I’ve seen just about everything you can imagine in this line of work, and probably a few things you’d rather not. But recently, I found myself in one of those seasons where everything seemed to be shifting under my feet – changes at the station, challenges at home, and that nagging feeling that maybe I was losing my way a bit.

Now, I’m not one to sit around feeling sorry for myself, but I’ll be honest with you – I was struggling. That’s when I stumbled across some wisdom that hit me like a defibrillator to the soul. Seven lessons that didn’t just change how I do my job, but how I see life itself. And I figure if they helped this old paramedic find his footing again, they might just do the same for some of you incredible EMS and nursing professionals out there.

1. The Power of Perspective

You know, we see people on what might be the worst day of their lives. Car accidents, overdoses, heart attacks – the whole nine yards. And somewhere along the way, I started carrying all that heaviness with me. But here’s what I learned: how we choose to see our circumstances changes everything.

Instead of focusing on all the tragedy, I started looking for the moments of human connection. The grateful squeeze of a patient’s hand. The relief in a family member’s eyes when we arrive. The way our team works together like a well-oiled machine to save lives. Same job, same calls, but suddenly I wasn’t drowning in despair anymore.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed by the weight of what we do, try shifting your lens. Look for the helpers. Look for the hope. Look for the difference you’re making, even when it doesn’t feel like much.

2. Recognizing Signs of Burnout

This one’s a tough pill to swallow, but we need to talk about it. We’re so busy taking care of everyone else that we forget to check our own vitals, so to speak. I realized I was running on empty when I started snapping at my partner over little things, when I couldn’t sleep after shifts, when I dreaded getting in the truck.

Burnout isn’t just being tired after a long shift. It’s that bone-deep exhaustion that doesn’t go away with rest. It’s losing compassion for the people we serve. It’s feeling like nothing we do matters. And friends, there’s no shame in admitting when we’re there.

The first step to recovery is recognizing we need it. Check in with yourself regularly. Are you taking care of your mental and emotional health the way you’d tell a patient to take care of theirs?

3. The Danger of Complacency

Comfort zones are tricky things in our line of work. On one hand, routines and protocols keep us safe and effective. On the other hand, it’s easy to get so comfortable that we stop growing, stop learning, stop pushing ourselves to be better.

I caught myself going through the motions on calls, not really engaging with patients the way I used to. I was technically competent, sure, but I wasn’t bringing my whole heart to the work anymore. That’s dangerous territory for someone whose job it is to care for others.

Growth happens when we embrace a little discomfort. Take that continuing education class you’ve been putting off. Learn a new skill. Ask questions during debriefs instead of just nodding along. Your patients deserve the best version of you, not the comfortable version.

4. The Impact of Isolation

We’ve all been there – dealing with a particularly rough call or a string of bad days, and instead of reaching out, we retreat. We tell ourselves nobody else would understand, or that we should be tough enough to handle it alone. But isolation is a liar, friends.

When we cut ourselves off from our colleagues, our families, our support systems, we lose perspective. We start making decisions based on our pain instead of our purpose. The things that seemed manageable with backup suddenly feel impossible when we’re flying solo.

Don’t underestimate the power of connection. Talk to your partner. Lean on your crew. Call that friend who gets it. Sometimes the simple act of sharing our burden cuts its weight in half.

5. The Value of Change

Change is inevitable in this job – new protocols, new equipment, new challenges. But I used to see every change as just another thing to stress about. What if I mess up? What if the old way was better? What if, what if, what if?

But here’s the thing about change: it’s also opportunity wearing a disguise. That new protocol might save more lives. That different shift schedule might give you better work-life balance. That challenging call might teach you something valuable about yourself or your skills.

Instead of bracing against change like it’s going to hurt us, what if we leaned into it with curiosity? What if we saw it as a chance to grow, to improve, to become better versions of ourselves and better servants to our community?

6. Learning to Let Go

This might be the hardest lesson for folks like us. We’re trained to save people, to fix things, to make everything better. But sometimes we carry things that aren’t ours to carry – the patient we couldn’t save, the family member who was angry at us, the mistake we made years ago that still haunts us.

I realized I was walking around with a backpack full of burdens that didn’t belong to me anymore. Calls from five years ago. Harsh words from supervisors who’d long since moved on. Guilt over decisions I’d made with the best information I had at the time.

Learning to let go doesn’t mean we don’t care. It means we care enough about ourselves and our current patients to not let the past weigh us down. Forgive yourself. Learn from mistakes without being enslaved by them. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

7. Cultivating Resilience

Resilience isn’t something you’re born with or without – it’s like a muscle that gets stronger with exercise. And boy, do we get plenty of opportunities to work out that resilience muscle in this job.

Every difficult call, every challenging patient interaction, every time we choose to show up despite being tired or discouraged – that’s us building resilience. But it takes intentional effort. We have to actively choose courage over comfort, growth over stagnation, hope over despair.

Resilience means bouncing back, but it also means bouncing forward. Each challenge you face has the potential to make you stronger, more compassionate, more skilled at navigating life’s curveballs.

Moving Forward

These seven lessons didn’t just change how I show up at work – they changed how I show up in life. And I wanted to share them with you because I know you’re out there doing incredible, difficult, beautiful work every single day.

You’re the ones who run toward danger when everyone else runs away. You’re the ones who hold space for people in their most vulnerable moments. You’re the ones who make split-second decisions that save lives and comfort families.

But remember – you can’t give what you don’t have. Take care of yourself with the same compassion you show your patients. Seek out perspective when the world feels heavy. Embrace growth even when it’s uncomfortable. Stay connected to your community. Let change teach you instead of terrify you.

You matter. Your work matters. And the world is better because you’re in it.

Stay safe out there, friends. And remember – we’re all in this together.