The quiet power of showing up
The past week has been a bit of a tough one for me. Not in an overwhelming way, but in the sense that I’ve had to adjust to some unexpected changes in my life. These changes disrupted the daily routine I’ve spent the last year building, and now I’m in the process of creating a new routine that better fits with these shifts.
Big life transitions always bring the temptation to hit pause on everything, to cut myself some slack on the habits I’ve worked so hard to establish. For me, that includes staying consistent with my writing on Substack and getting myself to the gym. Both are habits I’m still building, and right now, they’re a bit of a struggle. It’s tough—mentally and physically—to keep pushing forward when everything feels up in the air.
In moments like this, I remind myself of a mantra that’s been with me for years: show up.
It’s a simple two-word mantra I repeat to myself when the going gets tough. For me, showing up means sticking to the habits I’ve committed to, even when it feels like the last thing I want to do. When life shifts and I feel out of sync, it’s easy to use that as an excuse to skip the things that matter. But whether it’s writing, exercising, or other lifestyle choices, I’ve learned that the most important part of building any habit is simply showing up—even if it’s with just 5% of my energy.
And more often than not, I’ve found that even that small bit of energy can go a long way. As long as I show up, everything else that follows becomes easier. If I can show up on the days when it feels hardest, the habit sticks better. It’s like proving to myself that I can trust the process, no matter how uncomfortable it feels at the time.
This idea of showing up has carried me through more than just writing and exercise. It’s also helped me stay consistent with my counselling sessions. At first, showing up was easy—those early sessions felt like a release. I could pour out my thoughts and feel heard, and that felt good. But as the sessions went on, I started facing harder truths. I was challenged—sometimes uncomfortably so—and there were days when I left the room feeling worse than when I arrived. Suddenly, going to counselling didn’t feel as good, and it made it harder to want to keep going.
But that’s exactly when the mantra kicks in. I remind myself that showing up, even when it feels painful or uncomfortable, is how progress is made. And what keeps me going is the belief that the rewards will come later, far beyond the discomfort of the moment. It’s a process of pushing myself out of my comfort zone, but I make sure to do it incrementally—not all at once—so my growth remains sustainable.
The mantra of show up has been my quiet strength. It’s helped me build resilience and character over time. So, even when things feel uncertain, I keep showing up. And I’m learning to trust that it will pay off in its own time.
If you’ve found yourself struggling to show up in the face of change, I’d love to hear how you push through those moments. Let’s keep the conversation going—drop your thoughts or share your own mantra in the comments below!