Showing up is more than being present. It is a choice - an intentional act of prioritisation.
When we show up, we are saying “yes” to what matters - and correspondingly, “no” to what is not serving us.
We are reminding ourselves that what or who we’re showing up for is truly worthy of our attention.
We put in effort to overcome avoidance and break the spell of procrastination, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it is the brave thing to do.
We no longer hide behind busyness, distractions, or detachment.
We know we will be vulnerable to our fears and uncertainty, yet, we choose to shed the mask and armour, loosen our grip, and let go of the need to control or perform.
Sure, we will meet with the raw truth of the present moment, where there may be hurt, and grief, and confusion.
But this is also the only place where growth can arise and healing can happen, where there are possibilities of connection and insight.
Presence is powerful.
Showing up is how we reclaim our power and start taking greater ownership of our life.
In this Take A Pause session recorded on 16 February 2025, the TAP community practiced showing up to each moment of their experience during a body scan meditation. We reminded ourselves to say “yes” to directing our attention toward what nourishes us. We acknowledged that this was a wise, intentional choice.
We closed the session by sharing the poem Hold Out Your Hand by Julia Ferenbacher.
Meditation Begins: 04:37
Reading Begins: 25:33
Meditation Duration: 21 minutes
— Julia Ferenbacher
Let’s forget the world for a while
fall back and back
into the hush and holy
of now
are you listening? This breath
invites you
to write the first word
of your new story
your new story begins with this:
You matter.
You are needed—empty
and naked
willing to say yes
and yes and yes.
Do you see
the sun shines, day after day
whether you have faith
or not
the sparrows continue
to sing their song
even when you forget to sing
yours
stop asking: Am I good enough?
Ask only: Am I showing up with love?
Life is not a straight line
it’s a downpour of gifts, please—
hold out your hand
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