Jordan (@jordan_gray_consulting) is a world class thought leader on the subject of sex and relationships. My past partner Jenn shared many of his blog posts and newsletters with me. We even watched parts of one of his courses together.

It was instantly clear to me that Jordan had both a passion and deep wisdom in many key areas when it comes to relationships.

When I finally got to work with Jordan, he shared that he has been passionate about this work since he was a child, before he even fully understood what adult relationships could be.

Jordan started professionally working as a coach, teacher and guide very early in his 20s. I remember my 20s, and I was in no place to give anyone dating or relationship advice. But at that age, Jordan’s frameworks and guidance helped many, and many more since then. And he has continue to grow his practice and his impact exponentially.

It was a great honour to spend quality time with Jordan in Vancouver during our photoshoot. I was so inspired by how much passion and love he still has for his craft, even after almost 20 years. His career is a masterclass in DEEP FOCUS.

It’s clear to me that Jordan is on a path that is fully aligned with his heart and his soul.

He’s doing such important work and also not losing himself in the work. This last part is important because it can ensure sustainability. So many of us are deeply passionate, but go far in our work too quickly, eventually burning out—a challenge I personally face. I noticed that Jordan’s energy was grounded, clear and energized. That’s impressive for someone who is 2 decades in on one topic.

I learned so much and felt so inspired by our time together. I can’t wait for our next hang.

Big love,

D

New week.
New month.
Fresh start.
Fresh canvas.

Time to let go of what was or what could have been.

Time to step into what is here now.

If you are open to it, rest your eyes for a moment with me.

Allow your mind, body and soul to catch up to this moment here.

Calling all parts of you that are elsewhere to come back home to your heart.

Visualize any part of you that might be stuck in the past or in the future gently floating back to this moment, back to your heart.

Take a few slow deep breaths. Breathing into your heartspace.

If you are open to it, slowly repeat the following mantra.

I am here now, in this.
I am here now, in this.
I am here NOW, in this.

New week.
New month.
Fresh start.
Fresh canvas.

What will you create from here and now?

Big love,

D

Standing bolding in your power and letting your light shine through is a very important gift we give our community and the world.

It inspires others to do the same: to seek out their own truth and follow their hearts.

This is a great responsibility and privilege we each hold.

So shine bright my friend

Before it’s too late.

Big love,

D

PS: If you want to collaborate with me this summer or fall, let’s chat. I have an amazing photography promo. Send me a direct message or email and let’s share that light of yours with the world.

2 PHOTOSHOOTS IN 1 DAY = MASSIVE SAVINGS!! ☀️ ONLY 3 SPOTS

If you are looking for a significant upgrade in your online presence—so that you can connect with more of your dream clients—let’s chat ASAP.

I have worked with hundreds and have taken over 800,000 photos of people all over the world.

I know how to help people take photos that actually FEEL and LOOK like their best selves.

My area of specialty is supporting speakers, authors, coaches, therapists, artists, and other individuals who use their passion, wisdom and energy to positively impact the world. 🌎

➤ ➤ ➤ For a limited time I am offering this 2 shoots in 1 day package. You’ll get a full HEARTshots photography experience PLUS my outdoor SunChaser photoshoot—my 2 most popular photoshoots in 1 day.

You will walk away with a wide range of photos that will help you massively upgrade your online branding and support your business for the next few years. 💻

It’s an amazing value for anyone who is ready for an upgrade to their business.

The only way I can make this happen is because in the summer we have way more daylight. But as we all know that doesn’t last!

⏰ If you are interested in learning more, don’t wait. I only have 3 spots available, so send me a direct message with the word “combo” and I will send you all the details → @dariusbashar

❌ ✋🏽 Stop. Playing. Small. ✋🏽 ❌

If you have ever tried to create a course, a service, or product—or really anything you wanted to share with the world—you’ve probably discovered how difficult it can be to tell the world about your creation.

Sure, anyone can send one email or share one post on social media, but the truth is it takes a lot of energy to effectively introduce the world to your newest creation.

👉🏽 So we have to learn that creating something and promoting that thing are two separate activities. And BOTH are crucial for success.

Most people place their energy and money into the creation part because it’s more fun and more connected to their passion.

Then they have this secret yet unrealistic expectation that since our creation is so good, we won’t need to promote it. It will take off on its own.

I am here to lovingly but very directly tell you, that shit never happens. It’s a pipe dream that will ultimately lead to disappointment.

Because when your creation falls short of your expectation, you falsely take away the lesson that you have nothing worthwhile to share with the world.

Do that a few times and you will lose all faith in yourself.

In this short video, I share one trick that has helped me get out of my own way and stop playing small.

I know there are many of you who are keeping really powerful gifts to yourself, and my hope is that this video will lovingly give you a nudge in the right direction.

Big love,

D

PS: Most people might not know this about me, but I can get really shy when it comes to promoting my own stuff. It does not come naturally. I have to work hard to build momentum and courage to share my creations with the world.

I wish it was easy and effortless, but it’s not. I am constantly hyping myself up and reminding myself of the very lesson I share in this video. 🙏🏽

What do you do when you’re at a crossroads and feel unsure which direction to go?

Or when you’re feeling lost and alone?

Or feeling creatively stuck?

In moments like these, many of us seek wisdom.

While wisdom can come from many sources, one of my favourite places to seek guidance is from my inner child—the younger child part of me that is very much alive inside my heart.

