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
embrace
Karly Randolph Pitman
teacher. connector. embracer.
Karly Randolph Pitman is the creator of a therapy – growing human(kind)ness – that fosters healing from eating disorders, overeating, food addictions, and suffering from weight and body image. www.karlyrandolphpitman.com
We all have “stuff” – stumbling blocks, painful habits, and skewed attempts at self-preservation. It’s part of this crazy gig called life.
My stuff is food and weight pain. I’ve ridden every ride in this particular amusement park. I’ve been a sugar addict, an overeater, a bulimic, a binger, a neurotic food cop, a chronic dieter, a starver, and a woman obsessed with the size of her butt.
If you’re like me and nearly every human being I know, you may have spent considerable energy burying your stuff, hiding from it, indulging in it, despairing over it, avoiding it, shaming it, blaming it.
None of these tactics bring peace.
We don’t heal our stuff by running, resisting, or fixing. We heal our stuff by turning towards it, by shining the light of compassion on all our dark spots.
When you do this – when you invite your pain in – it will blow your life wide open.
I know this is hard. We look at our stuff and believe what it says about us – that we’re unworthy, flawed, broken, hopeless, helpless.
It takes courage and a bit of audacity to examine all the evidence and say, “No. That is not who I am. I will not define myself by my stuck points.” It takes mercy (an open heart) to see past our habitual patterns to the kindness there – to see our intention to soothe life’s pain, even if on the surface it’s very, very messy.
We practice bravery when we resist the pull to run – or indulge – and instead stay. We practice humility when we embrace our very human neediness as something precious, tender, and valuable rather than something shameful. We practice grace when we hold our human neediness lightly and see beyond to the divinity underneath.
From this perspective, our stuff is not a punishment, but a gift designed to wake us up. It’s how we reconnect with our trustworthiness. It’s how we soften our identity of brokenness. It’s also the pathway to change – it loosens the habits that bind us.
Our stuff is the way to freedom. It’s how we come home. Fundamentally, it’s a journey through – and towards – love.
- Karly Randolph Pitman
Explore More Meaning
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granddaughter. continuous grower. self pusher.
Tahyira Savanna is a 24-year-old entrepreneur, talent manager, writer, blogger, dancer, and innovator. A Brooklyn native, she works every day to be a better person than she was the day before. www.allinayearstime.blogspot.com
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author. artist. awakener.
Mark Griffin is the founder of the Hard Light Center of Awakening, Fire Mountain Retreat, and the Third Millennium Awakening. He’s also a prolific author and artist. www.markgriffin.info
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author speaker. free body. energy woman.
Tarnie Fulloon is an author, international speaker, workshop leader, and the creator of BodyFreedom. She specializes in awakening body intelligence and the feminine energy system in women. bodyfreedom.com
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balancer. humanity embracer. women protector.
Buddhist Monk Lama Tenzin founded Children’s Education and Development International, providing homes, education, and health care for destitute Himalayan children.
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grounded flyer. northrup team member. self-truster.
Kate Northrup created early financial freedom and spent 2011 exploring and teaching financial, emotional, and spiritual freedom. She co-created Team Northrup, a league of wellness entrepreneurs aligned with the work of her mother, Dr. Christiane Northrup. www.teamnorthrup.com
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Musician. Photographer. Fan-tastical Writer.
Spencer Miller Tweedy, 14-year-old musician, photographer, and blogger of fan-tastical exploits, performs regularly with his band The Blisters and has played the drums at Madison Square Garden. www.spencertweedy.com
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author. theatre kid. laughing backpacker.
Poet, actress, and activist Judy Prescott lives in Los Angeles, where she works in film and television. She’s the author of a just-released collection of poetry and art. www.judyprescott.com
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chairman. media mogul. nicher.
Jason Binn is the Founder and Chairman of Niche Media, one of the largest networks of exclusive, city-specific custom publishing companies in the country. www.nichemediallc.com
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