How to Find Creativity and Purpose in the Face of Adversity | Suleika Jaouad | TED

How can you find strength during life's most difficult moments? Author Suleika Jaouad's experience detailed in the documentary "American Symphony," an intimate portrait of her life as she grapples with illness, is a testament to finding a pathway to healing through artistic expression. In this sweeping conversation with TED's Susan Zimmerman, Jaouad reveals how following curiosity can lead to inspiration - even when it feels like there is none to be found.
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[@sgarrita2561]

Thank you for this. “Opening myself to whatever feels good” at a time when “complete surrender” and “trust that something will come out of it”….”becomes a process of finding purpose out of that pain” Makes me feel validated about what I have been going through and that I will come out the other side. It’s so hard, scary, and unsettling to have your life be in limbo and not knowing where you will land.

[@nerd26373]

Finding creativity and purpose in the modern world is as difficult as finding gold and copper amidst the rubbles of the aftermath of war.

[@rsm014]

Hope you continue to find healing in your journey 🙏

[@lakshmiprabha2404]

❤

[@TheRevieWeek]

It's been really nice following TED.

[@melissazwieg2988]

🌹🌹🌹

[@timkiemdautu]

the video is great. Thank you❤

[@raedefrane5505]

Now that you have experience as a chronically ill person, do you still advocate for masking to protect others? Many of us will never be cured.

[@LocustaVampa]

We're gonna need Affordable Housing and a Mandatory Minimum Income.

[@RAZR_Channel]

Usually I like Ted speakers... but in this case I have never seen someone use So MANY Words to say absolutely ... Nothing....

[@DuckieMcduck]

I think she mistook this TED talk for a higher level interview or something and went ham. It's way harder to stomach than other talks on length alone and then she speaks like that too on top lol

[@TheLoneComic]

So the reason this video really didn’t get legs is firstly because of all the bow taking and booty kissing from the top. Secondly, they’re simply wrong. Creativity isn’t found in the face of adversity. Creativity exists because of adversity. It’s an instinct. More specifically, creativity is the fourth instinct. After the first three survival instincts: fight, flight and procreate comes create. This higher tier survival instinct (if you’ve read Csicszentmihalyi and it took) is the primary tool of human invention. Human invention is peak discovery process -our highest human cognitive function. You find such peaks when the worst is at hand - danger, imminent demise… do or die things. Not in ‘Aren’t we chic, bursting with elan, scintillatingly beautiful and culturally evolved’ kow-tow-athons. You find it when creativity has done it’s job - it’s original job evolutionarily; living to tell the tale of what you just survived. Something that almost took your life, and intelligence failed because it doesn’t have the 10X power of thoughts in time creatively has. These advocates for mediocrity have only preserved elitist institutional perceptions about the construct of adversity and creativity. They don’t want to see the link between creation and the bias of survival which is life or death. They’re fooled into believing soft, round pastoral shot making is filmic storytelling because they can’t accept the most creative thing humans do is war and vie for power with all the war methods they can create. They like baking. Because rubbing one out thinking of a statuette can’t be done on the proving ground of survival; history itself. I had to comment in shame of the ignorance this view proposes. Risk is what civilization does. It’s the only way to rewards. When humanity evolves past war, drama is going to be in real trouble- and these gentile platitudes may gave significance when a couple centuries without war have passed. Communities like this and their values is why film, and most storytelling forms are either dead or on franchise motivated life support.

[@Stivla]

Summarized with Chatbot Quintfox on ChatGPT 4 :) How to Find Creativity and Purpose in the Face of Adversity Suleika Jaouad's TED talk delves into her poignant journey through cancer and how she leveraged creativity and writing as means to navigate the tumultuous waters of illness and recovery. Through the lens of her documentary "American Symphony" and her initiatives like the "Isolation Journals," Jaouad explores the profound impact of facing mortality on creativity, relationships, and finding purpose amidst life's most challenging moments. Key Takeaways: 🎨 Embracing Creativity During Adversity - Jaouad highlights how creativity becomes a sanctuary during times of intense personal struggle, allowing for an expressive outlet and a form of healing. This was evidenced by her venture into watercolor painting during her hospital stay, an activity that provided solace and a way to process her experiences. - Example: Despite the challenges of chemotherapy, Jaouad found comfort and expression through painting, transforming her hospital room into a makeshift studio. 📝 The Power of Journaling and Community - The creation of the "Isolation Journals" served as a communal space for people to connect, share, and find solace through writing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative underscores the significance of journaling not just as a personal practice but as a means to foster community and collective healing. - Example: The "Isolation Journals" attracted over 150,000 members, offering daily prompts that inspired diverse forms of creative expression. 💞 Relationships and Shared Creativity - Through her relationship with Jon Batiste, Jaouad demonstrates how shared creative endeavors can strengthen bonds, especially in the face of life-threatening illness. Their exchange of lullabies and paintings became a unique language of love and support. - Example: Jon Batiste composed daily lullabies for Jaouad, offering comfort and connection despite the physical separation imposed by her treatment. 🛣 Finding Purpose Through Pain - Jaouad's journey-from her initial cancer diagnosis at 22, through her column "Life, Interrupted," to her nationwide road trip-reveals how adversity can be a catalyst for finding one's voice, purpose, and the power of storytelling to transform personal tragedy into an avenue for connection and understanding. - Example: The "Life, Interrupted" column and Jaouad's memoir, "Between Two Kingdoms," illustrate how sharing her story helped others navigate their own struggles. Conclusion: Suleika Jaouad's narrative is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, showcasing how creativity, purpose, and community can emerge from the depths of despair. Her experiences illuminate the transformative power of storytelling, the importance of nurturing connections, and the courage to face life's adversities head-on, all while embracing the full spectrum of human emotion. Through her work, Jaouad invites us to find beauty in our battles and to remember that even in our most isolated moments, we are never truly alone.

[@amberk5948]

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[@lwobhtiwnam]

ch 30 by @manwithbowl

[@tyagishivani]

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[@dm20422]

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