Awakening the Senses: A Guided Journey to Mindfulness

In this podcast episode, Melany guides listeners through a mindfulness meditation focused on enhancing awareness of the senses. Melany encourages participants to find a comfortable position and directs their attention to various aspects of their physical presence, including the sensations of their body, breathing, and the environment around them. The meditation culminates in a return to breath awareness, allowing participants to ground themselves before re-engaging with the world.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Begin by bringing awareness to your body, noticing how it feels in the chair, the sensations of your feet on the floor, and the texture of your clothing.

• Shift your attention through various senses—sound, smell, taste, and sight—encouraging a deeper awareness of your surroundings and internal sensations.

• Acknowledge that your mind may wander during the exercise, and gently but firmly bring your focus back to the present moment and the specific sense you are exploring.

• Pay attention to your breathing, noticing the sensations of air entering and leaving your body, and the temperature changes associated with each breath.

• After the meditation, take your time to transition back to the external world, allowing yourself to fully absorb the experience before moving on.

 

BEST MOMENTS

"Just notice how your feet feel on the floor. Notice your hands resting at your sides or on your thighs."

"When your mind wanders, gently but firmly bring it back to listening to any sounds that you can hear."

"Just really focus in on that sense of taste in your mouth."

"Just notice all around you, perhaps what looks way out beyond your immediate sight."

"Notice if the air feels cooler as you breathe it in, warmer as you breathe it out."

 

HOST BIO

Mariam is a GP trainee in Wales passionate about improving our healthcare colleagues' wellbeing. She has experience on the Schwartz Round Steering group and as a facilitator for her health board, and she created and led the Balint Group Programme for Foundation Doctors in her hospital. These are regular spaces for healthcare professionals to speak about real issues that affect their well-being amongst colleagues to improve mutual support and camaraderie in the workplace. She also holds qualifications in Life Coaching and healthcare leadership and management. Whatever your reason for joining us on this podcast, we are glad you have taken the time. 

Dr Melany McKenna is a Clinical Psychologist, Cognitive Analytic Therapy practitioner, and Executive Coach. With a specialist interest in staff wellbeing, and supporting NHS professionals, Dr McKenna offers psychologically informed reflections, prompting us to consider staff wellbeing from a systemic perspective.

If you are having stressful days at work, leaving you feeling demotivated, and depleted, I'm hoping I can help here.

 

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

SafeSpace is a new grounding and respite podcast aimed at Healthcare Professionals focused on staff wellbeing in the healthcare work environment, a grossly overlooked issue and yet, the cornerstone of the healthcare system which is why it is crumbling. There are 3 components to the podcast:  

- Candid interviews with healthcare leaders, and a wide variety of passionate healthcare professionals about their own experiences and struggles with their well-being as they have progressed through their careers  

- Reflective discussions with a clinical psychologist, my co-host, regarding key topics that have arisen such as coping with bullying, depression, burnout, grief, menopause, etc  

- Guided meditations specific to the healthcare worker getting ready for the day ahead, pausing during, winding down, and accepting following the working day.  

 

This podcast is not a panacea or substitute for a formal management plan, but a motivating, and catharsis tool to help during a stressful day.