Singer-songwriter Jewel learned what emotional pain was early in life—her mother abandoned the family when she was only 8, and she was raised by an abusive father until she finally left home at just 15 years old. Because of these tumultuous early life experiences, Jewel learned to cultivate mindfulness and mental health practices that have helped protect her happiness throughout her life. In this episode, Jewel tells Alex about learning to cope with her anxiety and panic attacks, and how prioritizing her mental health has guided the most important decisions in her career.
Learn more about Jewel’s #NotAloneChallenge here: https://www.inspiringchildren.org/notalone
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Full transcripts for all Imposters episodes available at https://imposters.morningbrew.com
00:35 - Intro
02:57 - Jewel’s upbringing
05:04 - When Jewel started to pursue an understanding of psychology and mental health
07:38 - The tools Jewel used early on to help her navigate emotional pain
10:02 - Jewel’s experience of being homeless
11:40 - How Jewel started to develop her own mindfulness practice
13:57 - What Jewel does to avoid panic attacks
15:51 - Jewel’s “dilation and contraction” method for understanding her triggers
20:28 - Jewel’s experience with fame
21:56 - The value that allows Jewel to never be compromised
23:39 - Why Jewel turned down a $1 million dollar signing bonus at the start of her career
26:00 - On quitting her music career after her second album
30:13 - The empowering way Jewel thinks about her anxiety
31:41 - Jewel’s painful experience of realizing that her own mother had betrayed her, and how she recovered
34:56 - Jewel’s advice for anyone feeling stuck in an unhappy situation
38:22 - Why Jewel decided to release her latest album after 7 years