Michael Pellegrino is the guest author in this episode of “America Tonight with Kate Delaney.” He had previously worked in New Jersey law enforcement for over twenty years but felt inspired to use some of his heaviest experiences to write a book that teaches people how to better confront adversity without falling into a spiral.
The title of his book is Crisis = Opportunity: Finding growth and resilience in challenging times. It contains an insightful combination of Michael’s personal story and that of other extraordinary individuals as well as some of the most up-to-date resources for resilient mental health.
“Not About Me, It’s About We.”
The book was far from just a personal project for Michael. He draws plenty of his sources from his time with Resilient Minds On The Front Lines Inc. It’s a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education, resources, and training for professionals who want to face adversity with care.
The organization has become a second family to him, with many of its members serving as subject matter experts in various fields. These include positive psychology, brain science, leadership, and more.
If anything else, Crisis = Opportunity serves as something of a tribute to them as well as a way to share the stuff that happens in their classrooms and seminars with a wider reading audience.
Catch Yourself Catching Yourself
A key concept in the book is what Michael calls “catch yourself catching yourself.” It’s his own way of describing the downward spiral people experience, whether they’re in the midst of a traumatic event or recalling it.
It’s a pattern that Michael himself knows all too well, having witnessed his own share of terrible crimes and accidents during his time in law enforcement. These experiences showed him just how powerful the mind can be when it comes to retaining vivid memories.
It also gave him a strong familiarity with the mindset that often leads to a downward spiral. The calls that one gets in police work are hardly meant to indicate positive things like parties and parades. They are calls from people who are often undergoing their own downward spiral, and it was his job to make sure to help people get out of it somehow, or at least resolve it with the best possible outcome.
Silent Suffering and the Spiral
Michael counts himself among the first people to admit how hard it is to go from spiraling down to spiraling up and out. He admits that some of the most horrible memories he’s had while on the force have been witnessing the deaths of children as well as the aftermath of several freak accidents. He has also confronted the ugly reality of suicide among police officers (including one of his partners).
Still, that is all the more reason why he has spent much time working with experts at Resilient Minds to improve techniques that can either prepare a person suddenly facing adversity or at least be more mentally proactive in spite of lingering traumas. He knows firsthand how many people are still suffering in silence and are in need of trustworthy peers who can help them learn.
Mindfulness Isn’t For Everyone
Lastly, perhaps one of the more distinct pieces of advice Michael shares in his book is that common self-help practices like mindfulness aren’t silver bullet solutions. In his experience, most people are not able to suddenly adapt to a storm as it happens. It’s always the better prepared who ultimately turns adversity into opportunity.
Hence, the book is packed with plenty of resources on topics like mental health, emergency services, and references to organizations that help troubled individuals before things get worse. Michael himself continues to be involved in sharing his experience and life coaching work for the betterment of his own community.
You can check out the full interview on the ReadersMagnet YouTube channel. Crisis = Opportunity: Finding growth and resilience in challenging times by Michael Pellegrino is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Amazon: https://a.co/d/4aRZNL9
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crisis-opportunity-michael-pellegrino/1144308550?ean=9798350925135