What Makes Someone Unstuck?

In my last lesson, we talked about how small actions help your body complete the stress cycle.

But stress doesn’t just live in your body. It exists because something real is happening in your life. And when that real problem feels unsolvable, stress spirals.

You know the feeling:

• Overwhelmed
• Stuck
• Waiting for clarity
• No motivation

I was just there not too long ago.

“You’ve got six months to fix this.”

In January 2024, I went in for a routine physical and was stunned by what my doctor told me.

My cholesterol had spiked into dangerous territory.
My A1C (a marker for diabetes risk) was up.
My weight hit an all-time high.

I’d been stressed about my health since 2019. Which probably helped throw it even more out of whack. But something recently made things a lot worse. The numbers were undeniable. My doctor didn’t sugarcoat it:

“You’ve got six months to change what you can. If things don’t improve, we’ll start medications, and once we start, we may not be able to stop.”

It hit hard. My mom had just had a stroke. I’ve got two young kids. I want to be healthy enough to chase them for years.

But leaving that appointment, I was overwhelmed.

It was too much to change.

Where do I even start?

The Miracle Question

That same week, I was reading Little Treatments, Big Effects by psychologist Dr. Jessica Schleider. Her work centers on single-session interventions, mental health strategies that create meaningful change in just one meeting.

At the heart of her approach is something called the miracle question:

“Suppose that while you are sleeping, a miracle occurs. The top struggle you’re facing disappears. When you wake up, how will you know a miracle has occured? What will be different?”

I scribbled out my answers:

1. My doctor would send me great lab results.
2. I’d know how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
3. Energy and focus would improve.

At first, this didn’t help much. I still didn’t know how to get there.

But one phrase kept standing out:

“I’d know how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

That felt like a solvable piece of the puzzle.

So I messaged my doctor:

“What’s the healthiest thing I can do every day to reduce my cholesterol and A1C?”

She said: “Eat a lot more vegetables.” Then referred me to a dietitian.

That seemed manageable. I tossed out my chips and dip and picked up veggies and hummus (which I always loved).

When I met with the dietitian, I asked her the same question. She had me track everything I ate (which I hated). But a week of embarrassing food photos later, she gave me a clear answer:

“Stop eating after 8pm. Most of your random snacking happens late. Let your body rest.”

That felt doable. I swapped nighttime snacks for peppermint tea.

And within a few days, something shifted. I slept better! My watch even told me my overnight heartrate had improved.

A few weeks later, my pants fit better.

I also wasn't hungry in the morning anymore.

This was what Dr. Schleider calls an upward spiral of change, a micro-moment of success that builds momentum.

Now, more than a year later, I’ve lost the weight I gained during the pandemic. My A1C is back to normal. My cholesterol is still tricky. Turns out I have a genetic tendency to hoard it (which is probably why my mom had a stroke). So now I take medication for cholesterol, and I’m totally okay with that.

What changed everything wasn’t a huge lifestyle overhaul. It was one tiny, brave moment that got me moving again.

Work the Problem

Here’s how you can use the same method in your own life:

Step 1: Ask the Miracle Question

If your biggest struggle disappeared overnight, what would be different?

What would you feel, do, say, or believe?

Write it down. Make it concrete.

Step 2: Choose One Thing from Your List

Look over what you wrote.

Circle one small change that feels doable.

Not the whole miracle, just one thread you can pull.

Step 3: Try the Simplest Possible Version

Shrink it down.

What’s the easiest way to try that step today?

Ask yourself:

• What might get in my way, inside me and outside me?
• What could make this easier?
• Who could help me take one small step?

Why This Works

Dr. Schleider’s research shows that a single moment of agency, one spark of “I can do something”, can lead to real, lasting change.

You don’t need a six-month plan.

You don’t need to overhaul your life.

You just need to prove to yourself that forward motion is possible.

Your Turn

✅ Ask the miracle question
✅ Choose one part of your answer
✅ Try the smallest version of it today

That’s it.

Five brave minutes. One micro-moment of change.

That’s how you get unstuck.

What’s one small thing you could try today to move toward your miracle?

Next lesson, I share simple scripts for asking for help, even when it feels awkward or hard.

Talk soon,
Dr. Ali

P.S. Want help with the miracle question? Download Dr. Schleider’s Miracle Worksheet here 👇🏽

P.P.S. If your first attempt doesn’t create change, that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you failed. You might just need to try something smaller, experiment with a different version of the goal, or bring someone else into the process.