Getting Unstuck cover art

Getting Unstuck

Breaking Your Habitual Patterns and Encountering Naked Reality

 Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Getting Unstuck

By: Pema Chödrön
Narrated by: Pema Chodron
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $16.99

Buy Now for $16.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

 Have you ever had an itch, and not scratched it? In the Buddhist tradition, this points to a vast paradox: that by refraining from our urge to "scratch", great peace and happiness is available. On Getting Unstuck, Pema Chodron introduces a rare Tibetan teaching she received from her teacher, Dzigar Kontrul Rinpoche, and one that has become critical to her practice. Here, she unveils the mystery of an ineffable quality; a "pre-emotional" feeling that arises in us, brings us discomfort, and causes us to react by escaping the discomfort, often with harmful habits. With Getting Unstuck, she offers us a first look at "both the itch and the scratch": what Tibetan Buddhists call shenpa.

On this new, full-length recording, Pema Chodron, best-selling author and beloved American Buddhist nun, shows us how to recognize shenpa, catch it as it appears, and develop a playful, lively curiosity toward it. Join Pema Chodron to discover more about:

  • Critical mind: how to recognize this fundamental shenpa, and approach yourself and others with a sense of humor and loving-kindness
  • Ways to unravel the patterns of self-denigration, and develop the fundamental maitri, loving-kindness, toward yourself
  • How to cultivate acceptance of your irritability, insecurities, and other simply human traits
  • Recognition, Refrain, Relaxing, and Resolve: the four R's of working with shenpa, and more

    An urge comes up, we succumb to it, and it becomes stronger, teaches Pema Chodron. We reinforce our cravings, habits, and addictions by giving into them repeatedly. On Getting Unstuck, Chodron guides us through this "sticky feeling", exploring the moments when we get hooked, and offers us tools for learning to stay with our uneasiness, soften our hearts toward ourselves and others, and live a more peaceful life in the fullness of the present moment.

    • ©2005 Pema Chodron (P)2005 Sounds True     Buddhism Motivation & Self-Improvement

    Critic Reviews

    "Chodron demonstrates how effective the Buddhist point of view can be in bringing order into disordered lives." (Publishers Weekly)

    What listeners say about Getting Unstuck

    Average Customer Ratings
    Overall
    • 5 out of 5 stars
    • 5 Stars
      98
    • 4 Stars
      13
    • 3 Stars
      0
    • 2 Stars
      0
    • 1 Stars
      1
    Performance
    • 5 out of 5 stars
    • 5 Stars
      86
    • 4 Stars
      7
    • 3 Stars
      0
    • 2 Stars
      0
    • 1 Stars
      0
    Story
    • 5 out of 5 stars
    • 5 Stars
      85
    • 4 Stars
      7
    • 3 Stars
      1
    • 2 Stars
      0
    • 1 Stars
      1

    Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

    Audible.com.au reviews

    Amazon Reviews
    Sort by:
    Filter by:
    • Overall
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Performance
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Story
      5 out of 5 stars
    Profile Image for Lauren Ostrowski Fenton

    Just completely transformative and reassuring

    I just love this so much, it was so transformative and soothing to the soul

    Report this

    Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

    You voted on this review!

    You reported this review!

    • Overall
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Performance
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Story
      5 out of 5 stars
    Profile Image for Lesley

    My go to teachings.

    I listen to this talk regularly and recommend it to others who are suffering. If you are interested in learning how to get through the many different forms of suffering you may experience in life, then this book/talk is a great starting point. Pemas' warm heart and sense of humour brings an unexpected freshness to the teachings of shenpa

    Report this

    Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

    You voted on this review!

    You reported this review!

    • Overall
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Performance
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Story
      5 out of 5 stars
    Profile Image for Drew Carson

    fantastic it was just what I needed.

    a marvelous teaching on how the mind works. It sat with me in how I see things now

    Report this

    Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

    You voted on this review!

    You reported this review!

    • Overall
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Performance
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Story
      5 out of 5 stars
    Profile Image for Anonymous User

    a must listen for life today

    the practice of staying present and how integral this is to everyday life, do listen

    Report this

    Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

    You voted on this review!

    You reported this review!

    • Overall
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Performance
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Story
      5 out of 5 stars
    Profile Image for Anonymous User

    Highly recommended

    great podcast on how to train your ability to take in new things in life and keep changing to a better self.
    loved techniques described and the approach. great combination of theory and stories/examples. could not stop listening until finished it in one go.

    Report this

    Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

    You voted on this review!

    You reported this review!

    • Overall
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Performance
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Story
      5 out of 5 stars
    Profile Image for Gina

    Incredibly helpful

    Pena Chodron provides a simple yet practical approach to the complex area of changing unhelpful patterns of behaviour. Good humour aids the listener to relate to their own experiences without judgment.

    Report this

    Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

    You voted on this review!

    You reported this review!

    1 person found this helpful

    • Overall
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Performance
      5 out of 5 stars
    • Story
      5 out of 5 stars
    Profile Image for Alia

    Profound & life changing

    This is the most meamindful and revolutionary teaching I've heard. The idea of 'shenpa' really gets to the heart of the suffering of man kind, and Pema Chodron provides ways to overcome.. Primarily, to learn to stay rather than numb out or distract ourselves with our habitual thoughts and addictions.
    Onto my sixth listen and the understandings are seeping through. It is short, entertaining and a joy to listen to. Simply life changing.

    Report this

    Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

    You voted on this review!

    You reported this review!

    1 person found this helpful

    In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.