I made this 12-minute guided meditation because I was triggered by how awesome my friends are. (Yes, I'm talk about you!)
So many of you guys are creating epic things and so this past weekend I fell into a dark hole of comparing myself to my friends.
After much reflection I realized comparison is the enemy of self-love.
Comparison is NOT helpful for me and kills my desire to create.
I love you epic humans.
Pls keep knocking my socks off with your brilliance.
Instead of secretly wishing for mediocre friends, I have decided to do my best to be a FOREVER FAN.
A FOREVER FAN is someone who by default is a fan of anyone that is brave enough to put their work into the world.
Even if my creative tastes don't vibe with your creation, I AM STILL ROOTING FOR YOU.
Even if I am triggered by your work... I AM STILL ROOTING FOR YOU.
Even if we are "competitors" in the same industry... I AM STILL ROOTING FOR YOU.
Even if you're NOT rooting for me... I AM STILL ROOTING FOR YOU.
I love you. Keep shining.
D
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PS: If you enjoyed this meditation you can subscribe to the Artist Morning YouTube channel for more FREE guided meditations + podcasts weekly --> shorturl.at/gjuJV
18 subscribers so far!
Is it weird that I am so pumped to have 18 subs?! :)
For more information on the Artist Morning click here —> www.artistmorning.com
Next FREE guided (group) meditation is tomorrow morning at 9am (ET).
Come join us for some fun, creative support and accountability.
This is the best time in human history to try something and fail.
Seriously! The entire planet is locked-down. Many of us don’t even have the choice to work or go to school; at least not the way we use to.
At some point in the future we’ll be able to go back to our jobs and regular lives, but for now the whole world is on a collective time-out.
And so, if you were to try that crazy idea you had in the back of your head and happened to really suck at it, nobody’s going to hold it against you.
You can always fall back on the thing you did and the person you were before the lockdown. People will get it.
Now this isn’t an excuse to do anything half-assed. If you’re gonna do it, give it your all, but maybe be a little kinder and more patient with yourself. And have some fun! Get messy. Make mistakes. PLAY!!
The whole world is locked-down, no one’s going to hold it against you if you try that thing for a few weeks and suck.
My homie and business coach Giovanni Marsico helped a lot, especially when he said:
“Before you were a master you were a disaster.”
When I finally gave myself permission to be a disaster, here’s what came through me…
It’s a 15 minute guided meditation. I had a blast making it and can’t wait to make another.
If you enjoyed the meditation you can show support by hitting the like button or better yet, subscribe to my brand new YouTube channel.
4 subscribers so far! Who is going to be lucky number 5? :)
For more information on the Artist Morning click here —> www.artistmorning.com
To subscribe to my YouTube channel —> shorturl.at/ahp58
much much much love!
D
On day 13 of my mandatory (travel) quarantine I sat and meditated for 4 hours.
That day I received a really clear download from the Universe about a new creative project I should start.
On day 14, after a really powerful chat with my pal Chris Assad, I decided to stop resisting the Universe and fully open my channels and see what comes through.
In less than 24 hours The Artist Morning was born. Somehow, in less than a single day an entire website, logo, domain, hosting, intro video, copy, photos, submission form and a guided meditation video (my first ever) was online.
It was kind of a blur to be honest. A magical whirlwind of creation. It felt amazing to create again because the 2 weeks prior I couldn’t create anything!
But here’s the thing, making and sharing are not the same thing.
For 2 weeks after The Artist Morning website was live, I didn’t tell a soul. I got shy, scared and small. My ego was really loud in this place.
Last week I finally made a video and shared the idea and website with the world.
Yesterday was our first group guided meditation. It was something very special for me. A moment I will remember and cherish for a long time.
So much love for everyone who said yes and logged in at 9am on a Monday, during a global freaking pandemic!
Artist Morning happens at 9AM (EST) every Monday/Wednesday/Friday. The Zoom video meetings are exactly 60 mins long.
