#378. Life, Interrupted | Suleika Jaouad

Here’s a thought experiment: how would you handle it if you got a terrible diagnosis?

Of course, many of us have no choice. That’s the situation Suleika Jaouad faced when she got gravely ill at a very young age. She had to figure out how to have a sense of agency when so much was out of her control, and how to stay awake and present when her life was hanging in the balance. 

Suleika Jaouad is a journalist, author, speaker, cancer survivor, and the author of a book called Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted. She is also the creator of “Life, Interrupted,” the Emmy award-winning New York Times column and video series that she created from her hospital bed. 

In this conversation, we talk about: Suleika’s journey from being diagnosed with leukemia as a young adult to her recovery today; managing your emotions in excruciating situations; handling an ocean of uncertainty; feeding your need for creativity and productivity when your body is in mutiny mode; and the immense value of strategically going easy on yourself, especially when you’re an ambitious person. 

Where to find Suleika Jaouad online: 

Website: https://www.suleikajaouad.com/

Social Media:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/suleikajaouad
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuleikaJaouadPage
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suleikajaouad/

Book Mentioned: Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Life, Interrupted
• Frida Kahlo
• Virginia Woolf
• The Likeability Trap: How to Break Free and Succeed As You Are by Alicia Menendez
• Miguel de Cervantes 
• Pema Chodron
• Joseph Goldstein
• Isolation Journals
• 
  Additional Resources:

• Ten Percent Happier Live: https://meditatehappier.com/live
• Coronavirus Sanity Guide: https://www.meditatehappier.com/coronavirussanityguide
• Free App access for Frontline Workers: https://meditatehappier.com/care