The Power of Showing Up

In our achievement-driven world, we often celebrate the bold gestures—the big speeches, the spotlight moments, the accolades. But the real difference-makers are the quiet, consistent actions. The ones that rarely get attention. The ones rooted in one simple but transformative choice: To show up. This aligns with Brené Brown’s research on vulnerability and presence, which underscores the power of showing up with courage and consistency in building trust and connection (Brown, 2012).

Showing up is one of the most underestimated superpowers we have. It requires no funding, no permission, and no elaborate plan. Just intention. Just care. Just presence. And yet, when you look closely at any meaningful relationship, thriving team, or empowered individual, you’ll find someone who decided to show up—again and again.

As a developmental psychologist, mentor, speaker, and founder of The Mentor Project, I’ve seen the ripple effect of this choice across generations, careers, and lives. And if there’s one message I want to share from my journey, it’s this: The people who change lives are the ones who keep showing up.

Showing Up Is a Radical Act

It may not seem radical on the surface. After all, “showing up” can be as small as attending a meeting, making a phone call, or remembering a birthday. But we live in a time when attention is fractured, burnout is normalized, and ghosting is part of the lexicon. In this context, consistency is revolutionary.

Showing up says: I see you. I’m here. You matter.

Consistent presence—showing up—fosters psychological safety, self-worth, and trust, all of which are foundational to human development and emotional well-being. As Bowlby’s (1988) attachment theory explains, having even one reliably present person can build resilience and empowerment. People thrive when they feel seen, supported, and valued over time, even (and especially) when no one else is watching.

I’ve worked with astronauts, artists, scientists, and students. Across every background, one truth remains: The people who feel most empowered are those who’ve had someone consistently show up for them, often without recognition or applause, simply because it mattered. This speaks to the importance of consistent, meaningful connection—a concept widely supported in psychological research, particularly in the areas of mentorship, attachment theory, and human development (Heiser, 2024).

You Don’t Need a Script, Just Your Presence

There’s a misconception that we need to have the right words or the perfect advice to be helpful. But most of the time, people aren’t asking for solutions. They’re asking for connection.

You don’t need a title. You don’t need expertise. You just need to be there when it counts.

• When a colleague is doubting themselves—show up.
• When a student is navigating uncertainty—show up.
• When a friend is in a valley and not a peak—show up.

That presence speaks louder than polished speeches or planned programs. It says, “I won’t let you go through this alone.”

Legacy Is Built on Consistency, Not Perfection

You don’t leave a legacy because you were extraordinary once. You leave a legacy because you were reliable again and again.

Think of the people you admire most. Were they always the smartest in the room? The most confident? The loudest? Probably not.

They showed up when it mattered:

• They answered the call when no one else did.
• They stayed when things got hard.
• They followed through.

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Legacy isn’t made in one big moment—it’s made in a thousand small ones.

The Courage to Be Present

Sometimes, showing up is uncomfortable. It might mean witnessing someone else’s pain. It might mean sitting with uncertainty. It might mean not having the right words and showing up anyway.

But that courage—the courage to be present—is what changes lives.

• It’s what makes someone feel seen.
• It fosters trust.
• It’s what drives lasting impact.

How to Start Showing Up Today

If you’re wondering how to start, don’t overthink it. Start small, but start intentionally. Here are five ways to begin showing up right now:

1. Respond to the message you’ve been putting off. It’s not too late.
2. Offer to mentor someone, even informally. A check-in can change a life.
3. Be consistent. Even if it’s once a month, show up on time, prepared, and fully present.
4. Be available, not perfect. You don’t need to know everything to make a difference.
5. Ask, “How can I support you today?” And then listen.

One Person Can Start a Chain Reaction

You don’t know what someone is carrying. You don’t know what one moment of presence might unlock.

What I do know: People remember who showed up for them. Years later, they may forget the advice you gave or the way you phrased it. But they won’t forget that you cared enough to be there.

That’s how we change lives. That’s how we build legacy. That’s how we connect in a disconnected world.

Not through perfection.
Not through grand gestures.
But by showing up.

Again. And again. And again.