Some mornings (especially Monday mornings after a very hectic weekend) I still wake up with some anxiety about the week ahead, how to accomplish everything I have put on my list, asking ‘what are my priorities?’ and ‘what is God’s Will’ in the scheme of things? Add to the feeling of being overwhelmed a sense of uncertainty, doubt, confusion – and if you’re feeling under the weather (or the weather isn’t that great) – and you may have a recipe for becoming almost paralyzed. If you’re an entrepreneur or own your own business or work on your own from home you can probably especially identify with this feeling. Sometimes you may just want to pull the covers over your head! But that’s when I tell myself to just ‘do the next right thing.’ For me, it was writing this blog when I had no idea what to write!
When faced with any or all of these feelings, I tell myself to just “do the next right thing.” That means doing the thing right in front of you…and then doing the next and the next…and pretty soon you’ve gone through the day and actually achieved something no matter how small and maybe even made a difference in your life or someone else’s. I learned this strategy or tactic in a 12-Step recovery program. The following “list” or poem titled “Just for Today” (often handed out on bookmarks in this same program) tends to help as well:
1. Just for Today, I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my whole life-problem at once. I can do some things for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
2. Just for Today, I will be Happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that “most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.†Happiness is from Within; it is not a matter of Externals.
3. Just for Today, I will Adjust myself to what Is, and not try to Adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come, and fit myself to them.
4. Just for Today, I will take care of my Body. I will exercise it, care for it, and nourish it, and not abuse it nor neglect it; so that it will be a perfect machine for my will.
5. Just for Today, I will try to strengthen my mind, I will study. I will learn something useful, I will not be a mental loafer all day. I will read something that requires effort, though and concentration.
6. Just for Today, I will exercise my Soul. In three ways, to wit:
(a) I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. If anybody knows of it, it will not count.
(b) I will do at least two things I don’t want to do, as William James suggests just for exercise.
(c) I will not show any one that my feelings are hurt. They may be hurt, but Today I will not show it.
7. Just for To-day, I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with flattery, criticize not one bit  nor find fault with anything, and not try to regulate nor improve anybody.
8. Just for Today, I will have a Program. I will write down just what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I’ll have it. It will save me from the two pests Hurry and Indecision.
9. Just for Today, I will have a quiet half hour, all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, some time, I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective to my life.
10. Just for Today, I will be Unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to be Happy, to enjoy what is Beautiful, to love and to believe that those I love love me.
This Bible verse also comes to mind: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,†but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2: 14-17)
None of us really knows what God’s Plan is for the rest of our lives (and perhaps it’s best that way!) But just for today we can perhaps discern that the Will of God is to just do the next right thing, whatever comes to mind – whether it’s taking a walk, doing the dishes, contacting a friend, doing a task we’ve been putting off or just doing the best we can at the job before us – and then when you add today to your yesterdays and do the same thing tomorrow, pretty soon your days will hopefully add up to fulfilling God’s Plan for you!
Again …your inspirational writing is timely!
Thanks Louise! And again, your feedback and encouragement are appreciated!