Hello and welcome Reader!

You pour your heart into something — a dream, a next step, a leap forward — and then… silence.
No feedback. No movement.
It’s crushing. It makes you question… everything.

This week’s letter is for those moments when the world feels deaf to your efforts, and it seems like there’s no point in trying again.

When Reality Falls Flat

Someone close to me — a brilliant creative — falls into despair whenever his efforts don’t immediately match his hopes.
A new music release doesn’t go viral. A contest doesn’t yield a prize. A teaching program has no sign-ups.

Each time, the same spiral:
He disappears into movies, games, scrolling. Loses sleep. Loses appetite. Says nothing matters anymore.
He has a T-shirt that says “Do nothing” — and for days, it becomes a uniform for his mood.

And yet… this story doesn’t end in the dark.

At some point, he reaches out, and we talk.
I gently guide him through a 3-step practice I’ve used for years.
It’s not magic. But it works. Every time.

He shifts his attention. Reframes the problem. Reconnects to what is possible.
And then — like a seed sprouting after weeks of silence — things start to grow.

He wins a contest.
He gets an offer from a major international company.
He’s invited to speak at a creative community event, and new doors open.

Why? Because once he moved — life responded.

This cycle isn’t unique to artists or musicians.
But in creative fields, where the work is deeply personal, the highs and lows cut deeper.
Still, this truth holds across industries, roles, and seasons:

A Gentle Practice: You Are More Than the Problem

When life feels stuck, most of us fall into a quiet trap:
We begin to believe we are the problem.

Here’s a three-step practice to shift that belief and reconnect to your inner power.

Step 1: Pause the loop.​
Name the challenge that feels overwhelming right now.
Example: I’m interested in teaching mindfulness to children, but I have no idea if anyone needs it or if I’m even qualified.

Notice how quickly the mind merges you with the problem.

“I don’t know.”
“I’m not ready.”
“It’s probably just in my head.”

This is the first freeze point:
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And when you’re tangled like this, it’s hard to move.

Step 2: Separate.

Now take a breath and untangle yourself from the issue.

You are not the fear.
You are not the doubt.
You are not the lack of clarity.

Try this physically if you like:
Place two objects in front of you. One is you. The other is the problem.
Look at them. Let them take space apart from each other.

Let it land. And breathe.

Step 3: Expand.

Now say it out loud (or write it):

You hold wisdom, courage, resources, and curiosity far beyond this one stuck point.

Take a moment to feel that.

Then ask yourself:

• When I’m bigger than the problem, what shifts?
• What might I do — even a small step?
• What’s the minimum I can try?
• And what’s the maximum?
• What will I do today?

Write. Move. Begin again.

💡 Want to go deeper?

Download the Free Companion Workbook to my new book Embrace Change Gently: The 4-Week C.A.R.E. Framework to Build Habits of Happiness That Last​
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A simple, beautifully designed guide to help you move through resistance with clarity, not force.
Includes reflection prompts, mindset tools, and a soft invitation to begin again.

👉 Download via Kit or Grab it on Gumroad​

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With love,
​Elena