When You Grieve the Woman You Were
Heartbreak doesn’t just make you miss him—it makes you miss her. The version of you who loved without fear, who laughed easily, who trusted, who glowed in her softness. Somewhere along the way, through betrayal or exhaustion, you stopped recognizing yourself.
You catch old photos and wonder, Where did she go? You replay memories of your younger self and ache for the lightness she carried. You feel like life has hardened you, like you traded innocence for walls, joy for survival. And sometimes, missing yourself hurts more than missing him.
But here’s the truth: you didn’t lose her—you evolved. She is still inside you, waiting for you to make room for her again. And the parts of her that no longer fit? They’ve transformed into wisdom, strength, and depth.
That’s where the Reclaim. Piece x Peace Journal becomes your bridge. On its pages, you write to her, about her, for her. You invite her pieces back, and you weave them with the woman you’ve become. If you’re also battling feelings of inadequacy, revisit Journal Prompts to Heal When You Feel You’re Not Enough. And if trust feels fractured after heartbreak, explore Journal Prompts to Heal When You Feel Like You’ll Never Trust Again.
Journal Prompts for Rediscovering Yourself
Here are prompts to use in your Reclaim. Piece x Peace Journal when you miss who you used to be:
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Write about the version of you that you miss most.
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Write the qualities she had that you want to bring back.
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Write about what life took from her.
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Write the ways you’ve grown since then.
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Write what your past self would admire about you now.
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Write about the balance between who you were and who you are.
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Write affirmations for welcoming yourself back.
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Write a vision of the woman you are becoming.
1. Write About the Version of You That You Miss Most
Was she lighter, more hopeful, more trusting? Write in detail. Naming who she was helps you see her clearly.
2. Write the Qualities She Had That You Want to Bring Back
Her joy, her spontaneity, her softness—list them. These qualities are not gone forever; they are waiting to be invited back.
3. Write About What Life Took From Her
Write honestly: heartbreak, betrayal, disappointment, loss. Acknowledge the cost of what you’ve endured.
4. Write the Ways You’ve Grown Since Then
Balance the grief with gratitude. Write how you’ve gained resilience, wisdom, discernment, depth. This proves you haven’t only lost—you’ve transformed.
5. Write What Your Past Self Would Admire About You Now
Imagine her looking at you today. What would she say? Write her pride in your strength, your boundaries, your survival.
6. Write About the Balance Between Who You Were and Who You Are
You don’t have to choose between the carefree past self and the wise present self. Write about blending them into someone whole.
7. Write Affirmations for Welcoming Yourself Back
Examples: “I am both who I was and who I am becoming. My joy returns with me. I am home within myself.”
8. Write a Vision of the Woman You Are Becoming
Describe her vividly: healed, soft, unafraid, radiant. Write her into existence.
Deepening the Prompts
To expand these prompts in your Reclaim. Piece x Peace Journal, try:
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Letter to Younger You: Write a letter telling her what you still carry from her.
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Photo Reflection: Look at an old photo and journal what that version of you would say to today’s you.
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Future Fusion: Write about how your past self and present self can coexist in the woman you’re becoming.
“You haven’t lost yourself. You’ve just been waiting to remember.”
68% of women admit they miss who they used to be after heartbreak, and 92% later realized they hadn’t lost her—they had simply evolved.
You don’t have to mourn yourself forever. The woman you were isn’t gone—she’s waiting to be embraced by the woman you’ve grown into. Each word you write in your Reclaim. Piece x Peace Journal is an act of reunion, of remembrance, of reclamation.
