It’s often said that the hardest part of any endeavor is showing up.
If you want to workout, show up to the gym.
If you want to write, show up at your computer.
If you want to meditate, show up to your cushion.
If you want to practice yoga, show up on your mat.
If you want to close deals, show up for your calls.
Whatever it is you want to do, showing up gets you more than 50% there.
Showing up is simple in theory, and hard in practice. A lot of factors may conspire to create stories and beliefs in our minds that keep us from showing up.
As hard as it may be to show up sometimes, showing up is not the hardest part.
The hardest part is committing.
If you honor your commitments, then the commitment is the hardest part.
People who value being in integrity to their commitments can often come across as non-committal. They may appear to be indecisive. Often this is because they want to make sure they can commit.
They don’t want to commit unless they know they can keep their word.
To some extent this is honorable. It also can be a crutch.
If you’re a person who keeps your commitments, then the way to show up is to commit.
Book a class at the gym the night before.
Book yourself into a yoga class.
Commit in advance to the time and place where you’ll sit to meditate, or to write.
Schedule your calls in advance and don’t allow yourself to reschedule them.
Sometimes it helps to have a buddy who commits to doing something with you, especially if the thing you’re committing to doing is totally discretionary in terms of time and place where it can be done.
Create the structure for yourself that forces you to commit.
Of course this works only if you view yourself as someone who honors your commitments. If you don’t, then there’s not much that can hold you accountable.
It may seem like you’re making a commitment to someone else, but ultimately the commitment you’re making is to yourself.
If you want to show up, commit to it. Then follow through.
Love it? Hate it? What do you think? Don't hold back...