7 Signs You’re Healing (Even If You Still Feel Broken)

I’m writing this post because I feel we all go through these heartbreaking times in our lives.

My friend recently lost his dog and he’s devastated. Another friend of mine is going through a terrible breakup and she doesn’t know if she’ll feel happy again.

Life isn’t easy at all.

And with all our downs, we have to find ways to heal again.

Healing doesn’t always look like joy.

Sometimes, it looks like crying on the kitchen floor, less than you did last week.

Sometimes, it looks like getting out of bed and brushing your teeth and not needing to explain to anyone that those tiny actions were actually huge.

It doesn’t always feel good.

It doesn’t come in a straight line. It doesn’t look like glowing skin and morning routines and yoga with herbal tea.

Sometimes, it feels like nothing’s changing at all.

But I want you to know: If you’re in that place,the place where you’re trying, hoping, surviving – that is healing.

Even when you still feel messy. Even when you still feel broken.

This post is for the quiet warriors.

The ones who don’t get applause for their progress.

The ones who keep showing up anyway. You are not behind. You are becoming.

And here are 7 gentle signs that you’re already on your way.

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1. You’ve Stopped Needing Every Day to Be “Good”

One of the earliest signs of healing is that you let the day be what it is.

You don’t try to force it to be productive or pretty. You just let it exist.

You let yourself exist. Even if you’re tired. Even if you’re sad.

You stop chasing the high of “fixing everything at once.” You allow space for the in-between — for days that are quiet, or hard, or full of nothing in particular.

I keep a mood tracker journal just to record how I actually feel, not how I think I should feel. It’s proof that healing isn’t linear, but it’s still moving.

2. You’re Setting Boundaries (Even If They Feel Terrifying)

Saying no is hard.

Especially when you’re used to people-pleasing, overgiving, or shrinking yourself to keep the peace.

But when you start healing? You start saying no anyway. Even if your voice shakes.

Maybe it’s unfollowing someone who drains your energy.
Maybe it’s leaving a group chat.
Maybe it’s taking longer to reply because you’re protecting your peace.

Even small boundaries are huge wins. They mean you’re finally treating yourself like someone worth protecting.

I use this wooden affirmation card set to remind myself: “No is a complete sentence.”

3. You’re Feeling Things You Used to Numb

This one’s hard.

Because the deeper into healing you go, the more you feel again. Which can be confusing. You might wonder: “If I’m healing, why am I crying more?”

But tears? Grief? Anger?

That’s your body processing pain instead of suppressing it. That’s your nervous system moving things through instead of bottling them up.

Let it out. Journal it. Scream into a pillow. Cry in the shower. This weighted blanket helps me feel held when I need to just lay in bed and feel.

4. You Don’t Panic When You Have a Bad Day Anymore

Before healing, every setback feels like proof that you’re doomed.

But when you’ve been doing the inner work for a while, bad days stop feeling like failure.

You don’t spiral. You don’t label yourself broken. You say things like:
“This is just a rough day.”
“I’ve been through worse.”
“I can get through this again.”

That mindset shift — from shame to softness — is everything. I like to write kind notes to myself in a tearaway desk calendar. It’s a tiny habit that builds self-trust.

5. You Start Wanting More Than Just Survival

This one sneaks up on you.

One day, you realize: you’re not just trying to survive anymore. You’re craving joy. Play. Rest. Connection. Creativity.

Maybe you start dancing while you cook.
Maybe you plan a solo trip.
Maybe you make a Pinterest board for the dream apartment you’re not even ready for yet.

You don’t know how it’ll all unfold, but suddenly you want to imagine more.

That’s healing. That’s life coming back in.

6. You’re Talking to Yourself More Gently

Notice your inner voice. Is it less cruel than it used to be? Does it say things like:

“That was hard. You did your best.”
“You deserve rest.”
“It’s okay if you’re not okay.”

That’s a massive win. Self-compassion is often the last thing we learn — especially if we were raised to believe that perfection = worthiness.

Try using mirror affirmation sticky notes to rewire your thoughts.

It might feel silly at first, but that’s how softness starts.

7. You’re No Longer Ashamed of Taking Time to Heal

You stop explaining yourself. You stop trying to prove that your healing is valid. You stop rushing the process just to make other people more comfortable.

You start saying things like: