Stuck in a Moment? Do the Next Right Thing

In this mini episode, Candice and Clare explore what it means to “feel the feels”… and then actually move on. Whether you’re stuck in sadness, anger, or anxiety, this episode offers real-life tools, gentle humor, and even a few kids’ movie references (because we’re moms, after all). Tune in to learn how shifting your mindset, changing your environment, and choosing the next right thing can help you get unstuck.

Shownotes (clickable links)

-Sing 2: Scarlett Johansson singing Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of

-Frozen 2: Anna singing The Next Right thing

transcript

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This podcast episode may contain brief quotes from external sources, used in a positive and respectful manner for discussion, education, and commentary. These references fall under fair use as they are not used for commercial gain, do not replace the original works, and are presented with proper context and attribution.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode are our own and those of our guests. They do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine, beliefs, or positions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Transcript

Clare Craner
Welcome to The Sisters Podcast! I'm Clare.

Candice Buchanan
And I'm Candice. Today, I have a few thoughts that I hope come out smoothly, but we’re going to talk about something related to mental health. Specifically—what do you do when you're stuck in a strong negative emotion? Whether it’s anger, sadness, or depression—how do you get out of that moment and move forward?

As I was thinking about this, two songs from kids' movies came to mind. I have a three-year-old, so we’re still very much in the little-kid-show phase. Side note: I don’t know about you, Clare, but because there’s a big age gap between my kids, I feel like I’m always navigating different movie phases. Sometimes I just separate them—like I’ll have Grace and May watch a kid movie, and the older ones something else. Otherwise, I’d be stuck watching toddler movies forever.

Clare Craner
It is hard!

Candice Buchanan
Yeah, I’m still deep in the little kid movie era. Anyway, the first song I thought of is from Sing 2. It’s actually my favorite song from that movie—Scarlett Johansson sings it. It’s called “Stuck in a Moment”, originally by U2. I didn’t even realize it was a U2 song because I don't know many of their songs, but I actually like ScarJo’s version better.

Clare Craner
She does such a great job with that one.

Candice Buchanan
Right? Her voice has this really nice raspy quality I love. The song is about being stuck in a moment—feeling like you can’t get out of it. But it’s also a reminder that what you're feeling isn't forever. You can get through it.

I think that’s so relatable. We all experience the full range of human emotion—it’s totally normal, and it’s healthy to feel your feelings. You don’t want to repress emotions or push them away. But at the same time, you don’t want to stay stuck in them either.

So what do you do when you’re stuck in a mood or negative headspace? I’ve definitely been there—whether I’m feeling low, upset, or angry. Of course, the “primary answers” always come to mind: say a prayer, read scriptures, sing a hymn. But sometimes, when I’m deep in those feelings, I don’t feel ready for those things quite yet.

Clare Craner
Yeah, totally.

Candice Buchanan
So, here are a few things that help me personally:

• Get outside and into the sunshine.
• Change your location—it really helps to just move into a different environment.
• Get some exercise. Endorphins are real. Exercise clears my head, and I usually return to the issue feeling more patient or understanding.
• Watch something funny—I love comedies. Even a little bit of Nate Bargatze can lift my mood. Once I’ve laughed or had a reset, I can look back at what was bothering me with a better perspective.

There’s so much talk about mental health lately—and I’ve been reading a lot on the topic. Funny enough, two books I read had totally opposite views.

One was all about teaching emotional skills in schools—which I think is amazing. The other argued that emotions are private and shouldn't be taught in school at all—just stick to the basics. And honestly, that book made some good points too.

Here’s what stuck with me: when you go to a doctor, the goal is to get well and move on. You get surgery, you take medicine, and eventually, you stop seeing that doctor. I think the same should apply to mental health. If you’ve gone through something difficult, therapy or self-work is great—but the goal should be growth. You want to be building strength and resilience, not reliving pain forever.

Clare Craner
That’s a really good point.

Candice Buchanan
Right? If you’re working on your mental health, it should make you more capable—not stuck. Like with a workout plan, you get stronger over time. The same should go for emotional strength.

Understanding why you are the way you are is valuable. But if that understanding turns into an excuse to stay stuck—like, “I can’t change because this or that happened to me”—then it’s no longer helping. Acknowledging the past is great, but the next step should always be: “What can I do now to move forward?”

Clare Craner
Yes. Exactly.

Candice Buchanan
So, moving on to the second song that came to mind—it’s from Frozen 2. My husband is teaching himself how to play piano, and he has this Frozen music book. One of the songs he plays is “The Next Right Thing,” and I love it.

In the movie, Anna thinks her sister and friend are gone, and she’s literally trapped in a dark cave. It's this super low moment. And she sings about how she doesn’t know what to do—but she can do the next right thing.

That line has really stuck with me. It’s such good advice. When you’re in a dark place emotionally, you don’t need to make massive life decisions. Just make one good choice. Just do the next right thing.

Clare Craner
That’s a really powerful takeaway.

Candice Buchanan
Yeah. Like, if you’re really angry—maybe don’t have a serious conversation with your spouse in that moment. If you're really sad—maybe don’t make a big life change. Do something small: go outside, call a friend, take a walk, put on music. Get out of the emotional spiral first, and then move forward.

We all experience highs and lows. But if you’re in a low, remember—it won’t last forever. Feel what you need to feel, then do something to help yourself shift.

One thing I tell my kids is: “What plant are you watering?” One of my kids tends to get anxious, and I’ll say, “Okay, I know you’re worried, but is that worry helping? Or is it just feeding the wrong plant?”

Instead, let’s water the positive plant. Let that one grow.

(…Little kid enters)

Hi, honey! Want to say something? Okay, say:
 “Just do the next right thing.”

Child
Just do the next right thing!

Candice Buchanan
There you go—wise words. With that, we hope you know: God loves you.