Episode 208: You’re Not Safe? Or Just Programmed That Way? Karen Bartholomew Reveals the Truth About Fear and False Beliefs
What if the fear holding you back isn’t real—but a story your mind keeps replaying from the past? This episode will make you question everything you’ve believed about safety, self-worth, and the patterns you never chose.
In today's episode, I’m joined by Karen Bartholomew, a transformational coach and the founder of The Pause Method—a philosophy designed to help women and leaders slow down, reflect intentionally, and take aligned action. With over 14 years of experience, Karen guides clients through deeply rooted beliefs that limit growth, helping them reframe their stories and step into their full potential. Her coaching emphasizes emotional healing, mindset shifts, and self-worth, empowering individuals to live with clarity, purpose, and peace. A mother of three and an advocate for women’s leadership, Karen draws from her own powerful journey through adversity and reinvention. She facilitates retreats, offers one-on-one coaching, and creates safe, supportive spaces for meaningful transformation. Her work is rooted in the belief that true success begins with inner freedom and self-acceptance.
Throughout this episode, Karen brings this philosophy to life with remarkable depth, vulnerability, and clarity. She openly shares her personal struggles with self-worth and the internal beliefs that once held her back—like the notion that she didn’t matter—and how consciously challenging those stories transformed her life. Through her own lived experiences, Karen illustrates the power of The Pause Method, showing how intentional reflection can interrupt old patterns and make space for new, empowered choices. She offers practical, real-life examples of how she applies this work in parenting, self-care, and relationships. Her grounded wisdom and compassionate presence make this episode both inspiring and actionable, encouraging listeners to reclaim their freedom through awareness, curiosity, and aligned action.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Childhood conditioning and the “I don’t matter” belief (3:00)
Surviving divorce, bankruptcy, and single motherhood (5:30)
The first steps toward healing and why it didn’t stick (7:00)
Dissecting triggers: Where the real work begins (8:20)
Parenting, control, and letting kids fall (11:00)
Rewiring subconscious beliefs around safety (14:00)
The power of the pause: From thought to transformation (16:15)
Timeline journaling: Spotting life patterns (22:33)
Reclaiming control by separating fact from fiction (24:30)
Practicing the pause in daily life (31:00)
Real freedom requires repetition (39:30)