Top of Form Subject: Review of key themes and concepts from interviews with Inspector Mo Perry and Sergeant Chris Borgstead on performance enhancement imagery and its application in policing and personal health. Executive Summary: This briefing document summarizes key themes from interviews with Inspector Mo Perry and retired Sergeant Chris Borgstead of the Delta Police Department (DPD). The discussion centers around "Bend Don't Break," a series focusing on optimum performance. A significant portion of the conversation is dedicated to the power of performance enhancement imagery, also known as visualization or mental rehearsal. Mo Perry, a seasoned police trainer and advocate for wellness, details the historical context, theoretical underpinnings, and diverse applications of this technique. Chris Borgstead shares a deeply personal and compelling account of how performance imagery, specifically a personalized script developed by Mo, played a crucial role in his successful navigation of a life-threatening pancreatic surgery (Whipple procedure) and subsequent recovery. The interviews highlight the critical link between mental and physical well-being for high-level performance in demanding professions like policing and in overcoming significant health challenges. Key Themes and Ideas: 1. The Importance of Mental and Psychological Aspects in High-Level Performance: · Both sources emphasize that physical skill and training are only part of the equation for achieving peak performance. · Mo Perry highlights historical evidence from Eastern Bloc countries' dominance in international sports, attributing it partly to their significant emphasis on the mental and psychological aspects of training. · Key Fact: "when it comes to high level performance about 85% minimum. Some will say as high as 90% is the mental psychological aspect of um of what's going on inside your mind in the privacy of your own mind." (Mo Perry) · This mental component involves internal dialogue, self-talk, and managing stress and anxiety. 2. Performance Enhancement Imagery: Definition and Applications: · Performance imagery is defined as "creating or recreating an experience in the mind." (Mo Perry) · It targets and leverages the "power of the subconscious mind because it's the subconscious mind that driv drives high level performance." (Mo Perry) · While commonly used informally (e.g., rehearsing a speech), structured and intentional imagery is shown to be more effective, supported by research and science. · Mo Perry has applied performance imagery in various domains within policing and beyond: · Firearms training (for new recruits, inservice members, and overcoming fear) · Sport (baseball pitching) · Police recruit training (final tests, scenario-based exams) · Sergeants promotional panels (interviews) · Reintegration for members after extended leave or use of force incidents · Police Officer Physical Aptitude Test preparation · De-escalation training and effective listening · Pre-surgery and post-surgery applications (most impactful personally for Mo and highlighted through Chris's story) 3. The Mind-Body Connection: · A central tenet discussed is the powerful and often underestimated connection between the mind and body. · Mo Perry explains how the mind controls various physiological processes, including heart rate, hormone release, healing, and blood flow. · Key Quote: "your body can your mind sorry can actually control blood flow." (Mo Perry) · This connection is leveraged in imagery, particularly in the context of Chris's surgery, to influence physical outcomes. 4. Chris Borgstead's Journey and the Impact of Imagery on His Whipple Surgery: · Chris faced a significant health challenge: recurrent pancreatitis due to a structural abnormality in his pancreas, leading to a high risk of pancreatic cancer. · He was diagnosed with an IPMN (Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm), an unknown origin tumor, and deemed a candidate for a Whipple procedure. · The Whipple is a complex and invasive surgery involving the removal of significant portions of the pancreas, stomach, and small intestine. It carries a low two-year survival rate for those with cancer, and even for preventive cases like Chris's, involves a challenging recovery. · Chris describes feeling like a "ticking time bomb" and experiencing fear when confronted with the reality of the surgery and being referred to an oncologist. · Mo Perry developed a personalized 30-minute imagery script for Chris with several key goals: · Lowering cognitive state and anxiety: Reducing worry and negative self-talk leading up to the ...
