Breaking It Down: The Struggle With Showing Up

Overcoming Fear & Finding Your Community

Have you ever hesitated before walking into a room full of strangers? Signed up for an event and almost backed out at the last minute? Felt like an outsider in a space where everyone else seemed to belong? If so, you’re not alone.

Showing up—really showing up—is one of the hardest things we can do. Not because we lack the ability, but because our fears, doubts, and comfort zones make it feel impossible. The truth is, the hardest part of showing up isn’t the act itself. It’s the mental hurdles we have to clear to get there.

Why We Avoid Showing Up

It’s easy to tell ourselves we’re too busy, too tired, or just not in the mood. But often, the real reasons we hesitate to show up are deeper than that.

Here are some of the most common mental roadblocks:

• Fear of judgment – "What if I don’t fit in? What if people think I’m awkward?"

• Fear of rejection – "What if no one talks to me?"

• Overthinking – "What if I say the wrong thing? What if I embarrass myself?"

• Comfort zones – "It’s easier to stay where I’m familiar."

• Low energy or motivation – "I want to go, but it feels like too much effort."

But here’s the thing: the more we avoid showing up, the more we reinforce the belief that we can’t. And over time, that keeps us stuck.

Reframing the Fear of Showing Up

Instead of seeing showing up as something scary or overwhelming, let’s reframe it as something valuable and necessary for growth.