Elena Agafonova

​ Coach | Author | Happiness Explorer 🌱 ​

Letters of Change A weekly space for happiness, self-trust & the art of living well ​ Let’s begin gently

Hello and welcome Reader!

One evening, while half-scrolling, half-exhausted, I stumbled (well — not quite accidentally) into a quiet little room on Clubhouse where Cory Muscara was leading a guided meditation. His voice was calm, his message simple:

That phrase stayed with me.

Muscara has spent years studying mindfulness — in monasteries and in the messy realities of everyday life. But what really drew me in wasn’t a technique or framework. It was his sincerity. The kind that doesn’t push or preach. It just invites you to show up fully.

And I realized: this is it.
​This is the real growth.​
The kind that doesn’t shout, but settles in quietly.
That doesn’t chase goals, but gently, patiently expands you from within.

What Do I Do, and Why?

This question, which became the name of one of my favorite practices, may sound almost too simple. But it cuts through the noise like nothing else.

When you pause — truly pause — and ask yourself:
​“What am I doing right now, and why?”​
You interrupt the autopilot.
You return to the moment.
And often, you return to yourself.

This isn’t about self-improvement marathons.
It’s about attention. And intention.
​It’s how we begin to grow from the inside out.

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Gentle Reflection: Mindfulness in Small Moments

Here are three practices that help me return to the present and nourish my sense of grounded clarity:

1. Breath: A few conscious inhales and exhales. The soft attention to air entering and leaving. It calms the storm, even if just for a moment.
2. The 3x3 Check-in: At the end of the week, I pause and write down:
   • 3 things I noticed
   • 3 things I’m grateful for
   • 3 things I’ll do differently
     This mini ritual brings focus, humility, and momentum.
3. Sound + Space: Years ago, a Qi Gong teacher introduced me to the healing sounds of the five elements. I still use this practice when I feel scattered. It’s simple, physical, and surprisingly powerful.

These are my ways.
Yours may look completely different.
That’s the invitation — not to follow a recipe, but to begin listening. Really listening.
To what grounds you.
What grows you.

New This Week: Mindfulness Moments

To accompany this week’s Letter, I’ve created something special — a printable deck of 6 micro-practices that reflect the ideas we explored today.
They’re simple, visual, and designed to bring you gently back to clarity.

🤍 Mindfulness Moments – 6 Printable Cards for Grounded Growth​
​(Pay what feels right, starting with just $1,00)

And if they help you, I’d deeply appreciate your short review 🙏🙏🙏.

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A little help from within

If you’d like a companion for your inner conversations, take a look at Ask the Master, a free printable card deck I designed to support you in moments of doubt or decision.

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Let’s grow at our own pace

Reply to this letter if something resonated. Or share it with a friend who’s also figuring out their own rhythm of change.

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Until next Wednesday,

Elena

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