Everyday Better with Leah Smart How to Survive Uncertainty with Suleika Jaouad
Jun 10, 2025
Suleika Jaouad, a bestselling author and cancer survivor, shares her journey of facing the return of leukemia after years of remission. She reveals how journaling became her lifeline, reshaping her perspective to live each day as if it were her first. Discussing the emotional weight of illness, she highlights creativity's role in reclaiming joy and navigating grief. Suleika candidly explores the power of love and community during uncertain times while offering insights on embracing vulnerability and manifesting hope.
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Hospital Isolation Reshapes Identity
- Suleika Jaouad spent six weeks isolated in the hospital feeling depressed and disconnected from her peers and identity.
- She realized her self-worth had been tied to productivity and had to rethink what's truly important to her.
Creativity Is Universal & Innate
- Creativity is inherent in all aspects of life, from work to relationships and cooking.
- Children access creativity naturally; adults lose this freedom due to self-consciousness and fear of judgment.
100-Day Journaling Saved Life
- Suleika began a 100-day creative project of daily journaling while recovering in the hospital.
- This practice helped her reconnect to creativity and formed the basis of her career and deeper self-connection.
