From Morning Pages to Daily Pages

a refreshing + liberating perspective

I think I cracked the code when it comes to writing Morning Pages.

It’s a well-known practice from The Artist’s Way, that I often talked about. Everyone who knows me knows that it’s part of what I do… and maybe of who I am. The original practice given by Julia Cameron is made of three long handwritten pages — a stream of consciousness — a space to dumb anything that comes to you, ideally first thing in the morning. Sweet. But I found something that works better. Something so liberating that everyone can do it, or at least: give it a try.

Maybe you thrive on a consistent routine, but it could also be that maybe you thrive on spontaneity. Maybe you are so stimulated by your environment that sitting down to write makes no sense to you, but it could also be that you love a relaxed environment, sitting on a couch, lighting up a candle, grabbing your journal: say no more, it’s pure bliss. Go (re-)read the deep dive about your Human Design variables in The Light Letter from October 16th — it’s truly eye-opening.

So here is the thing: I reframed Morning Pages as Daily Pages. Three pages written at any moment of the day, for more flexibility.

This takes away the pressure of doing it first thing in the morning. As a mother, this is only possible for me if I wake up before my child. What matters to me is to do it daily. Once a day, I know that I will carve out time to write whatever is moving through me at this moment. It’s my daily creative meeting with myself: what idea want to be born today? — this is a prompt I often use to get me started.

It can be helpful to write down the hour of the day alongside the date — for example, 25/10/2024, 08:34 am. You might discover a pattern, a moment of the day when you actually want to sit down and write. You might learn a lot about you… The goal is to allow yourself to make the practice truly yours, no right or wrong way. No one can take this away from you. It’s your experience, and it’s valuable.

With my latest journal (a Moleskine Expanded, blank, 400 pages + a BIC black ballpoint pen), I tried something new. It’s life-changing, and many people on TikTok told me it was absolute genius when I showed how I organized my notebook. I decided to write only on the right page, leaving the left page blank. I was uncomfortable at first.. all this loss of paper real estate…

However, I quickly realized that the left page would become a space to take notes when re-reading my Daily Pages, to simply expand or reflect. This is where the true creative act lies, my dear. Yes, the writing part can help you to organize your thoughts, moods, and ideas. If you commit to three full pages, I know you will get the clarity you seek. It might be boring, uncomfortable, or you might even say impossible at first. But the satisfaction of having written is the real endorphins kick you want, so much better than endless scrolling and double-tapping.

The re-reading part is alchemical. I wait a few days or weeks before peaking at my older daily pages. This distance allows me to feel like a neutral observer, ready to learn something new about… myself and my thought process. With practice, you will soon be able to hear who is writing: is it the protecting self? the expanded self? the ambitious self? the playing-small self? and so many other facets of you.

I have found that the first lines of my Daily Pages give the tone for the three pages, but often, by the end of page number 3, a new facet of myself has been uncovered.

Writing prompts to get started

If you don’t know what to write, here are the top 5 prompts that get me started:

• What do I want to hold space for today?

• What is the direction for today?

• Anything is possible. What do I want to nurture and create today?

• What would my energetically aligned self would focus on now?

• What am I keeping to myself that wants to be shared?

This feels more aligned, more sacred, and truly the most supportive practice I can ever think of.

Hope you join me next time I offer a Daily Pages accountability group (date TBD), okay?

Takeaways for your own practice

1. Adapt the practice to your real (not fantasy) life:

   Make journaling fit your schedule—consistency is key, not timing.

2. Your way is the best for you:

   Whether you are a spontaneous person or thriving on a routine, trust yourself. Use a prompt to get you started if you feel stuck.

3. Don’t overwhelm your notebook:

   Write only on one side of the page to leave room for insights during later reflections.

4. Uncover the many facets of your being:

   Re-reading your pages reveals what it is to be you.

5. Get yourself an accountability partner:

   Forward this to a friend. Or let me know if you want me to organize a group, ok?

Bless you,

Ardas Chandra