Ep. 81 The 2016 Nostalgia Trend: Meeting and Making Peace with the Woman I Used to Be

Last night, I scrolled all the way back to 2016.

Not to reminisce. Not to brag. Not to cringe.

But to meet her.

The woman who was strong, visible, admired, and constantly performing.

The woman who finally felt desirable.

The woman who thought perfection would make her safe.

The woman who had no idea what was coming.

This episode began as a light conversation about the “2016 is the new 2026” Instagram trend. It became something else entirely.

It became a mirror. A reckoning. A soft, emotional reunion with every version of myself I’ve ever been. And man… it wasn’t an easy reunion.

In this episode, I share (through some tears) what it felt like to scroll through old photos, old captions, and old identities, feel the pain my past caused some, and realize how far I’ve traveled from the life built on validation…to this new life built on peace. <3

This is not an episode about social media. It’s an episode about facing and outgrowing who we once were and learning to love the versions of you that you might’ve struggled to be proud of.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why seeing old versions of ourselves can feel emotional, painful, or embarrassing
• The 2016 version of me who lived for validation and performance VS the 2026 version of me who lives for peace and presence
• What it feels like to realize you were powerful and powerless at the same time
• How I really hurt my last marriage. Ouch.
• The grief that comes with outgrowing your former identity
• When confidence was actually insecurity in disguise
• Perfectionism, OCD, and needing control to feel safe
• The cost of external validation
• The relief of letting go of the masks we thought we needed
• How pain, rupture, and failure shaped the peace I feel now
• Why embarrassment about your past self is actually proof of growth
• Meeting the woman you used to be with compassion instead of shame

Gentle content note:

This episode includes discussion of body image, perfectionism, marriage rupture, emotional vulnerability, and self-reflection.

What to do after listening:

• Scroll back—not to judge, but to witness.
• Notice what your past self was trying to survive.
• Ask yourself: What masks am I finally ready to release?
• Remember: Peace is louder than performance, even when it looks quieter.

Here are the key moments from the episode:

00:00 Recording bare-faced and what being seen really triggers

04:15 Why I avoid seeing my own face on camera

09:40 The 2016 trend and why I decided to scroll back

14:30 Meeting the woman I used to be

18:45 The year everything was built on validation

23:40 When gratitude and insecurity lived side by side

27:50 The identity built on perfectionism

31:10 Realizing the pain I caused and holding compassion

36:20 Outgrowing performance-based worth

41:00 “Even when I was off track, I was on track”

46:10 The peace I never knew I was missing

49:40 What 2016 Heidi would think of 2026 Heidi

52:00 Closing reflections: Choosing presence over perfection

Connect with Heidi:

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