The Book of Awakening

I just recently ordered Mark Nepo's "The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have". I'm not really big on spiritual books as they usually feel a bit too preachy or too touchy feely for me. I was hesitant to pick this one up, but I'm going through one of those life moments when I feel like I need guidance. Well, I am two days into Nepo's daybook, and already I am feeling like this was a good investment. When I read today's words of wisdom, they hit me like a ton of bricks. In day two, Nepo tells a story of man who is going to paint a room. He goes to the store and buys everything he needs. He mixes the paint outside and picks up all the things he needs to paint the room. He's ready to head inside with his arms loaded down and he can't get the door open. Instead of putting down his load, he struggles with the door and his load. Eventually he falls over and is covered in red paint. The wisdom: What are you carrying around that is preventing you from opening your door? Whether it is the door to love, to success, to financial stability, we all have baggage. I had never looked at this baggage as being an actual hindrance to opening the door I am so doggedly trying to go through. Sure, these things get in the way, but I just assumed they were taking up space inside, not keeping me outside. Whatever the case may be, the question still stands: What are you holding on to that is keeping you from opening the door? Now Nepo doesn't just leave it there, because he understands that some of this stuff is stuff we need. We don't want to put down a healthy dose of fear, and we don't want to leave all of our expectations outside to whither in the grass. So, he offers this simple formula: Prepare what you need, put it down, open the door, and take in only the things that are necessary. It sounds so simple, but we all know how difficult this can be. It's like going into the grocery store when you're hungry. You end up with a whole lot of stuff that you don't want/need, and that make it really difficult to get out of the car and into the house. After the story, Nepo offers a meditation for working on putting down the bags. I'm thinking with a little practice that I may be able to put down some of my own bags. I can't wait to see what day three in this gem of a book has to offer.