What Happened

Maria Popova’s analysis of Jung’s collected letters at The Marginalian reveals how the famous psychologist counseled people through life crises using what would become a foundational principle in recovery programs and modern mindfulness practice. In correspondence with individuals facing despair and uncertainty, Jung consistently advised against seeking predetermined life paths or universal prescriptions for living.

To one distressed correspondent seeking life guidance, Jung wrote: “There is no pit you cannot climb out of provided you make the right effort at the right place… do the next thing with diligence and devotion.” He told another person struggling with direction that if they wanted prescribed answers, they should “join the Catholic Church,” but that individual paths “simply come into being when you put one foot in front of the other.”

Jung warned against what he called “useless speculation” about how to live, telling one correspondent that if they were still wondering what to do next, they “still have too much money to spend in useless speculation.” Instead, he advocated for complete devotion to immediate, necessary actions, believing that when you do the next thing with conviction, “you are always doing something meaningful and intended by fate.”

Why It Matters

Jung’s letters provide the intellectual foundation for approaches to life that have become central to addiction recovery, anxiety management, and authentic living movements. The phrase “do the next right thing” appears throughout Alcoholics Anonymous literature and has been adopted by countless self-help and mindfulness practices, often without knowledge of its psychological origins.

This philosophy directly challenges contemporary culture’s emphasis on life planning, optimization, and strategic thinking. While modern society pushes individuals to map out career trajectories, relationship goals, and personal development plans, Jung’s approach suggests that such planning can actually increase anxiety and prevent authentic living.

For millions struggling with decision paralysis, anxiety about the future, or recovery from various life crises, Jung’s wisdom offers a practical alternative: stop trying to figure out your entire life and simply focus on what needs to be done right now.

Background

Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) developed his approach to individual psychology through decades of clinical work and personal exploration. Unlike his contemporary Sigmund Freud, who focused on universal psychological patterns, Jung emphasized the uniqueness of each individual’s path to psychological health.

Jung’s concept emerged from his understanding of what he termed the “unconscious wisdom” – the idea that individuals possess an innate knowing about what they need, which becomes accessible through action rather than analysis. This belief informed his approach to therapy, where he often encouraged patients to trust their immediate instincts rather than overthinking their situations.

The letters span Jung’s entire career from 1909 to 1961, offering insight into how his thinking evolved through two world wars, personal crises, and decades of clinical practice. His correspondence reveals a man who consistently chose practical wisdom over theoretical complexity when advising others about life’s challenges.

What’s Next

Jung’s philosophy continues to influence contemporary approaches to mental health, particularly in areas addressing anxiety, decision-making, and authentic living. Modern applications include:

Recovery Programs: The principle remains central to 12-step programs and addiction recovery, where overwhelming long-term sobriety is broken down into manageable daily or hourly commitments.

Anxiety Treatment: Therapists increasingly use Jung’s approach with clients paralyzed by future-focused worry, teaching them to redirect attention to immediate, actionable steps.

Workplace Psychology: Some organizations are adopting “next right thing” principles to combat employee burnout and decision fatigue, encouraging focus on immediate tasks rather than overwhelming long-term projects.

Mindfulness Integration: Jung’s practical wisdom bridges the gap between Eastern mindfulness traditions and Western psychology, offering a psychologically grounded approach to present-moment awareness.

As society grapples with increasing rates of anxiety and decision paralysis, Jung’s century-old wisdom about trusting immediate action over endless planning may become even more relevant for future generations seeking authentic, meaningful lives.