Copyright International Business Times
Silouan Green's perspective on emotional well-being and purpose is grounded in personal history, one defined by crisis, reflection, and deliberate renewal. "I don't want to be the person who tells people it's easy when it's not easy," he says. "I want to use my lived experience along with factual information and evidence-based advice to give people what they need to hear, even if it's not always easy." His perspective on mental health and leadership began not in theory or training but in personal collapse, a tragic aircraft mishap while serving in the Marines that left him with a broken back, addiction to pain medication, and a sense that his life had fallen apart completely. "I was young, and I truly believed everything was over," he says. What followed was a slow and uncomfortable recovery. Once he regained his footing, his first meaningful step to helping others was volunteering in prisons. "Even someone serving a long sentence can find purpose and hope," he says. His work there showed him that pain, identity, meaning, and community are universal struggles and truths. Silouan presents keynotes, workshops, and training across the country to private companies, non-profits, conferences, and local, state, federal first responders and the military. His message remains the same: people are not defined by what breaks them. They are shaped by how they choose to respond. "We all take hits in life," he says. "If we are not careful, we pack it all in and lose sight of who we are. We start living only for the moment instead of asking ourselves what to achieve in the coming years." Green believes that one of the strongest buffers against mental health struggles is a close personal connection, not just social contact, but genuine, vulnerable relationships. "Connection is one of the biggest factors in how we handle hardship," he explains. "And if someone does experience a crisis, having a sense of purpose is what helps guide them back." Yet meaningful connection doesn't happen by accident. He emphasizes that we must be intentional about one-on-one conversations. Whether with family, friends, or colleagues, genuine closeness requires vulnerability. "If you come home after a hard day, and someone you love asks if you are okay, and you say 'I'm fine' when you are not, you are teaching them that this is how we handle emotions," he says. "We end up isolating ourselves even when we are surrounded by people." Green also speaks to students about the role of social media in shaping emotional identity. Much of what people see is curated, selective, or exaggerated, making it difficult to feel grounded in one's own reality. "We have more technological connections than ever," he says, "and yet people often feel alone." His encouragement to young people is to seek real conversations, be willing to share honestly, and remember that being known matters more than being seen. He describes his own approach to life now as Anchored and Armored. The anchor represents being rooted, through relationships, values, or a sense of meaning. The armor is the resilience that grows when someone learns from hardship instead of being defined by it. "Life will always be unpredictable," he says. "But when you are anchored in what truly matters, you have a way to stay steady." Green speaks from lived experience rather than relying on just theory. His empathy comes from having rebuilt his identity once already, and from continuing to do so. He encourages people to become intentional about the lives they are shaping, instead of simply inheriting identities from institutions, jobs, or the expectations of others. "At some point, we have to ask: Who am I really? And then we build from there." For those who want to explore his perspective further, Green shares resources, personal reflections, and storytelling through his website and video content. His work invites individuals to explore what it means to live with honesty, connection, and purpose.
