The Thin Blue Line of Resiliency with Sgt. Toni Gonzalez EP: 009
In today’s episode, Police Sgt. Toni Gonzalez and I talk about the inside story on how she came to recognize a silent issue in the police work force that included confronting a devastating memory from her childhood, and how she conquered her fear of being judged to launch a life-saving program that aims to help not just police officers, but all first responders.
Listen in as we discuss:
- How Toni got into the police force, and the reality of choosing the job over having her son with her
- What being a Hispanic woman meant when she first entered the academy
- A specific incident on the job that led her to go into therapy -- finding out what was triggering the anxiety she felt when responding to work calls
- How being called a train wreck hit home, spurred her to action, and made her look into how stress affected first responders and why it was not being openly discussed
- Toni’s concept of bringing a mental “book bag” to work that fills up during the day, and how carrying a filled-up book bag can have an effect on your well-being
- Understanding police officers as human beings who deserve respect, and not as machines with no feelings
- How Toni decided to use her voice to bring light into the situation of cops, and launch a mental health and wellness program for police officers
- The initial difficulty in combining the concepts of being a police officer who is seen as somebody tough, and practicing mindfulness in order to do a better job
- The relevance of Toni’s Resiliency Room program in our present situation, and how mindfulness can have positive effects and help heal underlying issues affecting first responders
This episode tackles a difficult but important topic, and invites you to understand how and why mental health is front and center in the community today.
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THE INSIDE STORY Podcast
I'm excited to share I'm producing a brand new podcast called The Inside Story. Each week, I'm sharing the inside story behind some of the biggest success stories and the grit & determination of overcoming some of their biggest challenges.
I'll also be sharing a few of my own stories along the way, aimed to help you develop your own story and understand the power of sharing it with others.
We'll also be featuring the work of other LIGHTbeamers from our Community as they continue to hone their story and shine their light into the world!
Storyteller
April Adams Pertuis
Author
April brings her vast expertise in the world of storytelling to show you how sharing your story can have a big impact on the world around you (yes, even in business!) A former TV journalist turned Video producer and writer, April has been interviewing people for over 25 years to get to the heart of their story. She hosts the wildly engaged Facebook Group, The LIGHTbeamers community where she shares story prompts and teachings to help other share their story!
