When people think of healing-whether from trauma, loss, or hardship-they often imagine going back to who they were before the pain. Of course, what they are actually hoping for is to recapture that feeling of normalcy, joy, or security that existed prior to life taking that unexpected and sometimes devastating turn. But the thing is, healing is not about going back. It is not about trying to fit back into the life you had previously, but about becoming an entirely different person-the one you’re supposed to be.Healing reworks you in tender and profound ways. The longing of returning to “normal” simply makes sense, but that is not what the process of healing is about. It’s not the erasure of what has happened, but the integration, learning from the experiences, and allowing them to guide you toward a deeper, more authentic version of yourself.Here’s why healing isn’t about going back to the past; it’s a journey forward into being who you’re supposed to be.

1. You Can’t “Un-Learn” Pain, But You Can Grow From It

Pain and trauma alter us at the very core of who we are. We can’t act like this hurt didn’t happen, nor can we forget what we learned through our hurt times…