Choosing to Show Up: What I Learned When Life Changed My Reflection

I started this page 'Life According to Me - Eileen Gonzalez' many moons ago, back when I was celebrating weight loss and feeling good in my skin. I felt strong, confident, and proud of the work I had done. But in 2019, everything shifted. My health took a turn, and over the years that followed, I gained more than 80 pounds. I’ve been on prednisone for six years, along with several other medications, and the physical changes have been hard to ignore.

So when I say I’m uncomfortable in my skin — in how I look, in how I feel — I mean it. This isn’t insecurity for the sake of a story. This is my reality.

This week, I decided to create video content again. I wanted to share free, practical tips for job seekers — the kind of guidance I wish more people had access to. But the moment I turned the camera on, I felt that familiar sting. I saw the weight gain. I saw the changes. I saw a version of myself I’m still learning to accept.

And I cringed! But I pushed through it, because I’m not here to talk about looks. I’m here to share my expertise. I’m here to help people who are struggling through the job search and interview process. I’m here to serve, to teach, to guide — even on the days when I don’t feel like my best self.

I’m sharing this because some of you are holding yourselves back. You’re waiting to feel “ready,” or “confident,” or “perfect.” You’re letting your insecurities decide your potential. You’re letting fear talk you out of showing up.

But hear me clearly:

You are more than what you see in the mirror. You are more than the story you tell yourself on your hardest days. Your potential is not limited by how others perceive you — or whether they like you at all.

Your potential is yours. It’s your gift to the world. And it deserves to be shared.

There are things we can control, and things we have to learn to live with. But how we show up — how we respond to life — that’s where our power is. That’s where new opportunities begin. That’s where growth happens.

I choose to show up. I choose to respond with courage. I choose to give it my best shot, even when it’s uncomfortable.

What do you choose?