true blessing for me. Thank you.
1,000 times yes! Thank goodness for your app The Quiet Collection! Your voice and God’s word/Psalms (and also your words/blessings) are my tried and true security blanket. Thank you for being a safe space! I’m so glad you see it as the true compliment it is meant to be.
Rituals help me. Using the Lord's prayer as an outline for prayer "nearly" first thing each morning. Continuing with my morning routine of sitting in a quiet place and reading various things that remind me the quiet is actually greater and now really available than everything "out there" if I just take the time, etc.
The kitchen? My favorite podcast listening zone. The soothing, calming flow of conversation actually motivates me to do 'the next right thing' in stirring, chopping, pulling together, re-organizing, cleaning up.
Bonus points when the podcast is so mesmerizing that I listen to it all over again right then and there. And indulge in even more gentle culinary puttering.
My place is the kitchen too, Linda! I go there almost every night to do the dishes and make next day's lunch and whatever I listen to definitely has an effect on how easy or difficult it is to fall asleep afterwards.
Lately I've been working on intentionally counterbalancing the information that I consume, and the few moments of silence I have during the day are becoming more and more important, like a necessary exhale.
I love my headphones too. They are a part of every outfit my daughter wears as well. I listen to my playlists and draw before bed. It's truly relaxing for me.
The NRT podcast has been a compass point I keep referring back to as I've been rediscovering my centre and way forward. Thank you for your consistency of kindness Emily.
Favorite day of the week? Tuesday! I wake up looking forward to hearing your voice and podcast and taking in what you have for us. My daily morning quiet time, in the dark, with my coffee - of course, is precious to me and you're a huge highlight of that time. I'm loving your 'Silence' focus lately and have been truly blessed by it. Thank you, Emily, for the years of encouragement, knowledge and 'realness' we've all so deeply enjoyed and learned from. Blessings to you and your family!
I use the Quiet collection app when I am unsettled especially at night. I repeat the prayers, listen to psalms or am blessed by the blessings. Thank you!
I listen to your lovely podcast on my commute to work or my commute home in the NYC subways.
It is usually during the peak rush hours and there is chaos all around me but I put my noise canceling headphones in and listen to your voice and somehow it makes everything better.
Thank you for the beautifully enriching content you are putting out into the world.
I had to chuckle with your opening segment, as I had a similar experience when first putting on noise cancelling headphones! :-) (They've since become one of my favorite purchases.) Thank you for the insightful ideas and gentle encouragement here, as well as the reminder that what nourishes us can look different, depending on the season - or the moment. You've offered some great food for thought, and I appreciate it!
When I was a high school social studies teacher, I would occasionally notice that a student had fallen asleep while I was teaching. Since I knew I was generally respected and well-liked by my students, I felt compassion instead of offense. Falling asleep in class is embarrassing. The drool, the head slam, the risk of an uncontrollable snore. And in the age of students filming each other's foibles and broadcasting them on Snapchat? Falling asleep in class could be humiliating. I always took note of it, smiled, and asked the other students to let him/her sleep. What must be happening that left the student so exhausted that they would fall into such a vulnerable state? Likewise, I was just happy they felt safe in my classroom, soothed by my voice, trusting they wouldn't be shamed. They could catch up on the work later.
I first used ear defenders on an air boat ride in Florida. I remember telling my sister that I needed those for restaurants! I did eventually get some noise-cancelling headphones but I also have some Loop earplugs and they do the trick better for me - easier to carry around and don’t squish my ears.
I do Pilates & prayer to come back to centre (or to The Well). And audiobooks - usually something I have listened to or read before - no surprises, just peace.
I love the idea of going to sleep near the well. Like going to sleep near the campfire. Near the Source.
I am loving this series on Quiet.
Loop earplugs are my go to for many situations. I have some for my waking hours and the sleep I get with the night time ones is the best, most uninterrupted sleep!
😌 I only have the ‘experience’ ones which really do quieten down all the background noise. I’m saving up for the ‘quiet’ ones!
Walking my dogs! I love to listen to the podcast doing 2 of my favorite things in the early morning! Being in God’s beauty and giving the dogs exactly what they need to have a great day! The podcast always leads me into prayer and chit chat with the Father! Thank you for just being you and following the Spirit!💖
Since last week I have been literally opening my hands to the light, releasing and lifting prayers. But going to the well...I need that too! I am very visual, and I can see the light and the well. Thank you Emily.
