Feeling Behind in Life? Why You're Building Something Real Instead.

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Episode Description:

Ever feel like you’re late to your own life? Like you should have figured it all out by now? In this episode of Living the Whole Picture, I’m getting real about that heavy feeling of falling behind—and why it’s actually proof that you’re building something deeper.

If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram and thought, “I should be further along,” this one’s for you. I’m sharing why real growth takes time, how to trust the slow path, and the hard-earned truths I wish someone had told me when I was just getting started.

This isn’t about toxic positivity or quick wins—it’s about choosing to build a future that reflects your worth, even when it feels like everyone else is racing ahead.

Let’s talk about what it really means to build something real—with no roadmap, no shortcuts, and no apologies.

Timestamps:

00:00 – The real reason you feel behind (and why it’s not failure)
00:53 – Why women who’ve had to build from scratch aren’t on the same timeline
01:49 – Healing, visibility, and doing it without a mentor
02:21 – What you’re really building: safety, trust, and presence
03:07 – What I’d tell my younger self (and what you might need to hear today)
03:57 – Your next steps + why this podcast is shifting into its next season

Key Takeaways:

• You’re not behind—you’re becoming. Real growth isn’t quick or clean, but it is worth it.
• Starting from scratch takes longer. If you weren’t handed a map, of course the journey feels slower. But it also builds resilience and legacy.
• Confidence comes from doing it scared. Not from waiting until you’re fully ready.
• You’re building something that lasts. Presence, purpose, self-trust—it all compounds over time.
• You’re not too late or too much. You’re just building something real.

Resources:

Want to build confidence on camera and elevate your personal brand?

Grab one (or all) of my free resources to help you show up with clarity, ease, and authenticity:
✔️ Quick Tips for Social Media Portraits
✔️ Natural Light Cheat Sheet
✔️ Strike a Pose Guide
✔️ 30 Days of Personal Brand Prompts

Looking for more in-depth support?
✔️ Watch my pre-recorded course: Show Up Confidently on Camera

Have questions or want to work together?
✔️ Reach out here: www.jamapantel.com/contact

And be sure to subscribe so you never miss new tips, trainings, or tools:
✔️ www.jamapantel.com

https://www.jamapantel.com

Episode Transcript

Jama Pantel (00:00):
Hey y'all.
It's your podcast, bestie Jama,coming at you again, and
today's episode is one I've beensitting on for a while.
It's for every woman who's everlooked around and thought "why
do I feel so behind?
If you've said that or justfelt it in your body, this
episode's for you because I wantyou to hear me when I say

(00:21):
you're not behind.
You're building something real.
So the truth about feelingbehind let's talk about that
stuck feeling, that quiet fearthat you missed your window,
that you should be further alongby now, that everyone else
seems to know what they're doingwhile you're just figuring it
out.
I've been there, honestly.

(00:42):
I was just there recently andI'm sure I'll be there again.
It's a process.
Here's what I've learnedthrough all the pivots, the
personal stuff, the healing, thebusiness trials and errors.
Feeling behind isn't a signyou're failing.
It's usually a sign that you'rebuilding something much deeper.
For the women who are doing thework, who didn't have

(01:03):
everything handed to them, whoare trying to lead and grow and
heal all at the same time ofcourse, they're not on the same
timeline as someone who hadeverything handed to them, but
that doesn't mean they're behind.
It means they're in it for thelong game.
Here's why real growth takestime.
You don't get confidentovernight.
You don't heal your wounds oneselfie at a time.

(01:24):
You don't build a presence thatcommands respect without first
reclaiming your worth.
This is the unsexy truth no onewants to say out loud, but I'll
say it.
If you come from trauma andchaos, from just trying to
survive day in and day out foryears and years, then, yes, it's

(01:44):
going to take longer, but also,yes, it will be worth it.
I didn't have anyone to show methe way.
There were no real mentorswhere I came from.
I had to learn to show up formyself.
I had to build my business onestep at a time, without the
backing of anyone else butmyself.
I had to heal the parts of methat still wanted someone else

(02:06):
to make me feel safe, secure andseen, and I still get tripped
up from time to time.
I still feel behind some days,but now I know that behind isn't
a diagnosis, it's just part ofthe story.
So what are you really building?
You might think that you wantclarity or confidence or brand

(02:26):
strategy, but deep down, youwant to feel safe, being seen,
you want to trust yourself whenyou speak up or show up, and you
want to stop shrinking.
And all of that it takes time.
You're building a presencethat's grounded in who you are,
not who you think you have to be.
You're building a life thatreflects your values, not just

(02:48):
your resume and what people seeon the outside, and, honestly,
you're building it without aroadmap, which means you're also
building courage, integrity andlegacy along the way.
So, no, you're not behind.
You're just becoming.
.
.
the message I needed years ago.
If I could go back and talk tothe younger version of myself,

(03:09):
the one working two jobs,over-giving, trying to prove her
worth, here's what I'd tellher: You're not wrong for
wanting more.
You're not ungrateful forwanting something different for
yourself or from trying to leavebehind the trauma and end the
bad cycles that you were so usedto being part of.
You're just getting started andearly in your story.
And to the women listening, whofeels like it's too late?

(03:32):
Maybe you're 30, 35, 47, 52,and just starting to show
yourself and put yourself outthere and use your voice.
I want to tell you this it'snot too late, you're not too
much and you're not behind.
You're building something real,something that will outlast
trends and algorithms andopinions, and that matters more

(03:54):
than fast success ever will.
If this episode touched you ortouched your heart, I want you

to do two things for me (04:00):
Send it to a friend who might need to
hear this, or check out thefreebies in the show notes.
They can also be found on mywebsite, jama pantel.
com.
And if you're ready to godeeper into showing up with
confidence, especially in frontof the camera or in your
business or your voice, stickaround.
I've got some new offers andresources coming out soon that

(04:22):
are built exactly for you,because this podcast, this next
chapter, it's not about playingsmall.
It's about building somethingreal, and I'm so glad you're
here for it.
Until next time, y'all have agood one.