Ex-Fighter Pilot Turns Psychotherapist: New Book Helps Readers Navigate Life’s Turbulence
Pune, 3rd October 2025: As the world marks World Mental Health Day, the spotlight is on the increasing stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges affecting people of all ages. Addressing this growing need for mental well-being, Group Captain Ashwani Bhakoo VSM, a former Indian Air Force fighter pilot turned psychotherapist based in Pune, has released his latest book, Wings of the Mind – Rise Above, Live Beyond.
A Unique Perspective: From Cockpit to Counselling Room
Drawing from his extraordinary dual experiences—piloting high-performance jets like the MiG-21 and Jaguar, and counseling students, professionals, and families—Bhakoo offers readers a distinctive guide to navigating life’s turbulence. By blending the discipline of the cockpit with therapeutic insight, he provides a roadmap for building resilience and emotional strength.
Early reviews describe Wings of the Mind as “gripping, grounded, and profoundly uplifting.” Unlike conventional self-help books, it carries the weight of real-life, high-stakes lessons. The prologue recounts a dramatic bird strike at 300 kmph, transforming a terrifying incident into a masterclass on focus, calm, and decision-making under pressure.
Practical Tools for Real Life
Beyond storytelling, the book equips readers with actionable tools. Each chapter concludes with worksheets and exercises designed to help individuals practice resilience daily. A standout concept—the “Wingman Principle”—translates a military tactic of having someone watch your blind spots into a method for building supportive networks that safeguard mental health.
Who Can Benefit
The book is aimed at anyone navigating uncertainty or personal challenges: students facing exams, professionals under workplace pressure, parents balancing family responsibilities, or patients learning to trust life again. Its central message is clear: courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to move forward despite it.
A Timely Contribution
Released on World Mental Health Day, Wings of the Mind is more than motivational—it offers a structured approach to resilience. By combining military precision with psychological insight, Bhakoo provides readers a practical flight plan to rise above life’s challenges and live beyond fear.
Wings of the Mind – Rise Above, Live Beyond by Ashwani Bhakoo is available on Amazon and Flipkart.
