How to UNGET Stuck

ByAnita Narayan

 

Cookie: Dandy, I need 2 things to UNGET hungry every day.
Dandy: What are they?
Cookie: Ice cream, chocolate, and cupcakes.
Dandy: Wait, you said 2 things, and now you’re adding more?
Cookie: Yeah, you have to change it up a little every day, right?

Cookie’s logic got Dandy thinking…

We can’t expect different results by doing the same thing over and over. If ice cream and chocolate don’t quite fix your hunger today, maybe tomorrow it’s time to try chocolate and cupcakes. And if that doesn’t do the trick, well, why not throw ice cream into the mix?

If only all of life’s choices were as sweet as ice cream, chocolate, and cupcakes. We’d be champions of change! But life? Life likes to serve up a lot of bitter greens to help us “UNGET” challenges (or, you know, get successful). Everything exists in opposites—no courage without fear, no strength without struggle, no sweet without a little bitter.

And yet, we’re still responsible for “UNGETTING” our challenges and creating a life that’s sweet—not just for ourselves, but for others too. Sticking to the same routine might feel safe, but it can also leave us feeling… well, stuck. Growth happens when we mix things up—shaking up our habits, trying new perspectives, and taking different paths.

Just like Cookie instinctively knew their snack lineup for ungetting hunger, we need our own go-to strategies for ungetting stuck.

So, the next time you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself:
What small change can I make today to get a different result?

Sometimes, a little tweak is all it takes to “UNGET” our lives moving in the right direction.


A Mindfulness Exercise to UNGET Anything That’s Hard to Let Go

Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath.

  • Inhale slowly—fill your belly, your ribcage, your chest.
  • Exhale from your chest—empty your ribcage, then your stomach.
  • If you can hear your breath, slow down. The quieter, the better.
  • Do this three times to relax your body.


Now, tune in:

  • How does my body feel right now? Tired, energized, stiff, relaxed?
  • What sensations are present? Where do I feel them? What are they telling me?
  • What’s one thing I can do today to release this? How can I do it easily?

Sit with it for a few minutes, and stay open to whatever insights come your way. Then, gently bring your awareness back to the world around you, take a deep breath, and carry on—maybe with a new perspective (or a snack).

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 our 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.

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