Silken Laumann - Strength in Vulnerability & the Power of Storytelling

Thoughts on Record: Podcast of the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Strength in vulnerability combined with an internal sense of safety are among the most powerful psychological tools that one can curate to promote wellness and healthy boundaries. Four-time Olympian, speaker & author, Silken Laumann, joins us for a very special discussion where we cover:

• a brief overview of Silken's story and her rise to prominence nationally and internationally
• finding an "extra gear" with respect to performance and the balance between connecting with the reality of one's situation & processing difficult emotions while remaining goal driven
• the importance of vulnerability with respect to promoting and maintaining mental wellness as well as connection with others
• Silken's perspective on the impact of adverse early life experiences on the formation of self-esteem, coping, attachments, detection of threat etc.
• the challenge (and sometimes imposibility) of maintaining attachments with important figures in our life and the critical importance of boundaries
• navigating guilt that can arise from detaching from significant others who are felt to present a challenge to one's own wellness
• the power of an apology
• pros and cons of using intensive/high-level exercise/activity to assist with emotion regulation & growth of self-esteem
• why Silken has taken such a strong stance around being vulnerable in sharing her story and how it informs the ethos of her charity Unsinkable
• Silken's lens on cultivating vulnerability in the service of sharing your story and what must be in place psychologically for this to be a safe, healthy & healing process
• the importance of clearly and honestly assessing one's needs in the service of self-care
• an overview of Silken's charity, Unsinkable, and it's core of storytelling
• the myths and realities of the mental health of elite athletes
• the perhaps unexpected challenge of achieving great success early in life and the challenge of transitioning out of elite athletics

Four-time Olympian Silken Laumann is one of Canada’s most inspirational leaders, a best-selling author, and a child and mental health advocate. Silken’s Olympic story is legendary and inspirational. As reigning world champion, Silken fought back from a devastating rowing accident, to win a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. In her best-selling memoir, Unsinkable, Silken shines a spotlight on all the obstacles she has encountered and overcome. Silken speaks candidly about her athletic success and triumph over physical adversity, but also the intense personal challenges of her past and the fierce determination she applies to living a bold and successful life today. Silken is the founder of Unsinkable, a multimedia non-profit organization that uses story-telling and lived experience to move people further along their mental, physical and spiritual journey.
https://www.weareunsinkable.com/
Host note: A very special thanks to Jennifer Elia for facilitating this conversation!