1 part group guided meditation
1 part powerful writing exercise to connect us back to our creative channels
1 part community of artists and creators connecting
If you feel called by this idea and want to join, our next video Zoom is tomorrow morning at 9am. The details are in my bio or can be found at www.artistmorning.com.
This project is built specifically for artists and creators who are feeling stuck, disconnected or isolated due to the recent global lockdown.
I feel you. It’s not a fun place to be.
Artist Morning might be able to help.
Much much much love,
D
PS: If you know of an artist or creator that might be interested, please share this post with them or feel free to tag them below.
I learned a big lesson yesterday. It was a wake-up call.
Unconsciously, I was waiting for someone to save me. (see video for the full story)
I woke up this morning angry.
A good angry. A productive angry.
I needed to do something before my courage ran out.
So, I made this video to (lovingly) call myself out and create some accountability.
If you know any artists or creators that need to hear this message please share it with them, or even tag them below.
If you feel called and want more information on how the Artist Morning works you can check out this snazzy new website i setup → http://www.artistmorning.com.
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WHAT IS ARTIST MORNING?
If you are an artist or creator that is feeling creatively stuck due to COVID-19 Artist Morning was built specifically for YOU.
The world needs your art now more than ever before.
Come join us for FREE virtual guided mediations, followed by “morning pages”, Julia Cameron’s brilliant writing exercise that is easily one of the most powerful creative tools I have ever discovered.
If you feel stuck or miss community and need some support getting back to your magic, join us Mon/Wed/Fri at 9am to 10am (EST).
Thanks for your time.
Love,
D
Hi.
It’s your pal Darius. Remember me. :)
I haven’t posted anything on social media for almost a month. That’s a long time for me. I use to post every single day.
Lots of you beautiful humans have been sending me messages asking if I am okay.
I am. And thanks for caring! It means a lot to me.
There is so much going on in the world and I needed some time to feel and process what that brings up in me.
So, I decided to go inwards.
I’ve been meditating, writing and praying a lot. Sometimes 4–5 hours a day.
I have discovered a lot about myself, but that’s not what this post is about. This post is just me saying hi.
With each passing day it feels more difficult to post on social media. I have wanted to reach out for a few days now, but have felt shy because I’ve been gone for so long.
Feels good to say that out loud. I feel lighter.
More from me soon.
For now, just know I love you. And you are in my prayers daily.
Stay safe. Stay you.
Much much much love,
D
Everyone is experiencing the coronavirus differently.
I have seen a wide spectrum of responses: some people in full panic-mode, and some people who are almost in denial that it is happening.
Most people I know are not on either extreme, but fall somewhere in the middle.
I am not here to tell you which perspective is right, because I don’t think there is such a thing as a right perspective.
But I want to offer a loving suggestion for when you have conversations about what’s going on:
Leave a little room for people having a different experience from yours.
I did NOT follow this suggestion last night; I tried to push my perspective of the coronavirus situation onto a dear friend. My comments came from a place of good intentions, but if I’m being honest, also from a forceful place of wanting to fix the situation.
This dear friend is a new dad and I was somehow oblivious to how much more difficult the news of this outbreak would be for him. I didn’t hold enough space for him to share his views on the matter, and only really saw things through my own lens: a healthy, 37-year-old man with no children.
I felt really shitty afterwards and apologized to my friend. I messed up, but I am really glad we talked. It snapped me out of my self-oriented perspective and opened my heart to more empathy for others.
We are currently going through a really complicated and challenging situation. I am not sure what’s in store, but I am going to do my best to send love and hold space for people—even if I don’t share their view.
Also, I am going to pay special attention to notice when the experiences of others crosses a boundary or creates harm for me. When this happens I am going to do my best to lovingly step away from that energy, without judging or making that person out to be wrong.
I have no need to fix, judge or take on other people’s experiences or energy.
This is going to be really challenging for me, but I think it will also be a great opportunity to put into practice so many of the mindfulness and self-love practices I have been working on for the past few years.
Much love,
D
One of the reasons Jenn and I are in Costa Rica right now is to see if we could work remotely for a few weeks during the winter. And right now, I’m having a hard time finding balance.
