The First Step to a Life That Feels Like Home

Welcome to The Workshop, where we roll up our sleeves and get hands-on with the art of inner remodeling. I'm Peter Kenney, author of The Inner Remodel, and this space is all about turning abstract self-help ideas into practical tools you can use today. No fluff, no lectures — just blueprints, hammers, and a little elbow grease for your mind and soul.

Today, we're starting at the beginning: your Entryway. In the inner house metaphor from my book, the Entryway is the gateway to your entire inner world. It's the first room you (and others) step into — but for many of us, it's cluttered, dimly lit, or even barricaded. Remodeling it isn't about slapping on a fresh coat of paint; it's about creating a welcoming threshold that sets the tone for everything else.

If you've ever felt "stuck at the door" in your own life — hesitant to fully enter relationships, opportunities, or even your own emotions — this workshop is for you. We'll break it down step by step, with tools to trigger that "ah-ha!" moment where your mind shifts from overwhelm to clarity. Let's grab our toolkit and get started.

Step 1: Assess the Current State – What's Blocking Your Entryway?

Before you remodel, you need to see what's there. The Entryway represents how you show up in the world — your first impressions, boundaries, and initial emotional responses. But life piles up junk here: old habits, people-pleasing, or fear of rejection.

Tool: The Entryway Inventory Exercise Grab a notebook or your phone notes app. Spend 5–10 minutes jotting down answers to these questions:

What "clutter" greets you when you "enter" your day? (E.g., immediate stress from emails, self-doubt whispers, or autopilot routines?)
Who or what do you let in too easily — and what do you block out? (E.g., toxic opinions vs. genuine support?)
How does your Entryway feel right now: Welcoming and open, or guarded and chaotic?

Ah-ha moment: Notice if "pretending" shows up here. Pretending to be okay when you're not signals your brain to stay in fight-or-flight — it treats vulnerability as a threat, locking the door tighter. But as we'll see, true boundaries aren't barriers; they're doorways to greater love. Preserve your peace, don't punish with walls.

Step 2: Clear the Clutter – Unclog Emotional Blocks

Now that you've inventoried, it's time to declutter. Think of this like snaking a drain: Guilt clumps, old belief hairballs, fear sediment — they all block flow.

Tool: The Plumber's Snake Visualization Close your eyes for 2 minutes. Imagine your Entryway as a pipe leading into your inner house. See the blockages: A clump of guilt from past mistakes, a hairball of outdated "shoulds," sediment of unspoken fears. Now, grab your "awareness snake" — a glowing tool of curiosity. Push it through gently, watching the gunk dissolve. What emerges? Cleaner flow, more space for what truly matters.

Repeat daily: "What am I pretending today, and what would happen if I stopped?"

Ah-ha moment: The brain loves metaphors because they bypass resistance. When you "snake" pretending (e.g., pretending you're not hurt to avoid conflict), your nervous system relaxes — it no longer sees every interaction as a survival threat. Suddenly, wanting (approval, perfection) gives way to needing (peace, authenticity).

Step 3: Reinforce the Door – Set Boundaries That Invite, Not Isolate

A strong Entryway needs a solid door: Boundaries. But remember, boundaries aren't barriers to punish others — they're doorways to preserve your peace and allow greater love.

Tool: The Boundary Blueprint Draw a simple door on paper (or visualize it). Label the frame with your core values (e.g., respect, honesty). On one side, list what you'll welcome in (e.g., genuine connections, self-compassion). On the other, what you'll gently close out (e.g., drama, self-sabotage).

Test it: Next time "pretending" creeps in (e.g., saying yes when you mean no), pause and ask: "Is this preserving my peace or punishing me/others?" Adjust the door accordingly.

Ah-ha moment: When boundaries are doorways, they signal your brain: "This is safe." No more chronic anxiety from overextending. Instead, you create space for real flow — love enters freely, but only through the front door, not crashing through windows.

Step 4: Light It Up – Invite Presence and Flow

Finally, add warmth. An Entryway without light feels cold and uninviting — that's where presence comes in.

Tool: The Lantern Check-In End your day with this 1-minute ritual: Imagine holding a lantern at your Entryway. What does the light reveal? Shadows of pretending? Clutter from the day? Breathe into it, let awareness illuminate without judgment.

Ah-ha moment: Presence beats performance every time. When you stop pretending (to be busy, perfect, or unaffected), your brain rewires: Identity shifts from "tenant" to "architect." Wanting fades; needing what truly nourishes emerges.

Wrapping Up the Workshop

Remodeling your Entryway is the foundation — get this right, and the rest of the house opens up. You've got the tools; now it's about daily practice. That "ah-ha" you felt? That's your inner architect waking up.

For the full blueprint, check out The Inner Remodel at innerremodel.com. Kindle available now; print drops Jan 30th. Share your Entryway insights below — what's one clutter you're clearing today?