It's the first Monday of August, and Jessica invites listeners to pause and take stock — not of who they want to be, but of who they've actually been this summer. In this week's Healing Moment, she offers a gentle, guided journal prompt designed to help you see yourself clearly, honestly, and without judgment.
What You'll Reflect On
This episode is a journaling exercise built around one core question: "Who have I been this summer?" Jessica walks through a series of follow-up prompts to help you go deeper:
What has she needed most — rest, connection, space, to be seen, to be left alone?
What has she been carrying that she didn't ask for?
Where has she shown up beautifully, even if no one noticed?
Where has she been hard on herself when she deserved more grace?
What has brought her joy this season, even in small amounts?
What has felt heavy, stuck, or unresolved?
What does she need from you in the next four weeks before fall arrives?
Jessica reminds listeners that this reflection isn't about critique — it's about witnessing yourself the way a good therapist or a loving friend would: with curiosity, not judgment.
A Note From Jessica
Jessica also teases something bigger she's been working on behind the scenes, with more details coming soon.
journal prompt, self-reflection, summer reflection, who have I been, self-witnessing, self-compassion, self-inquiry, journaling for mental health, nervous system regulation, self-compassion practice, curiosity not judgment, seeing yourself clearly, self-grace, summer self-care, end of summer reflection, therapeutic journaling, guided journal prompt, healing moments, healing is my hobby, Jessica Colarco LCSW, mental health podcast, therapy podcast, self-care practice, mindfulness journaling, radical self-acceptance
Transcripts
Jessica (:
Welcome back. I'm Jessica Colarco, and this is your healing moment for the week. As you know, this summer I have a series of short episodes called healing moments. Welcome to August. Can we just take a breath and acknowledge that for a second? We are in the thick of summer. And whether it's been a restful or chaotic, and whether it's been restful or chaotic or some beautiful, complicated mix of both.
You are here. You showed up this Monday, and that matters. Today's healing moment is a journal prompt, and it's one of my favorites because it invites you to see yourself clearly without judgment. Grab something to write if you can. Otherwise, just listen and let it sit.
We spend a lot of time thinking about who we want to be. We set intentions, we make plans, we imagine future versions of ourselves that are calmer, more present, more regulated. But today I want to ask you something different. Not who do you want to be, but who have you actually been? This summer, these past few months, in the real ordinary, unfiltered.
Days.
The top of your page, write, Who have I been this summer? And then let yourself go there honestly. These follow-up questions might help. What has she needed most? Rest, connection, space, to be seen, to be left alone. What has she been carrying that she didn't ask for? Where has she shown up beautifully, even if no one noticed?
Where has she been hard on herself when she deserved more grace?
What has brought her joy this season, even in small amounts? What has felt heavy, stuck, or unresolved? And finally, what does she need from you in the next four weeks before fall arrives?
Take your time, let it be honest, let it be kind.
This kind of reflection isn't about critique, it's about witnessing, about seeing yourself the way a good therapist or a loving friend would, with curiosity, not judgment. You've been doing a lot this summer and you deserve to be seen for it, starting
Starting with yourself.
I'll be back next week with one of the most powerful healing practices I know. I'll see you Monday. I also want to let you know that I've been working on something bigger that goes deeper into this, and there'll be more on that soon. If you'd like to read about my blog or stay up to date, you can sign up for the newsletter at healing is my hobby.com. You can follow me on Instagram at Healing Is My Hobby or on YouTube at Healing is My Hobby. And if you'd like to know more about my clinical practice, you can visit Jessica Kalarco.com
LCSW.com or follow me on Instagram at Jessica Calerco. Keep healing. You are worth it.