A friend introduced me to The Next Right Thing Podcast in 2018. My family and I had recently moved to a new state, and finding new rhythms was crucial for my sanity. We had made a lot of decisions in a short amount of time and nothing felt secure. Enter this podcast.
When my friend shared it with me, she said something along the lines of, "You have to listen to this. Her voice is so soothing!" And oh, it was. Every Tuesday morning, I would drop my kids off at school, and the next episode would be cued up to listen to. My drive to work was about the length of an episode, so it was absolutely perfect. It helped me calm down after the rush of the school morning and settled me in to a long day at work. I knew if I listened to Emily's guidance into how to do the next right thing in love, then I could tackle the day ahead.
Fast forward six years, and my Tuesday morning rhythm has changed as we moved again in the summer of 2020, but The Next Right Thing Podcast is still my go-to when I need a podcast to bring me back down to earth. To help me see that not every decision has to spin me out of control.
And, hilariously enough, any time I tell people about this podcast, the first thing I mention is Emily's voice. I joke and say she could literally read me the phone book, and I'd be content.
Hi Emily! Thank you for highlighting the importance of noise reduction and calming all the way down. Earlier this year I started wearing earplugs at bedtime to quiet the noise of the air purifier and oscillating fan. I was so surprised by this gift of calmness, peace and quiet. I did not know I needed this nor did I know it was available. I find your voice incredibly calming to my soul and spirit. During my daily sauna session I have the ability to utilize Bluetooth so that I can listen to you reading scripture in The Quiet Collection. A true blessing for me. Thank you.
1,000 times yes! Thank goodness for your app The Quiet Collection! Your voice and God’s word/Psalms (and also your words/blessings) are my tried and true security blanket. Thank you for being a safe space! I’m so glad you see it as the true compliment it is meant to be.
Rituals help me. Using the Lord's prayer as an outline for prayer "nearly" first thing each morning. Continuing with my morning routine of sitting in a quiet place and reading various things that remind me the quiet is actually greater and now really available than everything "out there" if I just take the time, etc.
The kitchen? My favorite podcast listening zone. The soothing, calming flow of conversation actually motivates me to do 'the next right thing' in stirring, chopping, pulling together, re-organizing, cleaning up.
Bonus points when the podcast is so mesmerizing that I listen to it all over again right then and there. And indulge in even more gentle culinary puttering.
My place is the kitchen too, Linda! I go there almost every night to do the dishes and make next day's lunch and whatever I listen to definitely has an effect on how easy or difficult it is to fall asleep afterwards.
Lately I've been working on intentionally counterbalancing the information that I consume, and the few moments of silence I have during the day are becoming more and more important, like a necessary exhale.
'A necessary exhale.' Oh for sure, Juanita. I love how you put that.
I love my headphones too. They are a part of every outfit my daughter wears as well. I listen to my playlists and draw before bed. It's truly relaxing for me.
The NRT podcast has been a compass point I keep referring back to as I've been rediscovering my centre and way forward. Thank you for your consistency of kindness Emily.
Favorite day of the week? Tuesday! I wake up looking forward to hearing your voice and podcast and taking in what you have for us. My daily morning quiet time, in the dark, with my coffee - of course, is precious to me and you're a huge highlight of that time. I'm loving your 'Silence' focus lately and have been truly blessed by it. Thank you, Emily, for the years of encouragement, knowledge and 'realness' we've all so deeply enjoyed and learned from. Blessings to you and your family!
I use the Quiet collection app when I am unsettled especially at night. I repeat the prayers, listen to psalms or am blessed by the blessings. Thank you!
I listen to your lovely podcast on my commute to work or my commute home in the NYC subways.
It is usually during the peak rush hours and there is chaos all around me but I put my noise canceling headphones in and listen to your voice and somehow it makes everything better.
Thank you for the beautifully enriching content you are putting out into the world.
I had to chuckle with your opening segment, as I had a similar experience when first putting on noise cancelling headphones! :-) (They've since become one of my favorite purchases.) Thank you for the insightful ideas and gentle encouragement here, as well as the reminder that what nourishes us can look different, depending on the season - or the moment. You've offered some great food for thought, and I appreciate it!
“Going to the well” - wow this just put verbiage to my desire and deep need to journal, be in the Word, paint, pray, worship, and so much more.