Weekly Reset: The Next Right Thing
Finding Your Footing When You're Lost in the Fog
Sometimes the path disappears.
The project feels too big. The argument leaves you reeling. The diagnosis hangs heavy. The future feels foggy, uncertain.
You're stuck. Overwhelmed. Paralyzed by the sheer weight of it all. Where do you even begin?
It feels impossible. Too much. Too complex.
In those moments, the grand plan doesn't matter. The five-year strategy is useless. Even tomorrow feels too far away.
There's only one thing left. One question that cuts through the noise:
What is the next right thing?
The Power of One Step
This idea, beautifully captured in Anna's song from Frozen 2 as she sits lost in a dark cave, isn't about solving everything at once.
It's about finding the very next action. The smallest possible step forward. The one thing you can do, right now, that aligns with who you want to be.
It's a lifeline when you're drowning in overwhelm.
Maybe the house is a disaster, and you don't know where to start.
The overwhelm crashes over you.
The next right thing?
Pick up one piece of trash. Just one.
Maybe your inbox is overflowing, hundreds of unread messages screaming for attention.
You feel paralyzed, wanting to shut the laptop.
The next right thing?
Archive one email. Or reply to the easiest one.
Just one.
Maybe you need to have a difficult conversation you've been dreading.
The anxiety keeps you circling, avoiding.
The next right thing?
Write down the first sentence you need to say.
Just the first sentence.
Maybe you're managing a complex situation, a complex project, a heated family dilemma.
The variables seem endless, the fear spikes.
The next right thing?
Say what needs to be said. Make the phone call.
Just do that immediate, necessary action.
It's not about the whole mountain.
It's about the next single step.
The one right in front of you.
Why This Matters
Focusing on "the next right thing" does more than just get you moving.
It breaks paralysis. By simplifying the overwhelming into the achievable, it cuts through the fog of anxiety.
It builds momentum. One small action makes the next one slightly easier. Steps accumulate. Progress happens, even if it's slow.
It restores agency. In moments where everything feels out of control, it reminds you that you always control your next immediate action.
It grounds you in integrity. Choosing the right thing, even when small, keeps you aligned with your values when the bigger picture is confusing. It ensures you're acting, not just reacting.
It pulls you out of the swirling chaos of "what ifs" and "should haves" and anchors you firmly in the present, actionable moment.
Try This
This week, when you feel that familiar wave of overwhelm, paralysis, or uncertainty creeping in:
Pause & Breathe: Just take one conscious breath. Acknowledge the feeling without judgment.
Ask: "What is the very next right thing I can do?" Look for the smallest, most immediate, constructive action.
Act: Do that one thing. Don't worry about the step after that, just do this one.
Notice how it feels. Does the paralysis lessen, even slightly? Does it make the next next step feel a tiny bit more possible?
This isn't about sudden transformation. It's about finding your footing, again and again. It's simple.
But like most simple things, not always easy.
It's the practice of putting one foot in front of the other, especially when the path is dark.
And sometimes, that's all you need to find your way through.