Mind Over Matter - Performance Enhancement Imagery

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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 surgery.

·       Improving sleep: Counteracting the negative effects of anxiety on sleep, which is crucial for physical recovery and immune function.

·       Preparing for the hospital experience: Mentally rehearsing the process, setting expectations for a successful outcome, and empowering Chris to communicate with his surgical team about positive language and encouragement.

·       Leveraging the mind-body connection for physical benefits:Redirecting blood flow: The script included intentional suggestions for Chris's mind to redirect blood flow away from the surgical site, aiming to improve visibility for the surgeon and potentially reduce bleeding.

·       Facilitating healing: The script reinforced the body's natural ability to heal and encouraged a positive expectation of recovery.

·       Results and Anecdotal Evidence:Chris reports that the imagery script was "instrumental" and he "listened to it religiously," often falling asleep to it, which helped with sleep.

·       He felt mentally prepared and calm going into the surgery.

·       Remarkable Outcome: Chris's surgeon described the Whipple procedure as "one of if not the easiest surgery he's ever done." (Chris Borgstead, recounting the surgeon's words)

·       The surgeon anecdotally confirmed a lack of significant bleeding at the surgical site, aligning with the intention of the imagery script.

·       Chris's recovery has been notably successful, allowing him to regain physical strength and maintain a high quality of life. He is over two years post-surgery, exceeding typical two-year survival rates discussed.

·       Chris shared the imagery script with another individual undergoing a similar surgery, who also reported a positive experience with reduced bleeding, further suggesting a potential impact of the technique.

·       Chris's physical recovery and return to an active lifestyle, including working out with a coach and potentially joining the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department as a reserve deputy, serve as tangible evidence of his successful journey.

·       Chris was a finalist for "ultimate guy" in Men's Health magazine, highlighting his physical and mental resilience.

5. The Role of Support and Openness:

·       Chris emphasizes the importance of support networks, specifically highlighting his wife Gina's medical background and comfort level in the hospital environment as crucial.

·       He also underscores the value of being "open to receiving things" and sharing his story to help others.

·       Both Mo and Chris advocate for having an "open mind and a willingness to learn and maybe even step outside your comfort zone" to benefit from techniques like performance imagery.

6. Future of Performance Imagery:

·       Mo Perry believes the potential applications of performance imagery are vast and only limited by one's imagination.

·       He encourages others to learn more about it, recommending Brian Willis's Winning Mind Training.

·       The technique is seen as a powerful tool for "performance excellence" and giving oneself an advantage in any domain.

Most Important Ideas/Facts:

·       The significant impact of the mental and psychological aspects (85-90%) on high-level performance.

·       Performance enhancement imagery is a structured technique targeting the subconscious mind to improve performance and well-being.

·       The profound mind-body connection and its potential to influence physical outcomes, as demonstrated by Chris's surgical experience and the anecdotal evidence of reduced bleeding.

·       Chris Borgstead's successful navigation of a life-threatening Whipple surgery, attributed in part to the intentional use of personalized performance imagery.

·       The potential of performance imagery to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and facilitate healing.

·       The accessibility and underutilization of this powerful tool, despite its proven benefits in various fields.

Quotes to Consider:

·       "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

·       "performance imagery it it you know to to give a little bit of a history on on it if you go back uh to the 60s and 70s when the uh Eastern block countries really dominated uh uh athletic international sport... they placed a significant emphasis on the mental and psychological aspect of training." - Mo Perry

·       "you can give yourself the advantage through the use of performance enhancement imagery." - Mo Perry

·       "He said you the surgery I had that he conducted on me was one of if not the easiest surgery he's ever done." - Chris Borgstead (recalling his surgeon's statement)

·       "there really wasn't a lot of bleeding like that. You see, and that's kind of what made the surgery so easy." - Chris Borgstead (recalling his surgeon's statement about bleeding)

·       "if you don't put yourself out there you're not going to get anything in return you got to be open to receiving things" - Chris Borgstead

·       "having an open mind and a willingness to learn and maybe even step outside your comfort zone is really critical." - Mo Perry

Conclusion:

The interviews with Mo Perry and Chris Borgstead provide compelling evidence for the power of performance enhancement imagery. Beyond its traditional applications in sports and professional training, Chris's personal story demonstrates its significant potential in addressing severe health challenges and influencing physical outcomes through the mind-body connection. The discussion highlights the importance of prioritizing mental and psychological well-being as integral components of overall performance and resilience. The interview serves as a powerful testament to the benefits of structured imagery and encourages wider exploration and utilization of this technique.