logo
episode-header-image
Jun 12
51m 22s

304. Why we grieve past versions of ours...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Why does personal growth sometimes feel like a quiet loss? Ever look back at an old photo and feel a strange mix of nostalgia and sadness for the person you once were? You're evolving, becoming stronger, wiser, but there's still a strange ache for the person you used to be. In today's episode, we explore the psychology behind this often-unspoken phenomenon of grieving our past selves.

Things we discuss:

  • What it means to grieve a former 'you’
  • The role of disenfranchised grief 
  • The ‘nostalgia trap’
  • Our evolving sense of self and the fluidity of identity
  • Why we romanticise the past
  • How we can integrate past versions of ourselves and embracing growth

If you've ever felt that subtle pang for a past version of yourself, this episode is for you!

Listen to Mantra: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ckds0BoJDDpODInN9cWcc?si=b6ad5d555c1940e0 

 

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 

 

The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
311. How to stop ruminating
Does your brain seem to hit replay on that embarrassing memory, or go over the way that situationship ended in hopes you’ll find some kind of closure? From dissecting past conversations to catastrophising about what might happen, repetitive thinking can feel like a mental trap. I ... Show More
48m 22s
Jul 7
311. How to stop ruminating
Does your brain seem to hit replay on that embarrassing memory, or go over the way that situationship ended in hopes you’ll find some kind of closure? From dissecting past conversations to catastrophising about what might happen, repetitive thinking can feel like a mental trap. I ... Show More
51m 55s
Jul 3
310. 5 signs you’re on the wrong career path
Is your job making you feel drained, disconnected, or just deeply unfulfilled? In today’s episode, we unpack the five major signs that your career may not be the right fit — from emotional numbness and burnout, to identity disalignment and daydreaming about quitting more than sta ... Show More
39m 10s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2025
Ep. 241: How To Stop Comparing Your Current Self To Your Past Self
Have you ever looked back at an old photo or memory and suddenly felt a pang of jealousy for your past self? Maybe you used to be more motivated, more social, more confident—or at least, that’s the story your brain is telling you. In this episode, we’re unpacking why we romantici ... Show More
35m 50s
Nov 2024
Why Feeling “Lost” Might Be the Best Thing to Happen to You
Hi, my loves! In today’s episode, we’re chatting about a feeling that almost all of us experience at some point: feeling lost in life. Whether you’re uncertain about your career path or relationships or just feeling disconnected from your purpose, that sense of directionlessness ... Show More
12m 28s
Jan 2025
Gabby Bernstein : Self Help This Is Your Chance to Change Your Life
What does real healing look like, and how can we start today? In this episode of A Really Good Cry, I’m chatting with the incredible Gabby Bernstein—spiritual teacher, author, and someone who’s turned her own pain into purpose. Gabby shares her inspiring journey from addiction an ... Show More
55m 16s
Dec 2024
Ep. 267 - What to do with your happy memories of your ex
In today's episode, we dive into a common post-breakup challenge: handling the happy memories with your ex that keep pulling you back. If you find yourself frequently lost in nostalgic moments, wondering how to balance these memories with your current path to healing, this discus ... Show More
10m 39s
Apr 2021
What happened to you Matters
In this episode, Lisa A. Romano discusses the consequences of growing up in a toxic childhood home and what you can do to help heal your life, raise your consciousness and detach from the stories and vibrations of the past. Ignoring the past only helps to recreate it in the futur ... Show More
43m 33s
May 8
457: Transform Your Triggers Today
In this episode, I dive into the real work of healing emotional triggers, especially when they show up in our relationships. I walk you through how to find the root emotion behind your reactions, why childhood experiences still impact us today, and why true healing happens when w ... Show More
30m 22s
Dec 2024
The Psychology of Nostalgia
In the first of two special holiday episodes, Claudia Hammond and an expert panel of psychologists look back, nostalgically. At this festive time of year, you might be thinking wistfully about Christmas past – perhaps you’ll be rewatching old films, arguing over a game of Monopol ... Show More
29m 45s
Nov 2024
Finding Our Way Back: Healing From Self-Betrayal
When we betray ourselves, we abandon our values, needs, or truths to gain approval or avoid discomfort. This leaves us disconnected, fragmented, and unsure of who we really are. These patterns often start in childhood, where conditional love or invalidation teaches us to hide our ... Show More
1h 23m
Apr 18
Turning Pain into Power: Finding Meaning and Confidence Through Struggles with Steve Furtado
In this transformative episode, we explore how to turn emotional pain and life’s toughest moments into powerful sources of personal growth, meaning, and lasting confidence. If you’ve ever asked, “Why am I going through this?” or struggled to bounce back from setbacks, this conver ... Show More
43m 29s
Apr 2024
#362: Heal Your Wounds & Reclaim Your Life Through Shadow Work w/ Violet Benson
In this episode, I welcome Violet Benson back to the podcast. We dive into the transformative process of shadow work and the impact of confronting grief. In order to help understand how past experiences have shaped our present behaviors, Violet speaks about the significance of un ... Show More
1h 10m
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami