When It Feels Like No One’s Paying Attention: A Lesson in Showing Up Anyway

I almost gave up after the third festival.

Teaching kids yoga at festivals sounds magical—and sometimes it is—but most days? It’s more like herding glitter-covered kittens. One child wanders off mid-song. My own little ones bounce in and out of class. Parents pass by with snacks and wagons. And there I am, standing in front of a half-empty circle, asking myself:

Is this even working?

Is something wrong with me?

May 2023 Kids Yoga at the Joshua Tree Music Festival

That inner voice can be deafening—especially when you’re offering something tender and soul-crafted. Whether you’re teaching, mothering, holding space, or building something from your heart, that whisper of self-doubt can creep in:

Does this matter? Am I making a difference? Should I just stop?

I’ve been there. Many times. I’ve felt invisible. Frustrated. Even a little resentful—toward myself, toward the chaos, toward the people I love most. That’s the thing about doing work that’s deeply personal—it cracks you open. And in those vulnerable moments, the silence can feel like a verdict.

But I’ve learned something important.

Why I Keep Showing Up

I don’t teach because every child stays on their mat.

I don’t show up to control the outcome.

I show up because it’s who I am.

Because sometimes the impact isn’t loud. It’s not a standing ovation or a glowing testimonial. It’s a quiet giggle in downward dog. A softened breath. A spark that’s planted in a moment I may never witness bloom.

And I’ve come to believe that’s enough.

May 2025 Kids Yoga at Joshua Tree Music Festival

Presence Over Performance

If you’re a yoga teacher, a mama, a creator, a leader—anyone showing up with love in a messy world—you’ve probably felt unseen at times.

So here’s what I want you to remember:

✨ Presence matters more than performance.

✨ You don’t need applause to be powerful.

✨ What you offer—even when it’s imperfect—is worthy.

In a world obsessed with outcomes and optics, it takes radical courage to keep offering your heart without guarantees. But that’s the real magic. That’s what changes lives.

A Note for the Quiet Warriors

If you’ve ever felt like no one was paying attention…

If you’ve ever stood in front of an empty room, a silent feed, or a distracted child and wondered if you should keep going…

I see you. You are not alone.

Even when it’s messy.

Especially when it’s messy.

Your presence has power.

Your devotion makes a difference—even when it’s invisible. And your heart-led work? It matters more than you know.

Keep Showing Up

In Wild Mama Rising—my book for ambitious women navigating the tension between motherhood and mission—I explore this very paradox. How do we keep showing up when it feels like no one’s watching? How do we trust our intuition when our efforts aren’t instantly affirmed?

The truth is: You don’t have to wait until it looks “successful” to trust that it’s sacred.

Your energy, your care, your being—is already enough.

And if you need a companion on that journey, Wild Mama Rising was written for you.

→ Learn more about the book here

Here’s to the mamas, the space-holders, the quiet warriors. Keep showing up. You’re making more of a difference than you know. 💛