The Power of the Next Right Thing

Written by Miles Keller, MA, LPC, Timber Creek Counseling LLC

FOCUSING ON "THE NEXT RIGHT THING" IS A POWERFUL TOOL FOR NAVIGATING LIFE.

While a common phrase in therapy, the principle of breaking down overwhelming challenges into manageable steps has been a core human strategy throughout history. We see it in NASA’s crisis mantra to "work the problem" and in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to "take the first step in faith" without seeing the whole staircase. Athletes are coached with the same resilience, told simply to "play the next play." This idea also forms the bedrock of ancient Stoic philosophy, captured in Marcus Aurelius’s reminder: "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." Each example reveals the same truth: when the big picture is too much to bear, our greatest power lies in the single step directly in front of us.

Worrying, analyzing, and anticipating are what our minds were designed to do, a process that can often leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and discouraged. This inner voice of distress can act like a persistent salesperson, trying to hook us with urgent "what if" scenarios and stories of potential threats. The strategy for doing the next right thing begins with a two-step mental practice. First, learn to recognize this narrative of worry as it begins. That is just your mind doing what it was programmed to do. Second, once you spot it, consciously unhook from the story and return to the present. This return can be as simple as taking a deep breath, making a list, or using your five senses to ground yourself in the only thing that is real – right now.

This doesn't mean your problems will magically disappear. However, by catching your mind when it feels burdened, you can refocus on the present moment, the one place where you have real control. This practice empowers you to choose an effective response, instead of letting uncontrollable events or your own anxieties call the shots. It’s about finding freedom in the small, steady steps that move you forward.