How to Walk into a Room

The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away

By: Emily P. Freeman

Narrated by: Emily P. Freeman

Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Bestseller

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.

Podcast host, spiritual director, and bestselling author of The Next Right Thing, Emily P. Freeman offers guidance to help us recognize when it’s time to move on from situations that no longer fit, allowing us to find new spaces where we can flourish and grow.

How to Walk Into a Room helps us begin to uncover the silent, nuanced, and hidden arrows for anyone asking questions like: How do I know if it’s time to move on? What if I stay and nothing changes? What if I leave and everything falls apart?

Through thought-provoking questions, spiritual practices, and personal stories, How to Walk into a Room will help you to know and name the caution flags in your current spaces, discern the difference between true peace and discomfort avoidance, navigate endings even when there is no closure, find peace for when you feel ready but it isn’t time, and courage for when it’s time but you don’t feel ready.

For anyone standing in a threshold, here’s a book to help discern the how, when, and what now of walking out of rooms and into new ones with peace, confidence, and a whole heart.

©2024 Emily P. Freeman (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Life changing conversation

This is a much needed book for anyone who has ever faced transition and change (EVERYONE). The gentle conversational approach leads you through a process that has the ability to shift your perspective on the rooms of your life and the transitions between them.
As someone who has had more than the average moves and life changes, I am so grateful for this new framework to walk into, out of, and between rooms with a new perspective.
Most recommended book on my list.

Great, thoughtful read

I loved chapters 7-end… those chapters spoke to my heart, Emily, thank you for sharing your story.

vulnerable wisdom

Emily's voice is both literally calming and important, and in a perspective-widening way, her worldview voice is also much needed.

Author's sincere desire to encourage!

I love this and all books by Emily P. Freeman. Her words and voice soothe and encourage every time!

Practical steps

Emily’s voice giving practical, attainable steps to a deep knowing, no matter the circumstances is a guide for all, no matter your path.

Rinse and Repeat

It’s not often that I read or listen to a book multiple times, but Emily’s works are worth the investment of time. Emily’s narration only adds to her message and her transparency as she shares much of her life only adds to this book’s richness. Each story is perfectly matched to her point, making learning fun and memorable.

Worth the read!

You haven’t wrecked it up.

What a perfect companion for walking through decision making in a time when making another decision seems so overwhelming. I loved the reminder that I couldn’t wreck all the things up by one decision. I am so grateful that Emily shares vulnerable and full of grace. Give us enough to see the ways she arrived to her own life and decisions and at the same time inspiring us to give a go. This book is a reminder to our withness with Jesus and with each other. We are not meant to walk alone and we can walk out of rooms when it’s time but always accompanied by our friend Jesus. Thank you Emily for leading us to listening to our lives and our bodies better than we have before.

Embracing nuance

I love the authors thoughtful view of the world and change. I love that she acknowledges the gray, the truth that change is not all black-and-white. In a world of hyperbole I love that this book is full of the beauty of nuance. As with all of her books, this one is beautifully and artfully written. It's also practical and real and honest and, in someways, raw. Just what I need. Just what most of us need I think.

Couldn’t put it down.

I listened all the way through in just a few days! Emily’s storytelling is beautiful and her wisdom is invaluable.

I’m planning to listen again 

This book is so beautiful written (and read). I found it helpful, insightful, compassionate and honest. HIGHLY recommend.