The "sympathetic" Paramedic
Pat Armitstead - Speaker, Empowerment Coach, Artist
TRANSFORMING your relationship with grief, trauma and adversity, so you can live a life of CREATIVITY, JOY & COMPASSION
I'd like to take you back to 16th August. It was 10.00pm. I actually felt OK but there was a knowing that something was not right. I checked my blood pressure and was shocked to see it read 220/something ( cant recall that lower number!) Nobody I knew was at home so I called an ambulance.
They arrived within 30 minutes and both Paramedics seemed a little tetchy... I announced I was a Registered Nurse and understood my body....there behaviour immediately changed....and I then gave the history of my previously stable blood pressure.
Without too much ado they announced it was off to hospital for me and my toothbrush !
Once in the ambulance the paramedic was continually monitoring my blood pressure and just chatting quietly.
She casually asked was the art in the house my art and I said yes and enthusiastically made commentary on a couple of the pieces. As I did she jumped a little and said " OMG?" I said "What?"
She said as soon as you started talking about your art your blood pressure came down to 120/70. ( Totally normal). Once you stopped talking about the art it went back up to 220...
Then she asked about a framed invitation on the sideboard and asked what a Joyologist was, having never heard the term. And away I went giving a summary of how I founded Joyology.
Yes!!! You guessed it !!
Once again my BP went down to 120/70 !!
In that moment I absolutely understood even more deeply the sympathetic and para sympathetic nervous systems and how they intertwine. The parasympathetic nervous system restores the body to a calm and composed state and prevents it from overworking. The sympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, prepares the body for fight and flight response.
Add to this our rising consciousness and that wonderful paramedic making small talk and I see the wonder of the challenge and support we receive and how paradox and synchronicity are always sitting side by side! We are always being supported for our highest good!
I also got the biggest ever affirmation that I was exactly on path in my life! My two peak moments are :-
When I speak and the lights go on for someone in the room - job done!
And when I paint and create I dont need anybody - there is just me and the canvas.
The last 2 years in lockdowns I realised I just needed to orchestrate enough of both of those every day to keep me sustained! And so I did! When I am in this groove I am balanced and in flow. So many times I have allowed others opinions to take me off path!
My point today?
Knowing our peak moments ... and I suggest at least two... can sustain us and keep us on track when the world around us is sending conflicting messages....this is part of the path to equanimity!
Pat Armitstead - Professional Speaker, Facilitator, Coach and Artist
Transforming Individual and Workplace Wellbeing
0487105785 [email protected]
Conference Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Influential Person of the Year | Owner, Brainpower Training P/L | Podcast Host: "Manage Self, Lead Others" Top 5% globally | C-suite Network Thought Council Member
2 年Some lessons to be learned from this story, Pat
Elevating the stories of women leaders to inspire and inform the evolution of business culture ?? Master Storyteller ?? Coach/Advisor ??Speaker ?? Author of Discovering Power and Pursuing Truth
2 年Wow… what an amazing story, Pat Armitstead! Thank you for sharing it so that we can all learn from it. It’s so important to make time for the things we love. :-)
?? Business Improvement Specialist and Cultural Optimism Evangelist ??
2 年Such a strong message - so glad you received it! ??
20+ yrs of speaking industry knowledge | Booking Presenters Made Easy
2 年Hope you are better Pat and great article and observation