5 Ways to Reclaim Your Peace After a Toxic Relationship - Entry by Jessica Wright
If you’re like me, my mom is and was my toxic relationship. I've ended it—as in, I've released any sense of guilt and shame of not doing "enough" for her. She is still in my life, but only when I have the energy. This boundary is one of the ways I’ve reclaimed my peace, and it’s a journey I want to share with you.
Ending a toxic relationship is a significant and courageous step. But as anyone who’s been there knows, the real work begins after the relationship ends. Toxic relationships can leave emotional scars, self-doubt, and lingering stress that make it hard to move forward. The good news? Healing is possible, and reclaiming your peace is within reach. Here are five practical ways to begin that journey.
1. Understand the Damage
Toxic relationships leave an imprint on your mind, body, and spirit. They can make you question your worth, your decisions, and even your sense of reality. The first step to reclaiming your peace is acknowledging the damage and giving yourself permission to feel what you feel.
Why It Matters: Healing starts with understanding. You can’t address what you don’t recognize.
Action Step: Take time to journal about your experience. Reflect on how the relationship impacted you emotionally, mentally, and physically. This exercise helps process your emotions and begin to identify areas where you need healing.
2. Set Firm Boundaries
Whether you’re still in contact with the person or not, boundaries are essential. Toxic relationships often blur lines, leaving you feeling drained or manipulated. Reclaiming your peace requires defining what you will and won’t allow in your life moving forward.
Why It Matters: Boundaries protect your energy and help you regain control over your life.
Action Step: Create a personal boundaries checklist. Write down specific behaviors you will no longer tolerate and identify how you’ll enforce these boundaries. For example, limit contact, decline invitations, or block communication if necessary.
3. Reconnect with Your Identity
Toxic relationships can make you lose sight of who you are. Rebuilding your sense of self is crucial to finding peace. Think back to what made you feel happy, fulfilled, and alive before the relationship. Rediscover the parts of yourself that were overshadowed or suppressed.
Why It Matters: Reconnecting with your identity restores your confidence and sense of purpose.
Action Step: Commit to doing one activity each week that brings you joy. This could be a hobby you abandoned, spending time in nature, or trying something new that excites you.
4. Lean on Your Support System
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you. These can be friends, family, or a group of like-minded individuals who understand what you’re going through.
Why It Matters: A strong support system provides validation, encouragement, and a safe space to share your struggles.
Action Step: Reach out to a trusted confidant and let them know you’re working on healing. If you feel alone, consider joining a support group like Stressed to Blessed, where women come together to heal and grow.
5. Prioritize Healing
Healing takes time, effort, and intentionality. It’s about addressing the wounds left behind and finding ways to move forward. Therapy, faith-based practices, and mindfulness can all play a role in this process.
Why It Matters: Prioritizing healing helps you break free from the past and build a peaceful future.
Action Step: Explore practices like mindfulness meditation, daily affirmations, or prayer. These tools can help calm your mind and center your spirit. If you’re ready for deeper work, consider seeking therapy or joining a faith-based counseling group.
Peace Is Possible
Reclaiming your peace after a toxic relationship isn’t just about surviving—it’s about thriving. By understanding the damage, setting boundaries, reconnecting with yourself, leaning on your support system, and prioritizing healing, you can move forward with confidence and hope.
If you’re looking for a supportive community to help you on this journey, I invite you to join my Stressed to Blessed group in Vandalia. Together, we’ll explore tools and strategies to reclaim your peace and create a life filled with purpose and joy.
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