Dear Artist,
I have some exciting news to share with you.
I’m officially launching the Artist Morning Podcast right here on Substack.
The Artist Morning Podcast is a biweekly guided audio practice for writers and creators. One lesson. One meditation. One writing practice. To help you finally share your most soulful work with the world. Each episode is under 20 minutes and packed with tools and mindset shifts to help you write with more courage, clarity, and consistency.
For the past 6 years, guided meditations have been one of my favourite ways to teach. I have created over 250 different meditations so far, and we have over 35,000 people meditating with us each month. Pretty wild.
This podcast lets me combine teaching + meditation + writing in one simple audio experience.
Each episode has three parts (under 20 minutes total):
PART 1: A story + lesson
PART 2: A 10-minute guided meditation
PART 3: A writing practice to bring it all home
In today’s episode, the core idea is simple.
Ready isn’t a feeling.Ready is a decision you make.
If you keep waiting for the feeling, you might wait longer than you want to.
Because “ready” is often a mirage.And even when it shows up, it usually shows up late, after momentum is already gone.
So instead of waiting, we explore a better option.
This episode is about permission.
Permission to play.
Permission to be messy.
Permission to be a beginner.
And permission to keep your heart open, even if it’s been hurt before.
This Episode’s Writing Practice (AKA Part 3)
TITLE: I AM DONE WAITING FOR READY (10 minutes)
Grab your journal. Take one breath.No performance. Just truth.
Put one hand on your chest.Say this once, quietly: “I’m done waiting.”Now write like you mean it.
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Write fast. Write honest.
Part 1: The Cost of Waiting (2 minutes)Finish this sentence 5–10 times:
“If I keep waiting to feel ready, I’m secretly choosing…”
Don’t be polite. Be real.What are you actually giving up?Time? joy? momentum? Your voice?
Part 2: The Permission Page (5 minutes)Write this like you’re talking to yourself in the mirror:
“I’m done negotiating with fear.”“I give myself permission to be bad at this at first.”“I give myself permission to make a mess.”“I give myself permission to be seen before I’m perfect.”“I give myself permission to want more.”“I give myself permission to tell the truth slowly, at the speed of trust.”“I give myself permission to be the kind of writer who ships.”
Now add 3 of your own. The ones you’ve been afraid to admit you need.
Part 3: The No-More-Hiding Move (3 minutes)
Choose one action you can take in the next 24 hours that proves you’re serious.
Write it as a vow:
“Before tomorrow ends, I will…”“The smallest brave version of this is…”“I will not overthink this. I will…”
Optional final line (land it):“Ready isn’t a feeling. Today, I choose ready by…”
Closing stamp:
“I don’t need permission. I am permission.”
Big love,
D
PS: Want to Write Together Weekly?
If you’re ready to start writing more courageously and consistently on Substack, join me inside the Writers Club. We meet online every Tuesday morning.The Writers Club is a weekly community with support and structure to help you finally share your writing and your gifts with the world.
