Your past does not define your present, and it certainly does not define your future. Today’s guest is living proof of that. Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. She ultimately overcame her demons through mountaineering, and is the first openly gay woman to climb the Seven Summits. 

Her determination to overcome her trauma saw her first try to run away from it, before seeking solace in alcohol, becoming a functioning alcoholic:

“And that's something that I've candidly shared in the book, that journey of how we fool ourselves, how we can pretend to appear something else.”

Her mother persuaded her to take part in an ayahuasca retreat in Peru, and as she was high, she recalls her inner child grabbing her hand and pulling her into the mountains. 

“That was the most magical vision that I had from this powerful session of ayahuasca, which is what has led me to this incredible journey.”

Without knowing what or how she was going to do it, she headed to the Himalayas to get to base camp on Mount Everest. 

“Instead of being afraid, there was this powerful reconnection, there was this sense of safety and security that I had never felt from any other human.”

Sylvia's incredibly moving story demonstrates how resilient we truly are. So, if you’re looking for a focus, for a purpose, let Sylvia’s story inspire and encourage you. 

On today’s podcast:

• Surviving sexual abuse
• The transformative power of psychedelics for trauma
• Finding courage through mountaineering
• Her foundation - Courageous Girls

Links:

• https://www.silviavasla.com/