Why Your Past is Holding You Back From Healing (And How to Let It Go)

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By Jenny Peterson

Today, I want to dive into something that I believe is the number one thing holding most people back—the story they're telling themselves. Now, I know what you're thinking. Everyone has a story, right? But here’s the catch: what if the story you’re telling yourself is actually what's keeping you stuck in chronic pain, exhaustion, anxiety, or other challenges you’re facing?

What if it’s not just the physical symptoms that are the issue, but the deeper story underneath all of it? Today we’re going to unpack why the stories from your past—specifically those you’ve been carrying since childhood—are keeping you stuck and how to start rewiring your story to free your body, mind, and soul.

The Story You’ve Been Telling Yourself

Here’s the thing: we all have a story. It’s the one you’ve probably been telling yourself for years—maybe even decades. And let me be real with you. That story is probably not the one you want to be living. Think about it—how often do you find yourself saying, "Well, it’s always been this way," or "This is just how life is for me"?

It’s so easy to get comfortable in that narrative—even if it’s a painful one. We often tell people how hard we've had it, how tough things have been. And that's usually where the story begins.

When we look back at our childhood—at things that happened to us, things that were said to us, the ways we were treated—it’s easy to use those experiences as the reason for why we are the way we are today. But here's the thing: those stories aren’t just words—they have real effects on your body.

As children, many of the things we went through were too overwhelming to process. Our nervous systems didn’t know how to handle the intensity of those moments, so they stored them. Over time, these unprocessed experiences become the foundation of the stories we keep telling ourselves.

The Impact of Childhood Stories on Your Body

The tricky part is this: if we don’t heal those stories, we keep seeing them through the same set of eyes we had when we were younger. The eyes of a child who couldn’t process the trauma, hurt, or confusion. So what happens?

• Our bodies are forced to adapt to constant emotional stress.

• We carry unresolved feelings and beliefs we formed back then.

This is why chronic conditions develop. Our bodies are responding to unresolved stories that we haven’t been able to fully process. We are still living those stories in our bodies.

How My Childhood Story Affected My Health

Let me give you an example from my own life. For years, I kept blaming my illness—and whatever else in my life wasn’t going right—on my childhood. I told myself, “If my parents hadn’t done this or said that, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now.”

I carried that story with me for so long, using it as a reason to stay stuck. I blamed everything: the way I was raised, the things that happened to me, and the lack of emotional support. I told myself that if those things hadn’t occurred, I wouldn’t feel the way I did or struggle with health issues or other problems.

Rosacea is a perfect example of how our old stories play out in chronic conditions. My symptoms didn’t appear until I was in my early thirties. A specific event triggered a flare-up, but when I began to dig deeper, I realized the root cause went far beyond that event—it always came back to childhood.

When I was a child, something happened that caused me an immense amount of embarrassment and shame. This event became a defining part of my story, one I carried with me for years, subconsciously shaping how I saw myself and interacted with the world.

This event became the story I used to explain why I felt different, why I couldn’t fully show up as myself, and why I struggled with competence. It was my go-to explanation—a way to make others feel sorry for me. The story of childhood shame became the lens through which I saw everything.

That story defined me.

Once I let go of that old story—once I stopped holding onto the shame, the embarrassment, and the need to blame that event for my struggles—my rosacea cleared. It wasn’t an immediate fix, but over time, as I released the power that story had over me, my body began to feel safe again.

As I stopped feeling embarrassed about what happened, the flare-ups of rosacea, the redness, the irritation, all started to fade. I gave my body the safety it needed when I stopped holding onto a painful story that my nervous system had been conditioned to react to.

Here’s the truth: that story wasn’t helping me. It was keeping me stuck and keeping my body in a constant state of stress, regardless of whether it was still happening. My subconscious didn’t know the difference. I had to let go of the story that I was still a helpless child unable to process what had happened.

I needed to rewrite my story as an empowered adult who could now process and heal those old wounds. When I stopped blaming everyone and everything, that’s when I started to heal.

Her Rash Was Connected to Her Story

Let me share another example, this time from a client who struggled with a chronic skin issue. She had a rash all over her body, something that had been persistent and frustrating. But as we dug deeper into her story, we uncovered something powerful from her childhood.

