When You Outgrow the Version of Yourself Everyone Knows.

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When You Outgrow the Version of Yourself Everyone Knows:

At some point, we all outgrow the version of ourselves that everyone else still recognizes. The one who fit neatly into a box that used to feel right. But what happens when you start to change, and the world hasn’t caught up yet?

In this episode, Jama opens up about the tension that comes with evolving into someone new while still being seen through the lens of who you used to be. She shares her personal story of moving beyond the identity that defined her for years, the photographer, the creative, the one everyone counted on to show up in a certain way, and how she’s learning to honor who she’s becoming.

If you’ve ever felt torn between holding on and letting go, or wondered why change can feel so lonely even when it’s good, this episode is for you. It’s an honest look at growth, identity, and the quiet courage it takes to rewrite your story in real time.

Timestamps:

 – Hook: The moment you realize the world still sees the old you
– Why evolving feels lonely (and why that’s normal)
– Jama’s personal story of shifting identity
– The discomfort others feel when you start changing
– Learning to stay steady in the in-between
– Outgrowing your old self with grace
– Closing reflections on reinvention and self-trust

Key Takeaways:

• Growth can make others uncomfortable, and that’s okay.
• Outgrowing who you were isn’t betrayal; it’s honoring your next evolution.
• The gap between the old and new versions of you is where true transformation happens.
• You don’t owe anyone the same version of yourself forever.
• The people meant for your next chapter will recognize the new you, even before you fully do.

Closing Note:

If you’re standing in that in-between, where you feel yourself shifting but can’t quite explain it, trust that you’re not lost, you’re becoming. This is what growth looks like in real time.

CTA:

If this episode spoke to you, share it with a friend who’s reinventing herself, too. And come say hi on Instagram @JamaPantel
— Jama would love to hear what part of yourself you’re rediscovering.

https://www.jamapantel.com

Episode Transcript

Jama Pantel (00:00):
Have you ever felt like you're changing, but the
world still sees you as the oldversion of you?
Yeah, that's the part that noone talks about.
The gap between who you wereand who you're becoming.
Hey y'all, it's your podcastBestie Jama again, and today
we're diving into somethingthat's been showing up in my own
life lately.
What it feels like to outgrowthe version of yourself everyone

(00:23):
else still recognizes.
It's that weird in betweenwhere you're not who you used to
be, but you're also not totallysure who you're becoming, and
it can feel lonely, even whenyou're surrounded by people who
love you.
I've been feeling this a lotlately.
For years, people have known meas the photographer, the one
who captures seniors andfamilies and entrepreneurs, who

(00:46):
helps people feel confident andcomfortable on camera.
And I still love that part ofme, but lately I felt pulled
toward something more.
Talking about wellness andfitness and strength, and
honestly, perimenopause, but notthe kind of strength that you
see in photos, but the kind youbuild from the inside out.
But here's the tricky part.

(01:07):
When you start changing, peopleget confused.
They like the version of youthey know.
The one who fit neatly into abox that made sense to them.
And when you start steppingoutside of that box, even if
it's something better, it makesthem uncomfortable.
I've had people ask, wait,you're still doing photography,
right?
Are you changing careers orwhat you do?

(01:29):
And I get it, they're justtrying to understand.
But there is a little sting inrealizing that the old version
of you is still the one theypicture, even when you've
already started to evolve.
We all build identities thatfeel safe.
Mom, business owner, athlete,creative, caretaker, achiever,
and we wear them like a badge ofhonor.

(01:50):
But growth means peeling backthose layers, layer by layer,
even when it feels vulnerable.
Outgrowing the version ofyourself doesn't mean you're
betraying who you were oncewere.
It means you're honoring whoyou're becoming.
Think of it a little likepruning a plant.
You're not cutting it down,you're making space for new

(02:10):
growth.
And that was something Ilearned when I started my
garden.
Cut it back, cut it back, androom for new growth.
Sometimes the hardest partisn't changing.
It's staying steady in that gapbetween the old and the new,
even when others don't quite seethe transformation yet.
And that's kind of where I'mstuck at right now.
If this is resonating with you,maybe you're in your own

(02:32):
evolution right now.
Maybe the things that oncedefined you aren't the full
picture anymore, and that'sokay.
You're allowed to change yourmind and change it often.
You're allowed to grow beyondwhat people expect, and you're
allowed to take up space in yournew season, even before anyone
else understands it.
You don't owe anyone the sameversion of you forever.

(02:53):
So if you're feeling likeyou're in that in-between stage
where everything's shifting butnot everyone's caught up yet, I
want you to know this.
The people meant to walk withyou into this next chapter will.
And the ones who only knew theold version, you can thank them
for being part of your story andstill keep moving forward.
This is your reminder thatgrowth doesn't always look

(03:16):
graceful.
Sometimes it's messy and quietand hard to explain, but it's
still worth it.
And that's all I have for y'alltoday.
Until next week.
Thanks y'all for tuning in.
Bye.