In the United States alone, approximately 133 million Americans struggle with incurable chronic diseases. Considering how painful and oftentimes disabling some of these chronic conditions can be, it’s no surprise that people living with chronic illnesses are two to three times more likely than the general population to suffer from depression. But important research suggests that happiness and chronic illness are actually pretty connected. While some people experience happiness in spite of illness, others actually experience happiness by way of their illness. In this episode, we talk to former Sopranos actress Jamie Lynn Sigler. Though living with MS, this certainly isn’t what defines her. Jamie shares how she finally chose to be more vocal about this disease, cracking herself wide open to give herself the gift of empathy and joy. From Jamie, we learn the importance of asking for help, confronting our innermost vulnerabilities and grief, accepting that some things in life are beyond our control and understanding that being dealt a bad hand can sometimes help us come to realize that life isn’t determined by the cards we’re dealt, but how we play the hand.

To purchase your own THINGS ARE LOOKING UP Optimism Deck of Cards please visit ThingsAreLookingUp.co

For more BTS footage of this episode and any others follow @drdeepikachopra + @allthingsarelookingup

Guest Details: @jamielynnsigler

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.