It’s a cliche, but it’s a good one: “Sometimes all you need to do is just show up.” I have seen its power in my own life. As a matter of fact, it works for me on a daily basis.

I cannot tell you how many times I have abandoned personal growth goals because I was too afraid, too lazy or too discouraged to even try, so I didn’t even bother showing  up.

You can’t fail if you don’t try, right? Wrong.

For me the greatest battle is winning over my mind. Waking up at 5 am and dragging myself to the gym when I don’t feel like going is not always easy to do. Sitting down and working on a project that’s important but not urgent is tough to do sometimes.

But there’s so much more than just showing up at the gym or getting your job done. Sometimes just showing up at a potential client will get you the sale because you’re present at the right time. Showing up at a counseling session when you don’t feel like it, might be the first step to making the changes you need in your life. Showing up at your child’s dance recital after a hard working day might create a bond that could last a lifetime.

So we need to be present, fully engaged and committed to make the kind of progress we want. However, these are secondary actions. They don’t matter if you are not there. Because before you can engage, you must first show up.

What area of your life do you need to just show up?