Ep. 81 The 2016 Nostalgia Trend: Meeting and Making Peace with the Woman I Used to Be
Mon Feb 02 2026
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 embarrassingThe 2016 version of me who lived for validation and performance VS the 2026 version of me who lives for peace and presenceWhat it feels like to realize you were powerful and powerless at the same timeHow I really hurt my last marriage. Ouch.The grief that comes with outgrowing your former identityWhen confidence was actually insecurity in disguisePerfectionism, OCD, and needing control to feel safeThe cost of external validationThe relief of letting go of the masks we thought we neededHow pain, rupture, and failure shaped the peace I feel nowWhy embarrassment about your past self is actually proof of growthMeeting 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:
Website: https://heidipowell.net/
Email: podcast@heidipowell.net
Instagram: @realheidipowell
Facebook: Heidi Powell
YouTube: @RealHeidiPowell
Train with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/
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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 embarrassingThe 2016 version of me who lived for validation and performance VS the 2026 version of me who lives for peace and presenceWhat it feels like to realize you were powerful and powerless at the same timeHow I really hurt my last marriage. Ouch.The grief that comes with outgrowing your former identityWhen confidence was actually insecurity in disguisePerfectionism, OCD, and needing control to feel safeThe cost of external validationThe relief of letting go of the masks we thought we neededHow pain, rupture, and failure shaped the peace I feel nowWhy embarrassment about your past self is actually proof of growthMeeting 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: Website: https://heidipowell.net/ Email: podcast@heidipowell.net Instagram: @realheidipowell Facebook: Heidi Powell YouTube: @RealHeidiPowell Train with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/