author. speaker. motivator.
Affectionately known as "America's #1 Success Coach," Jack Canfield is the originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and a leading authority in the areas of self-esteem, achievement motivation, and peak performance. [www.jackcanfield.com]
political powerhouse. media mogul. author.
Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]
author. speaker. linchpin.
Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]
yogi. philanthropist. dynamic teacher.
Krishna Kaur is the founder of YOGA for Youth, a program that takes yoga, meditation, and stimulating discussions on the philosophy of yoga to urban youth. [www.yogaforyouth.org]
producer. philanthropist. tv legend.
Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]
race car driver. activist. carbon free girl.
Leilani Münter is a professional race car driver and an environmental activist who uses her voice in the number one spectator sport in America as a catalyst for change. [www.leilanimunter.com]
Freedom Fighter. Philanthropist. Game Changer.
By going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders, Kevin Bales exposed modern slavery's penetration into the global economy. He co-founded Free the Slaves, which has helped to liberate thousands of slaves. [www.freetheslaves.net]
mom. big dreamer. lady in red.
Sophie Chiche, lifebyme.com founder and curator, enjoys asking deep questions and living a life of meaning. Today she's launching Shape House, an urban sweat lodge, a place to melt away fears and fat. [www.shapehousela.com]
Writer. Entrepreneur. Daily Lover.
Entrepreneur and writer Mastin Kipp founded TheDailyLove.com, which merges pop culture with inspiration, and co-founded The Love Yourself Company, an apparel company that has started a global self-esteem movement. [www.TheDailyLove.com]
singer. musician. crier.
Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]
archbishop. author. peaceful leader.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is Chairman of The Elders, a group of world leaders who address some of the world's most pressing problems. He works energetically for human-rights and in his ministry. [www.tutu.org]
author. ceo. humanitarian.
Zainab Salbi is the founder and CEO of Women for Women International, a group dedicated to helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives. [www.womenforwomen.org]
speaker. psychotherapist. life embracer.
Despite his physical challenges, Sean Stephenson has taken a stand for a quality of life that has inspired millions of people around the world. He's a professional speaker, psychotherapist, and author. [www.timetostand.com]
yogi. meditator. teacher.
Kia Miller teaches Yoga at Yoga Works in Los Angeles, leads teacher trainings, and runs retreats and workshops on meditation, chakras, pranayam, and mantras, and other practices. [www.kiamiller.com]
creator. writer. idea geek.
Simon Mainwaring is an ex-Nike/Wieden creative, former Worldwide Creative Director at Motorola/Ogilvy, branding/advertising writer, author/speaker/blogger, Australian, idea geek. [www.simonmainwaring.com]
Strategist. Writer. Life Coach.
Shannon Bindler is a style editor, life coach, and the co-founder of Get Up Girl, an empowerment company that inspires women to shine. [www.getupgirl.com]
Designer. Art Director. Passionate Creator.
Grammy-nominated art director/designer/photographer Mathieu Bitton has designed over 450 CDs and movie posters. He's a renowned collector of and authority on black films and their soundtracks. [www.candytangerine.com]
Agent. Producer. Photography Enthusiast.
Opus Reps founder and agent-producer Jorge Perez travels the world producing photo shoots with great photographers and celebrities. He's also very involved with Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles. www.opusreps.com
striving
Danielle LaPorte
innovator. fire starter. napper.
Danielle LaPorte is an inspirational speaker, former think tank exec and business strategist. Over a million visitors have visited her site for her straight-up advice on spirituality. [www.daniellelaporte.com]
The question I’m living right now has to do with striving: when to strive, when to let go of striving, when life takes over and strives on our behalf, that point where we get the runner’s high. We only get that performance high by showing up, which is another form of striving. There are no shortcuts. Then there’s a time when we need to just let go, when we can’t control the results of our actions. I feel very called to show up fully, give it my best shot, then let life show me what’s next.
If I wake up in the morning and don’t feel so great, I get over it. I decide to rise. I tell fear to take a hike, I overcome the fatigue, and I do what needs to be done, because that’s what wholeness means that day. There are days when I feel tired and overbusy, yet excited. Then there are days when I feel tired and overbusy, but I’m resentful. On the resentful days, I take a nap.
Ignorance is bliss, of course. The reason it’s hard to live a life of consciousness and awareness is because it’s risky. In my experience, the greater the joy I feel, the deeper the pain I feel. I actually have less pain in my life now, but when I feel it, I feel it so much more deeply. That’s the nature of openness.
If I’m in pain, I don’t criticize myself for being in pain. I don’t think I’m a loser for being in pain. I don’t think I’m less-than because I hurt. It took me a long time to figure that out. If I’m in pain, I’m compassionate with myself. I give myself a heaping dose of self-love and change the way I think. I make different choices. I make some happier choices in my thoughts, which could be as simple as telling myself, “This too will pass.”
If you don’t feel like your life has direction or purpose, if you feel like you want more meaning in your life, then do something. Do anything. Any decision is better than no decision. Even if you tank, even if that decision leads to what you think is a failure, you’ll still be further ahead. You’ll have made new connections. You’ll know more about yourself.
– Danielle LaPorte
Explore More Meaning
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educator. director of funding + outreach. life changer.
Laurie Grossman co-founded Mindful Schools, a public/private partnership program (one of the largest in the country), sponsored by Park Day School in Oakland, California. [www.mindfulschools.org]
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Guitarist. Songwriter. Rhythm Rider.
Kamil Rustam is a French guitarist, composer, arranger, songwriter, producer, and a prolific musician. [www.kamilrustam.com]
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psychotherapist. hypnotherapist. veteran journalist.
Author and psychotherapist Jean Fain uses hypnosis and mindfulness to treat everyday eating issues. She has dedicated her work to helping others keep physically, emotionally, and mentally fit. [www.jeanfain.com]
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yogi. philanthropist. dynamic teacher.
Krishna Kaur is the founder of YOGA for Youth, a program that takes yoga, meditation, and stimulating discussions on the philosophy of yoga to urban youth. [www.yogaforyouth.org]
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yoga instructor. entrepreneur. latte-lovin' montana cowgirl.
Margaret Burns Vap is a yoga teacher and entrepreneur in Bozeman, Montana. She's a former city-girl fashionista transformed by yoga and motherhood into an outdoorsy Montana cowgirl who still loves a latte. [www.cowgirlyoga.com]
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brothers. entrepreneurs. healthy philanthropists.
Brothers Jeff and Jason Baietto founded Complete Balance, an online community of individuals dedicated to improving their own health and the health of the planet. [www.completebalance.com]
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non-profit philanthropist. delight seeker. curious cat.
Judi Goldfader is a philanthropy consultant, non-profit strategist, and development advisor with 30 years of professional commitment to social change and social justice. [www.goldfader.com]
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musical multi-tasker. quest seeker. early starter.
Todd Murray uses both sides of his brain. He's a professional singer/songwriter and a businessman. He's a documentarian, real-estate owner/manager, co-owner of gvbradio.com, dog lover ... and he cans pickles. [www.ToddMurray.com]
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