One of my favorite authors, Emily P Freeman, just released a new book, How to Walk into a Room. The host of a wonderful weekly podcast too, Emily accompanies us as we discern the decisions we face in life.
As a spiritual director, discernment is often the doorway that directees seek an appointment with me – they are at the crossroad. Do I stay? Or do I leave? And how will I know? Emily’s new book is a practical tool for discernment, full of helpful clarifying questions.
Here is her description of the contents:
“If life were a house, then every room holds a story. What do we do when a room we’re in is no longer a room where we belong? What do you do when you start to feel a shift and must decide if it’s time to make a change? When it comes to navigating big decisions about when to stay and go, how can we know for sure when the time is right? Though we enter and exit many rooms over the course of our life—jobs, relationships, communities, life stages—knowing how and when it’s time to leave is a decision that rarely has a clear answer.”
The book is divided into three parts: Leaving, how to walk out of a room; Pausing, discernment in the hallways and entering, how to enter into a room. I really like her incorporation of rituals and blessings to acknowledge and hallow each step also.
In How to Walk into a Room, you can hear Emily’s voice as she talks very personally with you through the discernment process. This book is full of practical wisdom to navigate life’s decisions.
Discernment is a lifelong practice – we continually face a multitude of decisions, both major and small, ordinary ones. The past few years I continue to hold the tension of a major decision – when to fully retire from my church call – and to be honest, often am confused and not sure where God is leading me. After reading this book, I found encouragement to continue to listen and reflect, courage to hold that uncertainty, and reassurance God will be with me throughout the process.
What helps you decide/discern? What obstacles slow you down in making that final decision?
I found it so helpful to see Emily talking about how our values shape our decisions … and also the need to pay attention to those yellow flags that wave as we come and go out of those various rooms in our lives. Emily’s podcast is one of the very few I listen to regularly … I always walk away with a gentle something that speaks into where I find myself.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, friend. It was fun being ‘roomies’ on this launch, wasn’t it …
Easter blessings to you and yours, dear one.
Hi roomie!. I think the chapter I liked best was the one about readiness and timeliness and the tension between them. That chapter named and gave me language for what often occurs in discernment. This will be a book I think I will return to often.
This sounds like a book all we would benefit from reading, Jean. Thanks!
I am rereading it and have several favorite chapters!!
I’ve heard about this book so it’s good to understand more what the title means. Very intriguing! I like how Emily approaches things. Thanks for sharing it with us here, Jean.
She includes wonderful stories and a great questions to carry as one discerns the next right thing in our lives. I especially liked her chapter of readiness vs timeliness = as often that happens in decision making.
Sometimes I’ve taken a step forward in the direction I sense God is leading, praying that he stop me if I’ve misheard and misstepped! This sounds like a worthy book to read and keep on the shelf, not only to guide our own decisions, but also as a helpful tool when asked for advice by others. Thank you, Jean!
I think you would like her story telling and sharing of thought provoking questions to consider. Yes it is a very helpful tool. I just bought two extra copies for friends going through vocational decisions.
thank you jean…very interesting..for me decisions are made by talking to God and trusted friends and loved ones…being an old person, do i let my age dictate the final decisions or just sit back and see what develops..not easy…think ill get that book…
peace
I am rereading the book savoring its wisdom. It is a great resource for discernment. Blessings, Pat!