At a big event, she felt completely separated from her mother. She felt abandoned, alone, and unimportant in that moment. Now, this event wasn’t something she consciously thought about every day, but it was stored in her subconscious and became part of her story.

Fast forward 30 years, and after a difficult breakup, she developed a rash all over her body. The connection wasn’t obvious at first, but as we explored her emotions and beliefs, it became clear. She had been telling herself a story for years: “People always leave me. I can’t be alone.”

This story of abandonment, rooted in her childhood experience, was filtering the way she saw every relationship. She didn’t consciously connect the rash to that story, but when she realized that this belief was at the root of her physical symptoms, everything shifted. Once she let go of the story of abandonment and unworthiness, her rash went away.

Rewiring Your Subconscious: The Power of Your Story

The phrase, "What you focus on expands," rings true here.

When you focus on your old story, especially stories from your childhood, you reinforce those limiting beliefs. It’s like a broken record—the more you replay it, the more you believe it. The deeper it gets wired into your subconscious.

We make those stories our reality. We start to believe: “I can’t have the life I want because of what happened to me.” But here’s the kicker: the past doesn’t define you unless you let it.

Everyone Has a Story Regardless of Childhood

Some of you may be thinking, “I didn’t have a bad childhood, so this work isn’t for me.” But here’s the truth: even small events from childhood—ones that seem minor or even normal—can create patterns that follow us into adulthood.

Let’s talk about high achievers, perfectionists, and over-thinkers. These individuals often grew up in environments where there were small but impactful lessons about doing things right. Maybe they didn’t experience major trauma, but there were consequences to not getting things perfect. Maybe a parent pushed them to be the best or avoid mistakes.

This doesn’t feel like trauma in the traditional sense, but it created a story in the child’s mind: “I need to be perfect, or I’ll face consequences.” Overthinking, perfectionism, and pressure to succeed became a protective mechanism.

When you let go of the belief that you must be perfect, your body can finally relax and feel safe again. That’s when healing begins.

The Work of Healing: Rewriting Your Story

You are not stuck. The moment you realize that you hold the pen, everything can change. You’ve got thousands of empty pages in front of you, waiting for you to write a new chapter. But you can’t keep writing the same old story. You can’t keep holding onto blame, shame, or what-ifs.

You are the one who has the power to change your life. It’s time to break free from the old patterns that have kept you stuck for so long.

Here are some practical steps you can take right now to start rewiring your story:

1. Recognize the Old Story: What have you been blaming for your struggles? Can you pinpoint the childhood stories or past events you've been living out?

2. Shift Your Perspective: You are now an empowered adult with the tools to heal. Start viewing your past from a place of strength and awareness.

3. Let Go of the Blame: Release the victim mindset. Blame keeps you stuck. You don’t need to forgive everything, but you can choose to let go of its hold on you.

Healing can only happen when your body feels safe. When you're living in the past, your nervous system stays on high alert. It’s in survival mode, which prevents healing. But when you let go of the old stories and rewrite your past, your body can finally feel safe again.

Ready to Re-write Your Story?

If you’re ready to start rewriting your story so your body can heal, I invite you to join me in the ALIGNED program. Together, we’ll do the deep work that frees you from the past and helps you step into the health and life you deserve.

It’s time to take the pen back, rewrite your story, and create the life you’ve always wanted. Thank you for reading today. Until next time, remember: real healing starts when you trust your body and step into your power.

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Jenny Peterson is a Chronic Illness Expert and the Founder of MBR (Mind Body Rewire). She helps those struggling with multiple chronic symptoms reclaim their health and freedom—without diets, detoxes, or pills.

For 10 years, Jenny worked as a holistic practitioner, relying on supplements, diet, and detox protocols to support healing. But when she faced her own chronic health struggles, those methods failed her.

Determined to find a real solution, she turned to mind-body healing. Using the very techniques she now teaches, Jenny fully resolved Lyme disease, digestive issues, panic attacks, skin conditions, cystitis, and more. Her own transformation ignited a mission: to help others break free from chronic symptoms and take back control of their health.

Ready to say good-bye to symptoms and hello to freedom?  START HERE