Unstuck: A guide to finding your way forward to the life you want to live

by Emily Musgrove

'Being stuck' can look and feel different to different trapped, powerless, hopeless, frozen, frustrated, numb, disconnected, anxious, overwhelmed. Getting stuck is part of being human. But staying stuck for too long robs us of our vitality. It costs us healthy relationships, meaningful pursuits and, most importantly, the life we want to live.

But even in our lowest moments, one yearning shines The desire for a better way. The desire to become unstuck.

With her signature clarity and compassion, Dr Emily offers this practical guide to finding your way forward by focusing on key

* Living by your defining what matters to you and what it means to flourish
* Overcoming understanding its impact on the body and the tools you need to work effectively with it
* Befriending the Inner learning a better way of thinking
* Working with painful discovering acceptance and self-compassion
* Taking finding the power of choice and committing to new and helpful habits and behaviours.

Change can seem impossibly hard, but staying stuck is harder. UNSTUCK gives you the tools to cultivate a life without limits, in times of pain, in times of change, in times of joy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Psychology

Audible Audio

Published May 20, 2025

Reviews

[Ayami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not big on self-help books. They usually have 10 pages of useful content and the rest is fluff anf filler.

This one was different and I found it immensly interesting. I believe I came out of it knowing much more about how we make decisions and all the psychological processes associated with it. A great read and a very helpful one as well.

[Kate McElligott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Dr Emily for your boundless wisdom and teaching. Huge fan! This book makes use of a huge list of resources to pull her teaching together. It’s deep in psychological principles but SO accessible for the average, every day person wanting to go about becoming un-stuck in their life. I found this such a beautiful read, like a warm, gentle hug.

I think I’ll also buy the audio book also for some of the guided activities, I think it would be so helpful to listen along with eyes closed for these ones.

[Eliza Scouller · Rating 4 out of 5]

*audiobook

I love Dr Em on The Imperfects so loved this. Wish the sub title didn’t read so cringe given it’s written so well!

[Gussy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would jump off a cliff for this woman, love you Dr Em

[Georgia Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook 🎧

Chapter 4 - resonated heavily with this. Has some really great strategies that are very easy to implement to make change.

The activity journal is a great accompaniment to this book.

Going to buy the physical book and do a re-read. Found it tricky to do the exercises whilst doing my usual audio routine of listening and cleaning.

[Emily Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book after Dr Emily appeared on the Inherited podcast. I thought she was so eloquent and insightful with a really approachable way of speaking about psychological and therapeutic theories and was curious to read her book. I definitely didn’t get the full benefits of the book as I didn’t keep up with the activities and tasks because I predominantly listened to the audiobook on my walks, but I still really enjoyed it and it gave me a lot to think about in terms of how to move through the world in a way that feels like you’re progressing at least a tiny bit every day.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a big hug and therapy session in one! Highly recommend! ✨️

[Haden Nettle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listen to her podcast a lot and this book has lots of useful insights

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Em can do no wrong 🧡

[Lanna Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So insightful.

[Nicki KERKEMEYER · Rating 5 out of 5]

love Dr Emily. Have listened to her on The Imperfects podcast and thrilled she has written this book so support is accessible to all

[Jenna Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody brilliant !! (that’s all)

[Kim Wakefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/10 - Exploring the many ways people experience feeling “stuck”—from anxiety and overwhelm to disconnection and hopelessness—and explains why these states are a natural part of being human. Through a compassionate and practical approach, Musgrove guides readers to understand their thoughts, emotions, and values, offering tools to work through pain, build self-compassion, and create meaningful change. Ultimately, the book empowers readers to move forward with intention, helping them cultivate a life aligned with what truly matters.

Self-help books are often hit or miss for me, but this one truly resonated in a way that felt both genuine and immediately useful. This felt like a real “right book, right time” read for me. I’m going through a period where I haven’t been particularly kind to myself, and the practical, compassionate tools she offers were exactly what I needed—simple, actionable, and deeply validating. One exercise in particular hit so hard it brought me to tears, which speaks to how effective and personal her approach can be; I actually went out and bought the ebook so I can highlight specific passages and engage more with the workbook elements.

The only reason this isn’t a full 10/10 is the limitation of the audiobook format when it comes to those workbook sections. There are moments clearly designed for writing, reflection, or visual engagement that don’t translate as well to audio, which slightly disrupts the flow. That said, it’s still an incredibly impactful, practical, and compassionate guide—one I’ll be returning to again.

I genuinely think I could listen to Dr Emily Musgrove talk about paint drying—her voice is incredibly calming, warm, and reassuring, which makes the audiobook experience feel almost like a gentle therapy session. There’s a steadiness to her delivery that perfectly complements the content, making even the heavier topics feel manageable and safe to sit with.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Pain, and our struggle with it, is a basic characteristic of being alive.”

Musgrove states that becoming unstuck is about learning how to flexibly turn towards our suffering so that we can live now, and live with vitality, meaning, and purpose.

