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
mindfulness
Laurie Grossman
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
The present moment and appreciating this moment are the most meaningful parts of my life. Unfortunately, I haven’t spent most of my life in the present. I’m a Type A person who’s always planning and thinking about the future or the past. However, about 15 years ago I took a mindfulness class and was astonished by something the teacher asked each week: “How many of you practiced today?” and then “How many of you had a good day?” It was always the same people! So, you’d think I would have continued practicing after the class. I did not. But a seed was planted.
I’ve spent my life searching high and low for social justice and educational equity for low-income kids. Three years ago, I found some people who knew about mindfulness and asked them to launch a pilot program with me. I had an inkling that mindfulness could make a big impact on kids’ lives. Within 15 minutes of introducing kids to mindfulness, they told us that they wouldn’t fight anymore if they could do this every day. They told us they loved it and asked if it was real. I was thrilled.
The last three years of my life have been more effective than the previous 30 years combined. I’m the biggest beneficiary of the mindfulness program, because I began practicing every day. Over the first year, I noticed I was becoming a calmer, kinder, more gentle person. Now, I often catch myself as I say weird things and sometimes even avoid saying them all together! The knot in my stomach that came from too much work has disappeared, even though I do more work than ever. My reactions are more calm and I make better decisions.
Mindfulness slows down my days. I can now appreciate the little things. My family has even begun to email each other about the things we appreciate. I notice more birds, more aromas, more life. I pay more attention to what I’m doing. It’s actually fun to know I’m cutting vegetables instead of thinking of bills that need to be paid.
The trick to mindfulness is breathing. My breath is mine and is always with me, no matter what else is going on in my life. What a discovery! What a gift!
– Laurie Grossman
Explore More Meaning
-
pilot. search dog handler. grandmother.
A retired PE instructor, grandmother of four, and passionate flyer, Wilma Melville founded the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation to address a gap in our nation’s disaster response network. www.searchdogfoundation.org
-
Author. Conscious Capitalist. Father.
When not focused on parenting his daughter, Jeff Klein runs Working for Good, a conscious marketing and business development company. He's the author of Working for Good and recently produced the 2010 Catalyzing Conscious Capitalism Summit. www.workingforgood.com
-
practitioner. teacher. constellationista.
Teacher, practitioner, and family constellation facilitator Leah Matalon has practiced Process Acupressure, Craniosacral Therapy, SomatoEmotional Release, and Lymph Drainage Therapy for over 25 years. www.leahmatalon.com
-
Coach. Leader. Truth Teller.
Pioneering seminar leader and life coach Breck Costin encourages people to realize their personal, career, and spiritual aspirations. His couples-counseling practice, BCC Associates, is based in Los Angeles. www.bccfreedom.com
-
psychotherapist. author. age celebrator.
Sarah Brokaw is a licensed therapist specializing in relational dynamics. She’s an accomplished photographer, author, and philanthropist skilled at helping people individually and communally. www.myfortytude.com
-
broadcaster. event magician. communicator.
Robert Kiraz is the founder and CEO of Vokle, a revolutionary live broadcasting platform for hosting interactive events. www.vokle.com
-
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
-
animal lovers. life respecters. angels.
In 1996, Allen and Linda Anderson founded the Angel Animals Network (“Where Pets Are Family”), using the power of stories to increase love and respect for all life. www.angelanimals.net
- More
Today's Poll
What do you do to expand your consciousness?
Comments