October Healing Check-In: Grounding Through Stress

Jessica Colarco (: 00:09

Welcome back to Healing is My Hobby. I'm so glad you're here because sometimes the hardest part of healing is just showing up. Today's episode is a little different. It's not about learning something new or diving deep into theory. It's about checking in with yourself. So wherever you are, sitting at your desk, driving, folding laundry, or walking outside, this is your moment. Let's start with the collective breath. Inhale through your nose.

Hold for a moment and gently exhale through your mouth. You did it. You just created a moment of pause and that's where healing begins.

Please join me for a brief guided check-in.

If it feels comfortable, close your eyes, and if not, just soften your gaze. Start by noticing your body. Where are you holding tension right now? Maybe your jaw is clenched, maybe your shoulders are tight, maybe your stomach feels a little knotted. There's no need to change anything, just notice.

Now take a slow, deep breath into that space. Breathe into calm and breathe out release.

on a scale of one to 10? How stressed are you right now? One means totally calm and grounded. 10 means completely overwhelmed. Whatever number came to mind first, trust it. No judgment, no need to fix it, just awareness. Now let's move through three rounds of box breathing.

I'll guide you through each one. Ready?

Inhale, two, three, four, hold, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four, hold, two, three, four. Inhale, two, three, four, hold, two, three, four. Exhale, two.

3 4 hold 2 3 4 inhale 2 3 4 hold 2 3 4 exhale 2 3 4 hold 2 3 4

Now, let your breathing return to its natural rhythm. Notice if anything feels different, even slightly. Maybe your shoulder softened, maybe your thoughts have slowed just a bit. This is your body's way of saying, I am safe right now.

Sometimes we wait for the perfect conditions to heal. A quiet room, the right mindset, the ideal time. But healing can start anywhere. In the car, on a walk, between emails, or while you're making dinner. The truth is, our nervous systems don't need perfection. They just need permission to rest. These micro moments of stillness add up.

They remind your body that it doesn't have to stay in survival mode all the time. So if you're listening today thinking, I don't have time for self care, remember this, you just practiced it. You gave yourself space to breathe and that's enough. It counts. Every breath, every pause, every small act of kindness toward yourself is an investment in your healing. You're not behind.

You're not broken, you're practicing.

Before we wrap up today, take one last deep breath with me. Inhale through your nose.

and exhale through your mouth.

Notice how your body feels right now compared to when we started. Maybe your heart rate has slowed, maybe your mind feels a little clearer. That's the power of presence. You are doing better than you think. Every time you slow down, you retrain your nervous system to feel safe again, and that's real practice. If you enjoyed this moment of calm, I'd love to hear how you're practicing your own check-ins this week.

Tag me on Instagram at healing is my hobby or share your favorite grounding ritual in the comments of my latest post. Remember,

a destination. It's a daily practice of coming home to yourself. Until next time, take care of you.