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. TED-talker. no-bullsh**er.
Sophie Chiche, founder of lifebyme.com, is the single mom of an amazing 16-year-old, Leah, and wicked step-mom of 22-year-old, Sarah. They all live in LA. You can find them boxing, cooking, collaging, hosting brunches, laughing their head off or bickering over who’s washing and who’s drying the dishes.
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
faith
Dave Smiley
filmmaker. former prison psychologist. transformationalist.
Dr. Dave Smiley, a former prison psychologist, had an awakening at age 52. Retiring early, he went on to create the first transformational film about spirituality, the mind, and weight loss. http://TheInnerWeigh.com
In the ‘70s, I was intrigued by the role the shaman played in indigenous societies – going out into the spirit world and bringing back information to help their society. I see that as the role of the artist, too. What shamans and artists do is take from the spirit and manifest into reality. The creative experience – having a direct connection to that flow, that source where ideas come from – means a lot to me.
At times, I struggle, trying to figure things out using my intellect, but then there’s an opening, a synthesis, a reaching out into spirit and bringing forth into the real world. That’s what gets me going. Ultimately, what’s brought back is not only for my own gratification, but is also of service to those around me.
About three years ago, I was facing a situation of completely running out of money and being out on the street. I’d been up all night, sick with anxiety and fear, and finally reached out to a friend. She made a recommendation that turned out to be significant for me. She told me to sit down, breathe deeply, and say to myself, “I’m living in the Kingdom of God. I’m living in the Kingdom of God.”
I did that and after a few minutes a feeling of peace descended over me. I looked around and realized all of a sudden that the things I was so worried about were in the future. Who knew where I’d be in a month? Anything could happen. But right at that moment, I had everything I needed. I lived in a beautiful apartment. I had a bed. There was food in the refrigerator. I even had a hot tub. I was able to open up then and I started having all kinds of ideas.
Fears are only energy, a vibration we feel inside. If we become aware of that, we can sit back and transmute that energy, send it out into the universe and do something positive with it. I started seeing how I could do things I’d not even thought about before. Now, when I have difficult times, I know to sit and breathe.
I have a deep, abiding faith that we’re each here for a reason. The more I look for that reason in my own life – look for guidance about what I should be doing and follow that inspiration – the more graceful and beautiful my life becomes. God brought me here for a reason. If I let God guide me, I’m in heaven.
- Dave Smiley
Explore More Meaning
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belly dancer. nature lover. authenticity excavator.
Author Jacqui Lalita travels the world teaching and performing the ancient art of belly dancing. The moon, plants, and furry creatures of our world have been her greatest teachers. www.danceofthedivine.org
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web advisor. experience shaper. digital telepath.
Chuck Longanecker founded Digital Telepathy, which builds products that make the web easier to use. He’s advised web entrepreneurs and companies like Hard Rock, Mozilla, and MySpace. www.dtelepathy.com
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educator. youth leadership developer. playshopper.
Anna Krajec is the visionary behind IWE and the Green Valentines Festivals, which raise awareness about sustainable living and creating a bright future for our children. www.ImagineWisdomEducation-IWE.org
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higher self guide. spiritual integrator. dolphin whisperer.
Matthew Joyce is a spirit guide. He founded Higher Self Guides to remind people that divine spirituality isn’t just for mystics. It’s for you, too. www.higherselfguides.com
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high climber. responsible risker. philanthropist.
Alison Levine is a mountaineer, explorer, teacher, and founder of the Climb High Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of African women by training them to be local guides and porters. www.alisonlevine.com
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fisherman. tree surgeon. renaissance man.
John Schindler is a renaissance man. He served in the Army and he owned a natural foods grocery. He’s a master butcher, tree surgeon, chef, baker, fisherman, loving husband, and father.
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lifestyle and relationship expert. author. coffey talker.
As a lifestyle and relationship expert, Lissa Coffey combines her two passions – spirituality and media. She writes bestselling books and articles that inspire, educate, and entertain. www.coffeytalk.com
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learning expert. author. mental athlete.
Jim Kwik is the founder of Kwik Learning. He’s taught memory improvement, speed-reading, and accelerated learning skills for almost two decades, to learners from more than 60 nations. www.kwiklearning.com
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