In the fighter cockpit, uncertainty is constant, pressure is unrelenting and mistakes can be unforgiving. Yet the same skills that help a pilot navigate storms and return safely can also guide us through life’s everyday battles—exams, careers, illness, loss and change.
In this powerful and deeply personal book, Ashwani Bhakoo—fighter pilot turned counsellor and psychotherapist—shares the lessons he carried from the skies into the counselling room. Blendingvivid stories from his years in uniform with real-life examples, he reveals practical tools for resilience,clarity and inner strength.
Each Chapter Offers:
• A window into high-pressure missions and what they teach about the mind
• Everyday parallels that make these lessons relevant to students, parents, professionals and the elderly alike
• Worksheets and exercises to turn insights into practice
This is a book about courage, recovery and the quiet power of mental fitness.
Whether you are facing uncertainty, navigating change or seeking to build everyday resilience, this book will help you find your inner compass and take off toward the horizon.
Delete your review
Your review will be permanently removed from this book. Delete your review
Your review will be permanently removed from this book.
Write your review for this book (optional)
Review Deleted
Your review has been deleted and won’t appear on the book anymore.
ASHWANI BHAKOO
Group Captain Ashwani Bhakoo VSM, is an ex-Indian Air Force fighter pilot, decorated by the President of India. A weapons instructor with thousands of hours on MiG-21, Jaguar and other Aircraft. He holds an MBA, an MSC in Strategic Studies, and an MS in Psychotherapy. A founder member and HOD of the Centre for Leadership Studies and Behavioral Sciences. For sixteen years, he volunteered at an NGO for the prevention of suicide. He has lived two lives that meet at an extraordinary intersection.
The first was in the cockpit of a Fighter Jet, serving the nation with courage and precision in moments and the second has been on the ground—guiding students, professionals, families, and individuals through the invisible battles of the mind as a psychotherapist.
Years of flying missions, where uncertainty and danger were constant companions, forged a deep understanding of courage, resilience and the cost of battle—both visible and invisible. Drawing on years of experience in the Indian Air Force, Ashwani translates lessons from the skies—discipline, resilience, trust, dealing with uncertainty and stress—into practical tools for everyday life.
After transitioning from the Air Force, he chose a path of service, working as a psychotherapist. His unique journey allows him to blend military precision with deep empathy, offering practical, tested and profoundly human strategies. Through his work, he continues to guide individuals, helping them find strength in their struggles and clarity in their next steps.
This book is a testament to his belief that healing and growth are possible and that scars can become powerful sources of strength and legacy.