By cultivating a deep and trusting relationship with Little Darius, he and I have ongoing conversations where he shares many great ideas and insights with me. He has wisdom that Adult Darius might not be able to access on his own.

It’s counterintuitive but so freaking effective.

My inner child is key to my creative process as well. He gives me access to curiosity, wonder and play.

All of these are superpowers when it comes to creativity.

With the right meditation I can slow my mind down and gently connect with my inner child. Then, if he can sense my intentions are kind and loving, he often shares really significant insights with me.

If you’d like to try this out but aren’t sure where to start, I made a free guided meditation to facilitate quality time between you and your own inner child.

It can help you start your day feeling more grounded and focused. It can also clear whatever’s stuck and guide you back to your heart.

The link for the free meditation is in my bio.

(ALTERNATIVE CTA) —> Here is the link to the free Inner Child Guided Meditation.

Big love,

D

A bear or a tree or a bird looks and acts different in every season. But sometimes it feels like as humans, we’re supposed to be the same all year round.

Seasons change. And people change too. Change can be a beautiful thing, but it requires time for us to adapt.

I am finally finding my summer flow, which always happens around the middle of July.

As I start adapting my schedule and my life to a season that looks and feels very different from a cold Canadian winter, I see a familiar pattern emerging.

There is a part of me that wants to rush back into that glorious feeling of full summer flow.

Combined with my tendency to overcommit and over-schedule my life, I end up taking on too much, too soon.

Since I’m still in the early days of my 2023 summer flow, I don’t yet have the momentum required to uphold these commitments.

What I’ve learned is that it’s better to take small, consistent steps first, and allow my engine to build momentum naturally.

So this week instead of stacking 20+ things onto each day, I am going to do less and win more.

(By winning I mean doing what I said I was going to do.)

• Because winning builds momentum.
• Winning builds confidence.
• Winning builds the hunger to add more things to my life.

So this week my win is to go for a 5 minute walk every day.

I know 5 minutes is ridiculously short, but that’s the point.

If I choose to walk for longer that’s fine, but my goal is to slowly, lovingly get my engine going.

So, is there one simple thing you are willing to commit to this week to build momentum and summer flow?

And if so, what would happen if you made it even simpler? (E.g. making 20 min walk into a 5 min walk.)

If you want, reply to this post and let me know your one simple thing this week. And let’s get that summer momentum rolling.

Big love,

D

I’ve taken almost 900,000 photos and I am still surprised by the secret of how photography really works.

My job as a photographer is to do 2 things:

Job # 1 → Find beauty

I see beauty everywhere and in everything. But more specifically, beauty is when someone takes the courageous act of letting the gorgeous light inside their heart shine through.

Job # 2 → Remind people how much fun it is to be themselves

Someone once described what I do as couples therapy, but the couple is the person I am photographing and their own heart.

So many of us go through life estranged from our hearts, our bodies, our dreams.

The way I use photography is to guide you back toward your heart, so that you can reconnect.

Initially it can be scary to see yourself, especially if it’s been a long time since you’ve had real quality time with your heart.

That’s why the journey I take people on is custom paced for each person. We can go really slow; there is no need to rush or force people on the path. In fact it’s much better and more productive to make sure the pace we set is optimized for joy.

Not only does this result in awesome photos, but it also results in an awesome creative experience where people feel empowered and can remember how beautiful, brilliant and powerful they have always been.

Big love,

D

PS: If this post excites you and you are curious about such a journey for yourself reach out. Everyone is welcome. Yes, I work with many top thought leaders, authors and speakers, but I also love working with humans who have never really had a full photography experience before. I have a great promo for the summer and there are still a few spots left.

I lost myself in the last two weeks of June. I was working incredibly hard for the previous 2 months, and then fell off of my most important routines and rituals.

Keeping up my routines and rituals is key to my mental health and success. I am always at some point inconsistent with my routines, and if I’m not careful in those moments when my consistency falters, I can fall hard. Often that results in losing touch with my support systems, and thereby feeling a million miles away from everyone.

It took me a while but I’m back. And I’m here to say:

We ALL fall at some point.

It’s inevitable.

And since I know that some point in the future I will fall again, my focus now is on learning as much as I can so that next time I fall smarter. This will also help me fall less often and bounce back faster.

Here are a few questions I ask myself to help me be more supportive and loving:

• Were there any consistent triggers that activated the fall?
• Was I pushing too hard / burning out?
• Was I having fun?
• Was I going too slow / have a lack of momentum?
• Was I doing this for someone else? e.g. people pleasing
• Was I ignoring a key part of my life? (health, family, finances)
• Was I bypassing or finding a clever excuse to ignore my desires?
• Was I making the time to really listen to my heart?

By taking the time to honestly reflect on these questions, I can learn and lovingly begin again. When the next fall inevitably comes, I’ll fall smarter.

Do you have any tips that help you bounce back from a fall? If so, please share them in the comments or send me a direct message. I’d love to know.

Big love,

D

1. What would you create if you weren’t afraid?
2. What would you create if your family would never see it?
3. What would you create if you knew this would be your last summer?
4. What would you create if you had the courage to be 100% honest?
5. What would you create if you did not need validation?
6. What would you create if you stopped numbing or distracting yourself from your pain?
7. What would you create if likes, comments, and follows could not be tracked?
8. What would you create if there was no connection to money, business or profit?
9. What would you create if you let your heart guide you fully?
10. What would you create just for you—just for your own well-being?

(^ Which one of these prompts feels most important to you today?)