How to Overcome Anything with Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, explorer, mountaineer, social entrepreneur and technologist, talks with us on her struggles and how she has overcome obstacles in her life to get her to where she is today. From being the first Peruvian woman to climb Mount Everest, to overcoming alcoholism, to finding out she has a brain tumor, Silvia is truly the image of resilience and bravery. We got to hear from her how she persevered through her struggles and came out the other side stronger. If you feel like you’re hitting the bottom and you don’t know where to go, Silvia has some great words to help you overcome anything life throws your way. Listen to her three tips on practicing self-compassion and trusting ourselves. 

1. Change your perception

We all have big goals and dreams we want to achieve, and the ability to do it is all inside of you. It’s all about your perception of it and the way you let yourself view the things that are in front of you. Anything is possible if you put it out there that you can do it. While something may seem unattainable, if you try to wrap your head around viewing it in a way where it is in your reach, you are so much more likely to achieve it. Get it out of your head and take action on it!

2. Practice having self compassion

Silvia talks to us about how during her healing journey, she took classes on compassion cultivation training. She explains how that was the opportunity she needed to learn how to give herself some compassion. Growing up, Silvia was raised in an environment where she was taught to have a lot of compassion for others. However, through that always assumed that if she was bad to herself she was at least still good to others. It is important to make sure you are being compassionate with yourself and you’re not losing sight of the importance in treating yourself the way you’re treating others. 

3. We have infinite to give, as long as we can re-center

Silvia explains how she has learned that sometimes you need to dig into your deeper pain, and your deeper trauma, in order to unpack that and continue to give. Once you’re able to feel the deeper feelings you have been holding in, you are able to release that and continue to give. Your personal traumas do not define you or hold you back! You just need to learn how to process and let go in order to continue to give to yourself and to others. 

Want to hear more about Silvia Vasquez-Lavado’s resilience and how she overcame her obstacles? Read her book In The Shadow of the Mountain: A Memoir of Courage and listen to the full episode of the podcast!

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Check out the full podcast episode here 

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