There’s so much I love about being here: the weather, the people, the food, the beach and the community of conscious humans—just to name a few. And a part of me is pissed that I have decided to work while in this tropical paradise.
It feels like I am a kid and my parents are trying to make me do homework while I am on vacation.
But on the flip side, if I don’t do any work then Adult Darius starts to get anxious. So before I get ahead of myself, I need to determine if running a business from here is even possible.
I love this place and want to see if Jenn and I can make it here for a few weeks at a time and find a balance between play and work.
And at this point, it’s too early to tell.
I know there are a bunch of you who have figured out a way to make this type of balance work. If any of you have practical tips on this topic to offer us, Jenn and I are all ears.
Almost everyone who books a HEARTshots shoot with me is at a point where they are ready to share more of their magic with the world. It’s one of my favourite things about my job.
So I was incredibly honoured to take a front row seat and witness my friend Susheela step deeper into her power.
She is a coach, but her approach and the tools she uses are quite unique—and according to many of her clients, very effective.
You see, Susheela is also a medium. So when you work with her, it’s actually a group of coaches or guides that you gain access to.
I am not sure how it works being a medium, but I do know Susheela has a gift that is very rare and that she is committed to using this gift in service to others.
For this and many other reasons, I’m pleased to share that Susheela is our Coach of the Week.
8 QUESTIONS WITH SUSHEELA RAMACHANDRAN
Describe your coaching approach in 2-3 sentences.
I am an intuitive medium, energy healer and coach who uses her abilities to channel and heal her clients’ subconscious limiting belief systems from this life and past lives so they can live their true calling and have relationships that light them up.
Who is your favourite type of person to coach?
Big-hearted, spiritual business owners who have thriving businesses but feel limited in their ability to manifest and live their life’s true calling.
What's 1 training program that you highly recommend to coaches looking to level up?
Any of David Neagle's courses
What's one thing about you that would surprise people if they knew?
I have helped 7+ couples conceive children without knowing about it.
Share the name of one coach or mentor that has impacted your life:
Jonny Dupre
When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be?
Pediatrician
Name one book that changed your life:
A New Earth
Name one of your favourite podcasts:
David Neagle's Successful Mind podcast
HOW TO CONNECT WITH SUSHEELA
Website: www.susheela.co
Instagram: @susheelaramachandran
(CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTOS)
It’s easy to make videos alone in my studio back home when I have total control of the content creation process.
But when I’m travelling and I can hear and see people having fun in the sun, I don’t want to draw attention to myself creating content. It doesn’t take long before the combination of feeling self-conscious and the fear of missing out on the fun makes me want to give up before I start.
Before I know it, I am home from my travels and I have no content created. Yes, there are some personal photos of me and my loved ones enjoying ourselves, but it’s not the same. I know there was more I could have expressed and created.
Sometimes it’s super important to put your phone away and fully immerse yourself in your time away from work. But sometimes it’s good to let these exotic destinations activate our creativity.
Personally I always get BIG downloads from the Universe whenever I travel. Yes, I can write them down in my journal, but I also want to express and share my experiences with my community.
So with today’s post, I’m sharing 6 Tips To Help You Take Better Photos + Videos On Vacation.
Got any tips for me while I’m away? Share them below and I’ll try them out this week.
A crazy idea dropped into my meditation today: what if I held weekly open hours and I committed to doing 2 FREE photoshoots every week?
It’s ambitious, but here’s how I see it:
I want more people to love what they look like in photos.
I want to push and challenge my photography skills.
I want to engage my social media community with something that has REAL FREAKIN VALUE.
These would be super short photoshoots (30 mins max) and very different from my normal 4-hour HEARTshots process. But it would be all the same professional gear, the same amazing studio space and of course the same photographer.
Here’s what you’d get:
15 mins of shooting with me
15 mins to review and select the photos together (I can help you)
3 final photos (Full HD)
I am still figuring out how to select the 2 people every week. In the meantime, if you’re interested in this little experiment, comment below with the words “pick me” or tag someone you think needs awesome new photos.
