12/11/2025
We don’t talk enough about how disorienting it is to grieve an old version of yourself.
The “you” who knew how to survive, even when it meant shrinking, pleasing, staying alert, or carrying way more than you should’ve.
This kind of grief is messy.
You might feel guilt for changing, shame, or even judgment toward your past self for doing what they had to do. And at the same time… you can feel pride, anger, relief, and confusion, all at once.
It’s a real emotional process: untangling what was survival from what actually feels like you. Recognizing that the version you’re grieving wasn’t a failure, they were doing the best they could with what they had. 🤍
