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
forgiving
Heide Banks
relationship expert. author. partnership rep.
Heide Banks is a nationally recognized relationship expert, a bestselling author, and a TV personality. She’s the official representative to the United Nations for The Center for Partnership Studies. www.heidebanks.com
My life is about forgiveness. In the work I’ve done with myself and others over the last 20 years, I’ve found that unless we really understand forgiveness and are willing to do it, our lives are half-lived.
Life is a series of experiences. Some of them leave us wounded or less than whole. We’re told that time heals all wounds, but it doesn’t. It buries the wounds in our subconscious. Then we try to start a new business or create deeper intimacy in our relationships or be a better parent – whatever journey we’re on at the time – and we wonder why it’s not successful, why we don’t feel all the joy and fulfillment we know is possible. It’s because the places where we lack forgiveness hold us back.
We mistakenly think that if we’ve been wounded in love it only affects our love life. Since he broke your heart, you’re not going to get into another intimate relationship. Yet in your career, you’re only getting so far. I’ve seen over and over again that when people forgive in one area of their life, like love, other areas, like career, jump ahead. They go from being happy enough to being fulfilled in a much greater way. There’s a new sense of ease and grace. It’s because they’ve freed themselves from a load of judgment and that old weight lifts from every part of their life.
The other thing I really care about is redefining forgiveness. In my experience, forgiveness is a process, an intention. Once we start out to forgive, what often happens is that a lot of anger and rage surfaces. There’s a part inside that’s so in need of loving at that moment. That’s where the real work in forgiveness starts, in looking inside at the wounded places and loving the parts that hurt.
Once we start to do that, we reach a state of neutrality or equanimity. Then we can approach whoever or whatever is bothering us. Until we get to that place, we blame them rather than taking the gift of the wound, which is the ability to heal and love ourselves.
Often, we don’t enter into forgiveness because when we look at what’s hurting us or where we’re in judgment, we create a memory of lost possibilities. Having the courage to look at lost possibilities is not easy. But rather than hold our hearts hard to what might have been, when we look and forgive we heal our whole lives.
So love like you’ve never been hurt before. Forgive. And live.
- Heide Banks
Explore More Meaning
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Author. Motivational Speaker. Life Savorer.
Eli Davidson is a motivational speaker, internationally best-selling author, and executive coach who helps individuals and organizations re-kindle the zeal that fuels success. www.elidavidson.com
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teacher. scholar. spiritual evolutionary.
Craig Hamilton, founder of Integral Enlightenment, is a pioneer in the emerging field of evolutionary spirituality. He’s a participant in the Synthesis Dialogues, a think tank presided over by the Dalai Lama. www.integralenlightenment.com
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holistic helper. working mama. constant questioner.
Tara Hantske is a Board-Certified Holistic Health Counselor, a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and Team Northrup, and, most importantly, a mom. She helps people, especially moms, create health and balance. www.tarahantskewellness.com
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meaning sharers. next-step seekers. creative scribblers.
We’re a diverse group of coaches, journalists, idea-developers, artists, bloggers, strategists, moms, and dads. We love the idea of being in a world where you are living a meaningful life. Your way. Every day. www.lifebyme.com
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personal lifestyle guide. author. style statement detector.
Carrie created Style Statement, an intimate process of self-revelation and empowerment, explored through her book and in one-on-one sessions. www.stylestatement.com
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coach. trainer. time warrior.
Steve Chandler is a corporate trainer, business coach, and co-founder of the World Mastermind network, Club Fearless. He is the best-selling author of Time Warrior. www.stevechandler.com
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blogger. photographer. joyful spirit.
Jaclyn Welsh is a blogger, photographer, and marketer who strives to walk through life with kindness in her words, joy in her spirit, and peace in her heart. http://polkadotteapot.wordpress.com
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neurotransmitter. sound innovator. yummy hummer.
Sound visionary and author Alex Theory draws upon extensive training in psychology, integrative medicine, and psychoacoustic music production to innovate new styles of music and media. www.unifyearth.com
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