You might have arrived on this page because you want to know more about how mindfulness could support your patients with cancer…. if so please click on the links for patients and carers.
This page exists to complete the circle and remind us (yes it’s a reminder to me too) that we health professionals are also subject to the human condition. We too benefit from cultivating the wisdom and compassion that mindfulness offers. Is it time you “looped yourself in” to the care you so willingly offer to others?
You don’t have to be at the point of exhaustion, burnout or compassion fatigue to explore this invitation. There is compassion satisfaction and meaning to be derived from our work in health care.
It begins with a pause… try these practices separately or run them together as a series
These practices don’t change anything in reality per se, but they may allow you to pause long enough to listen in to whatever is going on for you. You might discover that you’ve had a great day and feel good about making a difference to that family you saw this morning, or you might find you are feeling tired and worn by the demands of your day. Whatever you discover, could you meet it with honesty and compassion? Sometimes we just need to honour our experience so that we are ready and available for the next experience as it arrives. At other times we discover something that needs a little more tending to. Two heads can be better than one when it comes to the tricky stuff. Who are your top 5 go to people? Perhaps you could give yourself permission to say it aloud to one of them?
These practices don’t change anything in reality per se, but they may allow you to pause long enough to listen in to whatever is going on for you. You might discover that you’ve had a great day and feel good about making a difference to that family you saw this morning, or you might find you are feeling tired and worn by the demands of your day. Whatever you discover, could you meet it with honesty and compassion? Sometimes we just need to honour our experience so that we are ready and available for the next experience as it arrives. At other times we discover something that needs a little more tending to. Two heads can be better than one when it comes to the tricky stuff. Who are your top 5 go to people? Perhaps you could give yourself permission to say it aloud to one of them?
If you would like to grow a mindfulness practice please check out the next page on Growing a practice
Mindful Cancer Care 