In this week’s #Mindset Monday we’re going expand on making self care a priority and explore the L.O.V.E. Principles with Dr. Theresa Larson, DPT, CSCS, SFMA (aka “Dr. T”) from MovementRX in San Diego, CA.  

On Monday night, Dr. T will join us on Facebook Live #MindsetMonday to discuss what she refers to as the L.O.V.E. Principles.  

To start addressing the physical and mental storms that the women and men of the law enforcement profession face, Dr. Lason suggests that we focus on securing a safe place to work on ourselves.  Through this we can start healing the mind, via the body.  She calls these the L.O.V.E. Principles.  During our conversation on monday night she’ll give some practical advice on:

L – Leading yourself first:

Last week #MindsetMonday was all about setting SMART Goals to make self care a priority. The first L.O.V.E. Principle builds on that. Dr. Larson suggests that in order to lead others, be a strong parent, or 100% effective on the job it begins with making our own wellness a priority. That may require us to ask for help. The more we focus on improving our own wellness the more we’ll be able to do to help others. This is a particularly relevant for police officers who spend so much time caring for others and taking charge in moments of crisis. It’s equally applicable to the family members who try their best to live up to the expectations of being a police officer’s family.

O – Oxygen:

Take time to be mindful and breath. Deliberate breathing has become a common practice for the management of emotions and physiology in high stress situations. Dr. Larson points out the benefits of intentionally setting aside time for mindfulness and effective breathing exercises.

V – Vulnerability:

In Dr. Larson’s L.O.V.E. Principle presentation she says that Vulnerability equals freedom. Vulnerability is often a difficult concept for police officers and even their families to get on board with. While vulnerability may equal freedom, vulnerability does not equal weakness.

Vulnerability: “Uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure. It is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper or more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path. It is the core of all emotions and feelings.”

– Brene Brown Daring Greatly

E – Elasticity:

Move often and move well. You can change, and do not have to wait for a doctor to tell you its OK to stretch, mobilize, and move. Movement is medicine! The law enforcement profession is plagued with conditions like plantar fascia, low back pain, and joint pain. By being intentional about correct, effective, and frequent movement we can reduce lifelong aches and pains. This simple concept can empower us to find fitness for the long game of life.

About #MindsetMonday

These posts are published each Monday morning and are intended to inspire a growth mindset.  Members of the profession and their family members can benefit from reading these posts and integrating the recommendations into their daily routines throughout the week. 


Perhaps the most well known researcher and writer on the topic of Mindset is Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck.  Dweck suggests that there are two types of mindsets; fixed and growth.  A “fixed mindset” assumes that our character, intelligence, and creative ability are static and unchangeable.  A “growth mindset,” on the other hand, thrives on challenge and sees failure not as evidence of unintelligence but as a heartening springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities.