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
flourishing
Lisa Cypers Kamen
spiritual psychologist. philanthropist. happiness harvester.
Lisa Cypers Kamen is a happiness expert whose blend of positive and spiritual psychology coaching, workshops, and philanthropic projects cultivates well-being in private and public audiences around the world. [www.HarvestingHappiness.com]
The turning point that ignited a fire in my heart and mind was returning to graduate school in mid-life to study spiritual psychology. Through my studies, I returned home to myself, knowing that sustainable happiness and the ability to flourish – regardless of external circumstances – reside within me by choice.
When the recession hit, my formerly abundant life was challenged by economic disaster, the mental and physical illness of a close family member, divorce, and multiple foreclosures. Life as I and my children had known it was gone in an instant. That was my golden opportunity to walk my positive spiritual psychology talk, to lead by example and demonstrate that happiness is an inside job.
In my work with returning military personnel and their families who are challenged by combat trauma and other post-deployment reintegration issues, each encounter with them grants me meaningful conversations about courage, valor, patriotism, honor, and discipline. They also express the fear, sadness, grief, and depression that often define the invisible wounds of war. This reminds me of the tenderness of the human spirit present within us all.
Often, we limit ourselves with old stories and irrational beliefs that actually have nothing to do with what’s going on here and now. We believe everything we think, which prevents us from leading more meaningful lives. As a way of provoking contemplation and empowerment, I often ask people to define their way of choosing to show up for life.
We’re never 100 percent on-point 100 percent of the time. Being imperfectly perfect offers us the opportunity to transform and grow at any time. Over the years, I’ve cultivated powerful tools – a strong meditation and yoga practice combined with mindful mountain hiking – which serve as my mood-smoothers, enabling me to refocus whenever I’m not centered.
What’s most meaningful to me, besides my family, is having found my voice – flourishing every day by living out loud with passion, purpose, place, and meaning.
– Lisa Cypers Kamen
Explore More Meaning
-
non-profit philanthropist. insightful thinker. thanks giver.
Judi Goldfader is a philanthropy consultant and non-profit strategist, currently serving as Vice President Development of Insight University and Insight Seminars. www.givingtuesday.org/insight-university
-
author. speaker. barefoot runner.
Through his books, lectures, and worldwide coaching, bestselling co-author Michael Sandler helps people reconnect with the earth, their inner child, and the joy and health of being alive. [www.RunBare.com]
-
life author. real mother. unique sparkler.
Miki DeVivo is a mom, story wrangler, still space finder, and bridge builder. She's passionate about building a community of moms who give voice to what's in their hearts. [www.thestillspace.com]
-
Writer. Philanthropist. Community Transformer.
Brian Center has worked on the issues of violence prevention and strengthening families from many angles. He's the Executive Director of A Better LA. [www.abetterla.org]
-
happiness connector. thought shifter. soul communicator.
Technically speaking, Christina Rasmussen is a Grief Counselor she prefers to call herself a Strategist for Life After Loss. She crusades to change the way we cope with grief, devastation, and longing. [www.secondfirsts.com]
-
Over the past seven years, this service project has taught the basics of Spiritual Psychology to over 1,400 inmates at the Valley State Prison for Women.
-
author. columnist. creative strategist.
Ayn Carrillo Gailey is a published author and creative strategist who uses words to power ideas, companies, and movements. [www.ayngailey.com]
-
mentor. future brightener. serial optimist.
Dan Bassill connects youth to a brighter future. He's the founder and CEO of Cabrini Connections, a one-on-one tutoring and mentoring program serving students living in Chicago's public housing. [www.cabriniconnections.net]
- More
Comments