Episode 4: Pam and Jennifer on internal dialogue

VOICES THAT KEEP US STUCK, AND HOW TO ANSWER BACK Pam talks with Jennifer Abrahamson about the internal voices that shape self-worth, especially in seasons of transition, comparison, and uncertainty. Jennifer brings 15 years of recruiting experience in healthcare, a psychology background, and deep faith perspective to a conversation about imposter syndrome, identity, and learning to speak truth back to fear. In this episode, they also discuss how upbringing and life experiences can feed limiting beliefs, why women often undercompensate while men overcompensate, and how small acts of courage can help rebuild confidence. Key topics Jennifer shares her background in recruiting across pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotech, plus earlier work in behavioral therapy, project management, and executive support. Pam highlights Jennifer’s devotional, _Rooted in Rising_, and how its message felt like a different, deeper voice from the one heard in everyday conversation. You can find her books on Amazon They discuss the “voice” many people carry internally that says they are behind, not enough, or fundamentally wrong. Jennifer explains why this struggle shows up so often in professional women, working moms, and even highly accomplished people. They explore imposter syndrome in both men and women, with Jennifer noting that men often overcompensate while women undercompensate. Jennifer connects those voices to upbringing, environment, and coping patterns formed in childhood reinforced over time. They talk about moving beyond negative self-talk by grounding identity in truth, especially scripture and the belief that one is a daughter of the King. Jennifer emphasizes practical steps like affirmation, taking small calculated risks, and building confidence brick by brick. She shares how a corporate layoff led to starting her own business, and how that season stretched her faith before guiding her into a new direction. The conversation closes with a reminder that God already knows our honest thoughts and invites us to bring them forward without pretending. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Jennifer Abrahamson and how she and Pam met through recruiting 01:00 - Jennifer’s background in healthcare recruiting and earlier work in behavioral therapy 03:00 - Why Rooted in Rising resonated so deeply with Pam and her friends 04:20 - The devotional chapter about the voices we believe 06:00 - Why so many women feel “not enough” in the age of social media 07:40 - What Jennifer hears in recruiting conversations with high-achieving candidates 08:55 - How imposter syndrome shows up differently in men and women 10:45 - Comparison, calling, and the lie that we should be further along 12:00 - How environment and upbringing shape the voices we carry 14:20 - Replacing negative voices with truth, scripture, and small acts of courage 16:40 - Starting a business after a layoff and wrestling with failure 19:30 - The pressure of being the primary breadwinner and staying scrappy 22:30 - Learning to talk back to God honestly 25:55 - “Jesus, help me” as a simple prayer in moments of overwhelm 27:40 - Advice for people in transition: give yourself grace, learn, and speak up 29:30 - Where to find Jennifer Action items Notice the voice that shows up most often in moments of stress or transition. Replace vague self-criticism with specific truth about identity and calling. Take one small, low-risk step instead of waiting to feel fully ready. Ask for help when a job, role, or season exceeds your current capacity. Practice honesty in prayer rather than trying to sound polished