The act of showing up

How important it is to keep showing up to yourself

This post is meta. I was procrastinating and stressing about writing it. Sometimes I don't know what to talk about, let alone make it valuable to you. And that's exactly what I want to talk about today. Showing up, even when you have no idea what to do.

We often aim for perfection, creating something meaningful that's really worth it all the time. Even if we consciously know this is an unrealistic expectation of us and others, it is hard to brush off that feeling, that emotion attached to creating something beautiful, meaningful, and worthy.

I delayed writing this, haunted by my commitment to release something I'm proud of every two weeks and share it with you. "Why did I do it?", "What will they think if my article sucks?" "What if I don't have anything good to say?". Those are all questions that ran around my mind for a while. 

Until I remembered what two people I professionally admire said about this feeling.

"Even if I don't have any ideas on what to do or say, I get up in the morning and go to my office and sit at the desk" - Nick Cave, Musician.

"You got to do the work." - James Victore, Graphic Designer.

Let's admit these are not groundbreaking insights. But what lies behind them is a guide to address our inner struggle - with our doubts, fears, excuses, and narratives. They also have another thing in common: showing up.

Showing up is so powerful. Showing up for the commitment you made but feel you can't do it, showing up when you are out of ideas, showing up when you think your efforts are not worthy. Just keep pushing, keep showing up. "Doing the work" does not mean doing the actual work or output. Doing the work is being present. 

Showing up requires us to be in the moment, to feel the excitement, frustration, flow, feeling lost, and to feel the best or the bigger imposter in the world. That's also the work! That's where change happens.

It's in the commitment, the showing up, the rituals, and the perseverance that lies the work and the rewards. It is not through the output we grow, learn and evolve. It is the work that gets us there. 

Showing up for yourself is a sign of self-love and respect.

Showing up for yourself exposes you to failure, which allows you to learn forgiveness, self-compassion, and accountability.

Showing up for yourself increases the chances of success in whatever way you define it.

Showing up for yourself cements behaviors that you once decided to commit to

Showing up for yourself will change you in imperceptible ways that, later on, you will realize how big they were.

When you don't feel worthy, inspired, lack ideas, are insecure…. Just show up. Showing up is a victory in itself. It means you are open to whatever comes and be fully present with your whole self - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the sad. And every time you do it, you do it for yourself.

Keep showing up. 

You have more in you than you think.

If you struggle with showing up for yourself, let’s chat.