S2-E165 - The Truth About Showing Up (No One Tells You This)

Are you truly showing up in your life, or just going through the motions?In this powerful episode of the Champion Mindset Collective Podcast, I’m joined by Marcy Axelrod, author, speaker, and researcher, to explore what it really means to show up in a way that creates meaning, fulfilment, and sustained growth.This conversation goes beyond motivation and hustle. We unpack how your lived experiences shape who you become, why presence matters more than performance, and how creativity, curiosity, and awareness unlock your best self.Marcy shares insights drawn from over 30 years of research and hundreds of thousands of data points, revealing how humans are naturally designed to thrive when they truly show up.In This Episode, We Explore• The difference between being busy and being present• Why it’s not what happens to you, but the meaning you give it• The three levels of showing up and how they affect your success• How creativity supports leadership, parenting, and trust• Why curiosity and active listening are powerful creative acts• The three essential roles we all play and how imbalance leads to burnout• How to redefine success from the inside out• Why small, consistent steps matter more than big goalsThe Three Levels of Showing UpBarely There - Burnt out, reactive, emotionally drained, operating in survival modeJust Showing Up - Going through the motions, distracted, present in body but not in mindTruly Showing Up - Deep presence, curiosity, openness, creativity, flow, and a sense of wonderThis episode helps you recognise where you are and how to shift toward truly showing up in your life and work.Key Takeaways• Creativity isn’t optional for leaders, parents, or high performers. It’s essential• Listening is a creative act that deepens connection and understanding• True success isn’t external achievement, it’s how you feel about yourself• Growth comes from how you interpret experiences, not the experiences themselves• Sustainable change happens through small, consistent stepsTimestamps00:09 – Creativity and being a champion01:10 – Why creativity matters in tense situations03:56 – Marcy’s book How We Choose to Show Up08:20 – Childhood experiences and personal growth17:17 – The three levels of showing up21:01 – The three roles we play in life26:05 – Asking better questions for deeper insight30:25 – The problem with hustle cultureTags:champion mindset, personal growth, self-improvement, mindset, success, fulfillment, purpose, presence, Marcy Axelrod, how to show up, unlock your best self, creative mindset, curious mindset, open mindset, thrive, personal journey, professional journey, life purpose, inner self, mental toughness, motivation, inspiration, achieve goals, self-discovery🌐 Connect with Marcy Axelrod:➡️ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy/➡️ Website - https://choosetoshowup.com/➡️ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marcyaxelrod/📢 Connect with Anthony Dahya:🌐 Website – Champion Mindset Collective➡️ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonydahya/➡️ Facebook – facebook.com/anthonydahya➡️ Instagram – @anthony.dahya➡️ YouTube – @anthonydahya➡️ Spotify – Champion Mindset Collective➡️ AI Workflows Agency – https://aiworkflows.agency📧 Email – [email protected]💬 Join the Conversation: Leave your thoughts or questions in the comments or message Anthony directly.Want to be a guest on Champion Mindset Collective? Send Anthony Dahya a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/championmindset