The Power of “Yet”

Cookie folds it’s thumb, and puts out 4 fingers for Dandy to count.
Cookie: “Dandy, how many fingers do I have?”
Dandy: “4.”
Cookie: “No, only 3 have fully grown, the others are not there yet.”

In this silly yet thoughtful moment, Cookie reminded Dandy of the power of the word “yet.” The way Cookie viewed it’s hand wasn’t as incomplete—it was in progress. It wasn’t “finished,” but it was growing, evolving. Cookie understood that some things take time. This small exchange reaffirmed my hunch, that children are innately wise. We all come here with the wisdom to thrive in our extraordinary life.

As adults, we need reminders. We get frustrated when things aren’t where we want them to be. We look outside for help more often than inside. But like Cookie’s hand, some things just need time to develop. We know this, yet we do not have the patience for it.
The “yet” is the space where growth happens. It’s where we accept that we aren’t “there” yet, but keep alive the hope, that we will be. This hope…is the fuel of all great things to come from us.

When we embrace the power of “yet,” we stop seeing ourselves as failures or incomplete. Instead, we see ourselves as works in progress, capable of learning and growing, even if we’re not there yet.

The Power of “Yet” gives us permission to be in process without judgment. It allows us to acknowledge where we are, while knowing we are still moving forward.

Here are ten little mindful affirmations for ourselves and our littles, when we need a gentle reminder of the power of Yet.

10 Mindfulness Affirmations to remind us to be patient with ourselves. We are not done growing “Yet!”

These affirmations, when practiced daily, can help shift our mindset from fixed beliefs to growth-oriented thinking. Adding the word “yet” reminds us that we are always in the process of becoming and that every step, even the struggles, are part of our growth.

Hi there! I truly believe that children are born wise, and we adults have so much to learn from them. Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost touch with that innate wisdom—buried under all the “grown-up” stuff society throws at us.
I see every moment with my kids as a chance to learn, and I love sharing those little lessons with you. I hope they bring you a smile or a fresh perspective.
I’d also love to hear from you—what’s something you’ve learned from a child in your life recently? Did it make you pause and look inward, even just a little?
My book series, A Nourishing Cookie Story, is packed with these kinds of lessons, inspired by kids. You can check them out on Amazon, and—watch them come to life on my YouTube channel.