23 Best Quotes on Showing Up: Achieve Your Full Potential

“90% of life is showing up,” says Woody Allen. The number is actually between 75% and 90%, depending on who is reading it.

The ability to achieve your full potential is a result of simply showing up. There are many benefits to adopting this habit, including greater success in your goals as well as a happier life. Once you take the initiative, momentum can carry you to your destination.

Being present embodies what it means to “show up.” When you show up consistently for the things that matter, you’ll be more effective.

In the workplace, this can mean putting in the effort to advance your career, while at home it means paying attention to your loved ones and working toward your personal goals.

23 Best Quotes on Showing Up

Looking for motivational quotes about showing up? Here are the best showing up quotes to motivate you to stand up for yourself.

1. Bravery is the choice to show up and listen to another person, be it a loved one or perceived foe, even when it is uncomfortable, painful, or the last thing you want to do.

–Alaric Hutchinson

2. Perseverance doesn’t always mean winning and losing. Perseverance means showing up, rising to the occasion, and performing.

–Michael Chiesa

3. To stay on the map, you’ve got to keep showing up.

–Peter Gallagher

4. No matter how you feel. Get up, dress up, show up, and never give up.               

5. Success doesn’t motivate me as much as integrity does. Everyone loses. I enjoy the pressure of showing up every single day, being focused, putting forth my best effort, getting the best out of my teammates, and enjoying the journey. 

–Becky Sauerbrunn 

6. Vulnerability is about showing up and being seen. It’s tough to do that when we’re terrified about what people might see or think. 

–Brene Brown

7. Life is about putting forth your best effort and showing up. When you show up to the gig fearlessly and put forth your best, who knows what could come of it? 

–Shangela

8. Most of life is showing up. You do the best you can, which varies every day. 

–Regina Brett

9. A man shows up. For himself and others. He doesn’t run, he doesn’t pass the buck, he shows up. And when he is hurt, or when he has done wrong or has made his own mistake — a man shows up. For himself and others.”

–Drue Grit

10. Decisions are made by those who show up.

–Aaron Sorkin

11. Show up in every single moment like you’re meant to be there.

12. There is absolutely nothing that you can control except showing up and doing your job. 

–Tituss Burgess 

13. To me, self-care isn’t really shallow. Showing up for yourself, putting on a little moisturizer, can inspire so many different parts of your life. 

-Jonathan Van Ness

14. The willingness to show up changes us, It makes us a little braver each time.

–Brené Brown 

15. At its best, activism is a form of healing. It is about what we do and how we show up in the world. It is about learning and expressing regard, compassion, and love.”

–Resmaa Menakem

16. It’s better to show up than to give up.

–Bernie Sanders   

17. To me, self-care isn’t really shallow. Showing up for yourself, putting on a little moisturizer, can inspire so many different parts of your life. 

–Jonathan Van Ness

18. Half the battle is just showing up.

–Stephen Hawking

19. A lot of people think it takes millions of dollars to give back or inspire, but just you showing up means a lot.

–Kyle Kuzma

20. Vulnerability is about showing up and being seen. It’s tough to do that when we’re terrified about what people might see or think. 

–Brene Brown

21. You have to be a man to understand why it’s important to cry and how to be there for others who cry.”

–Drue Grit

22. But there is something special, even beneficial, about showing up to a place with a particular people for a particular purpose. Community, connection, and conversation only happen when we experience life with others. 

–Brad Lomenick

23. In the darkest sky, stars hang on high; showing us the light of hope and telling us that dreams never die, don’t see the darkness, wait for the morning sun. 

–Debasish Mridha

Why Show Up?

Showing up entails being present in the here and now. The best way to deal with life’s challenges is to take things one day, one step at a time. It’s better to make even the tiniest step than to do nothing at all. 

The philosophy of acceptance is embodied in the act of simply being there when one is needed.  Any result you accept when you commit to showing up in life, whether making a phone call to a client or showing up at the event, is a positive outcome. Do your best work, and don’t worry about the outcome of your actions.

However, a large percentage of us never actually do anything about it. It is because we don’t appreciate both good ideas and excellent execution that we look for rewards when we take risks. Even the most successful people have their ups and downs in the beginning.

Even if an idea is rejected, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth exploring further.

When you’re committed to showing up in life, no setbacks will matter. In the face of adversity, you’ll continue to pursue your goal, make adjustments, and just show up. By adopting this mindset, you’ll be able to bounce back from setbacks and move on to new opportunities.

Success also depends on being in the right place at the right time. When opportunities arise, you have a better chance of being in the right place if you consistently show up in small ways.

Being present is a simple but incredibly potent act of defiance. Be there for your loved ones, not make grand gestures, even if you’re in a relationship with a close friend or family member.

Decide to live your life with the attitude of showing up. Achieving a major goal becomes less daunting if you take a single step toward it. Feel more confident and pursue the things in life that bring you happiness.