We’ve all heard the well-meaning advice after a breakup, a loss, or a professional failure: “Just keep moving. Don’t look back. Time heals everything.”

So, we pack our bags, we change our routines, and we sprint toward the future. But months—even years—later, a certain scent, a specific tone of voice, or a song on the radio sends us spiraling. Our heart races, our chest tightens, and the old "healed" wound feels fresh again.

The truth is: You cannot outrun what your nervous system is still carrying. ### 1. The Mind Forgets, but the Body Remembers We like to think of our memories as filing cabinets in our brain. But trauma and deep emotional pain are actually stored in the somatic (body) memory.

When we experience something overwhelming, our nervous system enters a state of "survival." If we never complete that stress cycle—if we don't allow the body to shake off the fear or process the grief—that energy stays locked in our muscles, our gut, and our breath. You can move to a new city, but if your body still thinks it's in "danger," you will bring that city-sized anxiety with you.

The Danger of "Performative Healing"

In 2026, we are under immense pressure to be "resilient." We practice performative healing: we post the gym selfies, the "glow-up" photos, and the positive quotes.

But there is a massive difference between moving on and moving through.

• Moving on is an act of the will. It’s a decision to ignore the past.
• Moving through is an act of the body. It’s the slow, often messy process of letting your nervous system feel safe again.

Why "Busy" is a Survival Strategy, Not a Solution

Many of us use "busyness" as a drug. We fill our calendars so we don't have to feel the "tremors" of our past. But "busy" is often just a high-functioning version of avoidance. When you don't allow your body to heal, your "moving on" is actually just a "fleeing." Eventually, the body gets tired of running. This is when unexplained fatigue, chronic tension, or sudden outbursts of emotion happen. Your body is screaming for the attention your mind has been denying it.

How to Start Healing the Body

If you feel like you've "moved on" but you still don't feel "well," it’s time to stop running and start listening.

• Prioritize Stillness: Deep healing happens in the parasympathetic state (Rest & Digest).
• Somatic Movement: Activities like yoga, breathwork, or even simple stretching help release "stuck" emotional energy from the tissues.
• Gentle Patience: Stop asking yourself, "Why am I not over this yet?" Your body doesn't have a clock; it has a compass. It will heal when it feels safe enough to let go.

The Final Thought

Healing is not a destination you reach; it is a relationship you build with yourself. You aren't "weak" because you still feel the echoes of the past. You are simply human, and your body is doing its job by trying to protect you.

Before you try to move on, try to stay. Stay with the feeling. Breathe into the tension. Let your body know the war is over. Only then can you truly walk into your future—not as a runner, but as a whole person.