These days, I seem to get a lot of emails from readers sharing their anxieties.

I get it. These are stressful times.

When I feel anxious, or restless, or just overwhelmed, you know what makes me feel better? Drawing. It doesn’t fix everything, but it helps a lot. Here’s why.

Most of the time, when life is difficult, our brains won’t stop spinning. We replay the past. We invent scary futures. We get stuck in the churn of “what ifs.”

But when I sit down with my sketchbook, that cycle slows and stops. Because to draw, you have to be here, in this moment. You have to look closely at what’s actually in front of you, right now — not what might happen tomorrow or what went wrong yesterday. It’s like meditation.

No, actually, not “like” meditation — it is meditation.

The act of looking, of observing, of translating what you see into a line on the page — it quiets the noise in your head. When I draw, I feel that knot in my stomach untying. The tension in my shoulders relaxing its grip. I come back to the present. And usually, the present is … okay. I’m here, enjoying myself, drawing. It’s all good, man.

That’s the gift of drawing. It’s not just about making pretty pictures — it’s about making peace. With this moment, with yourself. And it doesn’t matter if you do it well or poorly. It works just the same. (Unless you start beating yourself up for not drawing perfectly).

So the next time your mind is racing, pick up any old pen. Look at what’s right in front of you. Draw it. And remember: right now, you’re okay.

Your pal,

Danny

P.S. If you’ve been wanting to draw more but never feel like you have the time, I made a new course that might help. It’s called Quick Draw, and it’s full of short, simple lessons to get you sketching with more ease and less overthinking. I really believe it can help you make drawing a regular, joyful part of your life—even if you’re just getting started. You can check it out here. There’s a special early bird price for the next few days, so, uh, be quick.