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Lurking in the shadows of our lives is a fear—and a resistance—to showing up. And yet, since we are here on earth, we agreed to show up.

Not just as a person who takes up space, or who treats life as something to endure, but showing up to the something that you, and only you, are here to do.

You Already Know

I know—you might tell me you don’t know why you showed up, or what you’re supposed to do now that you’re here. And I have to disagree, as politely as possible.

If you read or listen to my blogs, books, or podcasts, or others like them, then I know that you already know.

Maybe you’re not admitting it yet. Maybe you’re afraid of what it might mean, or what you’ll have to do. But somewhere inside, you know what it is.

Right now, at this moment, there is something you are thinking of doing that you aren’t.

How do I know?

Because no matter how present we are in the world, in our lives, there is always more for us to do. And why am I so sure of that? Because we are still here.

Like a Stone Tossed Into a Lake

I don’t mean show up in enormous ways, like being the president of a country. Very few of us came here to do that.

No, most of us showed up to be like a stone tossed into a lake. We are here to let our actions and words ripple out in concentric circles, touching the world and the people around us. In a good way.

Because—if I may digress for a moment—if someone shows up as greed, hate, revenge, or the hunger for power over others, that isn’t showing up at all.

There’s a theory that they came to be that way so the rest of us could learn from them, and we certainly can.

But I think that somewhere along the line, they grew afraid that who they are isn’t enough. So they had to become larger in the world, to take instead of give. Perhaps they unconsciously believed that would handle the showing-up part for them. It doesn’t. But that’s another story.

For the rest of us—the ones who want to do good in the world—showing up takes many forms, and it changes as our lives move on.

The Fear Monster and the Still, Small Voice

I wrote my first blog in 1998. (Yes, I’m a nerd.) The writing had its own trials, but pressing the button to send it out into the world terrified me every single time. For years.

I still feel varying degrees of fear when I publish a blog, release a book or a podcast, or teach a class, after all this time. But most of the time, I no longer let it keep me from showing up.

We are meant to show up. Show our faces. Speak our minds. Be with people. Form communities. Walk our path together.

Speaking up has been its own lesson. In college, I made sure I never took a class where I’d have to speak. In one course, the teacher said part of our grade depended on how much we participated, and I begged him to let me write an extra paper instead, because I couldn’t do it. He kindly agreed.

But somewhere along the way, I grew more passionate about what I felt I was meant to say than I was afraid of what might happen if I said it. Slowly.

Now, when that lurking fear monster tells me not to show myself, not to help, not to speak, not to write, I mostly ignore it. And yet—when that still, small voice nudges me to step further out into the world, the fear shows up again, right on cue.

Sometimes fear and resistance keep me from doing things for days, weeks, even years, until I finally take some small action to prove to that fear monster that I’m going to do it. Fear or not. Feel the fear and do it anyway, right?

Yes to What You Can Show Up For

I know everyone carries a desire to share something. To show up. So choose a way you can manage right now, and do it. Then expand into something else. Get help. Read books. Form a mastermind. Join a community that keeps going.

But do it.

Because we are all waiting for you.

The world needs every voice, every expression, every way to love, every way to share. Each of us is unique in how we show up. And for the tapestry of life to be complete, it takes all of us, weaving together our glorious and diverse gifts.

Sometimes we show up to right injustices, large and small. Other times it’s to offer our creative expression, our love, a little kindness. To be generous. To lead. To speak words that heal. To give a hug when one is needed.

There are many ways to show up, and how you do it will be entirely yours. Remember that showing up also includes the practice of saying yes only to what you can truly show up for—and no to what you can’t.

As each of us shows up in the ways we’re inner-directed to do, there will be less and less room for anything other than love, kindness, and beauty to be present in the world.

We agreed to show up. Let’s do it.

Let me know how you’re showing up. I’d love to hear. And if I can help, tell me.

This poem by James McCrae goes along with this week's post:
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​Instructions before visiting Earth

In the event that you wake up and find your soul separated from source and manifest into material form, don’t panic. Your condition is only temporary.

You have been selected for the opportunity of human incarnation.

This 3D simulation is designed to break up the monotony of eternity by giving you a fully immersive experience as a distinct ego identity.

Your body will serve as your physical avatar as you navigate a dense and dramatic reality. There will be many distractions causing you to forget your true nature and origin. You will experience a range of emotions from joy to loneliness to despair.

But remember – no matter what trials and traumas you encounter, your soul remains perfectly safe.

At times you may feel lost or afraid. This is totally normal. If you ever need guidance, simply slow down your busy mind and bring your awareness to the quiet place inside yourself.

On this planet, nothing is permanent. People and things will come and go. You will fall in love and form sentimental attachments only to lose everything you hold dear.

So cling to nothing too tightly, even yourself, and when it’s time to let go, let go with grace, for nothing is owned, only borrowed.

As you walk among the people on the planet, try to be a good guest. Tread lightly. Remember that you are only visiting. Don’t make a mess. Listen more than you speak. Give more than you take.

Don’t keep your soft heart locked inside a glass cage, protected from wear and tear.

You’ll never make it out alive and time passes quickly. So come back with some battle scars and good stories to tell.

These two free daily emails will help remind you every day of the truth of who you are and of Big R Reality.

The worldview is relentless.

Counteract and dissolve it with The Daily Nudge and the Truth4Today​

If you have comments, questions, or suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Reply to this email, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible!

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