Dr Emily Musgrove has practiced as a clinical psychologist for fourteen years. This book is both accessible and informative, presenting concepts in a clear and comprehensible manner. Musgrove offers practical exercises and insightful questions designed to support the reader. Dr Musgrove’s warmth, care and compassion really shine through on the page.

“Renowned Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung famously established the notion that what we resist persists and grows stronger. The more we avoid pain, the more it persists and the bigger it gets.”

Musgrove emphasises that adopting mindfulness as a way of living, along with recognising the guiding role of personal values, is fundamental to achieving a fulfilling and meaningful life.

[Natalie Kralj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Em makes psychology accessible through this amazing book. Her simple approach to breaking down theory and therapeutic interventions and intertwining them with everyday real example and actions gives readers a taste of good therapy and the ability to start taking action towards the life you want. Highly recommended to anyone interested in living their best life.

As someone who works in the helping profession, it is the perfect synthesis of theory to practice and I recommendation to all helping professionals. Having read the book and listened to the audio, I recommend both. It’s easier to do the exercises with Em guiding you through the audio, but I liked the physical copy for reading, jotting down notes and turning ideas into action.

[Amy Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The growth is in the process of taking action, rather than what we achieve from it.’

I found there were a lot of great tips and tricks that would be immensely helpful in times of low mood and feeling ‘stuck’ in life.
At about 60% through the book I started listening to it as well as reading on my kindle which I found more helpful in processing the information and especially completing the activities. It felt kind of impossible to do breathing exercises with your eyes closed while also trying to follow prompts. So the audio became very useful. I’ll take a lot away from this read, especially elements of values and goal setting. Highly recommend.
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

[Tash Oeding-Erdel · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ this is a foundational book on making changes to improve your life and become ‘unstuck’. Dr Emily has such a gentle approach and uses language that feels like a warm hug! Many self-development books can be quite prescriptive and relentless with their recommendations, however this one feels genuinely encouraging, which I feel can inspire more people. I admired that she was humble to include strategies that don’t work for her but may for others, and approached the topics holistically. I didn’t feel personally there were a lot of new strategies or information for me to takeaway but I really appreciated the content and layout of the book!

[Erin Shooter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean I just love Dr Emily…I’ve been a fan since she joined The Imperfects and could listen to her talk forever. Her explanations and relations to real life experiences with a gentle, calming, compassionate voice and presence is next level. I listened on audio which was just like a super long version of the podcast. Self-help is a hard audience/topic to sell so I think take from it what you will, but I just love the way she presents information and gently asks you to think about your own experiences and way of showing up

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of those self help books that most people should read and will benefit from. Emily Musgrove draws on years of research to explain what it means to be “stuck” – in relationships, careers, personal growth, grief – and provides so many practical strategies for overcoming it. A great audiobook listen, read by the author herself, and likely an even better print book to keep on hand as a reference to remind yourself that you don’t have to settle for just good enough in any aspect of life.

[Hew Parham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well thought out, clear and articulate book with many helpful resources and exercises. It is an articulation of a lot of ACT therapy which I have read quite a bit about before such as Happiness Trap and A Liberated Mind. This book like those were very accessible and I think a great lead in for a lot of people curious about therapy and moving forward.

[Taylor M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in awe of Dr Emily and her incredible work! Listening to the audiobook felt like hearing from a wise, thoughtful friend who genuinely cares about our growth.
Thank you, Dr Em, for sharing your wisdom. I believe the impact of your work will continue to flow for generations.

[Jordan Oppert · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve listened to The Imperfects podcast you’ll know Dr Em. Relatable, enlightening and inspiring - I find I get so much out of listening to her, but reading her work and following along/journalling even more so. So many easy/manageable strategies to help mitigate big/heavy feelings 💕

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and compassionate approach to getting "unstuck". This is a lovely summary of some key behavioural psychology concepts, processes, and actions that we can all take to find out what makes us tick and chase the dreams that lay (deep) within us. Thanks, Dr Em!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you listen to The Imperfects podcast? Do you love the episodes ft. Dr Emily Musgrove. If so you will love this book which distills much of the knowledge she imparts on the show and more. As Dr Em says, most people who seek therapy feel stuck in some way, as do many more who do not seek therapy. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a job, in decisions you want to make, or any kind of stuck that you can’t describe then this is an empathic and practical book to help your thinking and encourage you to keep moving forward. This is not influencer territory but evidence based thinking.

I can see myself using this as a reference over and over again.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely, warm listen.

[Freyja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impactful strategies, actionable and thought provoking.

[Parizad D · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a very ok listen maybe better if u are following along with the exercises

[Neat Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this easy to read and relatable book.

[Alex Banjo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book- super useful tips and tricks and feels like a friend is talking you through it. Love Dr Emily from the imperfects podcast, the book is fabulous!

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is no limit to growth if we are willing to pay attention"

A beautiful book. A great introduction to therapy, with strategies you can refer back to when needed.