Grieving the Old You

Nobody really talks about the grief that comes with healing.
We expect joy, freedom, maybe even pride. And yes, those come—but not before the ache.

When I began letting go of the habits, people, and versions of myself that I used to survive… I didn’t expect to miss them. But I did. I missed the numbness. I missed the chaos that once made me feel alive. I missed the walls I built so high, no one could touch me—including the people who loved me.

Because here’s the thing: the old you wasn’t all bad. That version of you was doing the best they could with what they had. They kept you breathing when you wanted to quit. They smiled when the world gave no reason to. They carried every secret, every scar, and still got up the next day. That version deserves a moment of silence.

But don’t unpack there.

Letting go of the old you doesn’t mean dishonoring them—it means finally freeing them. It means saying, “Thank you for getting me this far. But now, I’ve got it from here.”

Healing hurts. Growth is uncomfortable. But you’re not breaking down, you’re breaking through.

And that grief you feel?
It’s just your heart making space for who you’re becoming.