Why Women Hold Back (And How to Stop)

I'm here to disrupt the status quo and remind every woman that you are powerful beyond belief—and your voice was never meant to be silenced.

When I launched this show, I chose the title Something to Say because that phrase means I stand for something. It means I demand to be heard. As my dear friend and mother figure CarylAnn used to say, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." She's right—and no one should stand for being silenced.

Today, we’re diving into a topic we don’t talk about enough: the confidence gap between men and women. Why do so many women second-guess themselves while men leap without hesitation? Why are women socialized to seek permission to become who we already are?

To unpack that, I brought on a powerhouse guest: Cammie Gray. She's an interior designer, mentor, and founder of The Psychology of Home Design School (where I was a proud student!). She’s not just about aesthetics—she’s about truth-telling and transformation. Her work helps women stop hiding and finally start showing up—in life and in their homes.

When Your Childhood Builds Your Courage Cammie didn’t grow up in ease. Raised by hippie parents, she spent her early years traveling across Europe with her siblings, living out of tents, recovering from surgery, and learning how to flourish even when afraid. From those early moments, she knew: fear and growth can co-exist. You can feel the fear and still become.

She shared that she never felt she had to “measure up” in a man’s world. Her parents raised her with equality and grit. Her dad told her she could do anything—and she believed him. That belief has fueled a fearless career where she’s never apologized for taking up space.

Why Fear Still Shows Up—And What To Do About It Cammie says she still has daily conversations with fear. The key isn’t eliminating fear—it’s normalizing it. Fear is often just the ego trying to keep us small. But we are here to expand. To evolve. And when failure comes? She calls it what it really is: new information. That mindset allows her to pivot with ease, to meet change with curiosity and excitement—not panic.

She reminded us of something powerful: when COVID hit, instead of scrambling to hold onto her old business model, she let go—and something extraordinary was born. She launched The Psychology of Home and embraced her next chapter. Her advice? Be open. The Universe is always trying to deliver something better—but you’ve got to stop clinging to what barely works.

Your Home Reflects Your Self-Worth Before she became an interior designer, Cammie worked as a personal stylist. And what she noticed was heartbreaking: women constantly apologized for their bodies, their age, their looks—while men boasted with no shame, even when totally off base. The confidence gap was staggering.

Now as a designer, she sees the same dynamic play out in homes. Women who have lost their voice often live in spaces that are unfinished, unexpressed, and uncomfortable. Homes that say: "I don't matter." But when a woman starts to reclaim her worth? Everything changes—from her furniture to her walls.

Science backs this up. The field of neuroaesthetics proves that our environment impacts our health and well-being. Your home isn’t just decor—it’s medicine. It’s a mirror. And when you begin to love yourself, your space reflects that love right back.

Reinvention Requires Bravery At the end of our episode, I asked Cammie: What would you say to a woman standing on the edge of reinvention? The kind of woman who knows she’s meant for more but is still afraid?

Her answer was simple: You already know what you’re meant to do. So go all in.

Fear might always be in the car, she said—but it doesn’t get to drive. Let it sit in your lap like a little dog barking nonsense, and then get back to living your big, beautiful life.

Because right now—this very moment—there is no problem. As Eckhart Tolle says, "The now has no problem." Most of our suffering comes from regrets of the past or fears of the future. But the present? It’s just waiting for you to say yes.

So stop waiting for permission. Stop doubting your brilliance. Stop silencing yourself.

Your home, your life, your voice—it all matters.

Because silence was never your destiny. And it’s time to speak up.

To learn more about Cammie Gray and her life-changing summit, visit Psychology of Home.

And if you're ready to reclaim your voice and design a life that reflects your worth, join the Guided by Jamie community at guidedbyjamie.com.

Because you, my love, have something to say.