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
love
Marci Shimoff
author. consultant. no-reason lover.
Marci Shimoff is the best-selling author of six Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She’s one of the nation's leading experts on happiness, success, and the Law of Attraction. www.happyfornoreason.com
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to live a meaningful life. I’ve spent a lot of money attending seminars and a lot of hours doing practices to help me live my best life. And from all of that inquiry, I can summarize in one word what I’ve found to be most important: LOVE.
I know that’s not an original “AHA,” but ultimately this is what life boils down to: The whole purpose of being alive is to grow in the ability to give and receive love. Not a Hollywood or Hallmark kind of love, but unconditional love, love as a state of being, the essence of who we are – what I call “love for no reason.”
I’ve read many accounts of near-death experiences and most include a “life review.” Many people say that during this review, they were asked only two questions: How well did you learn your life lessons? And how much did you love?
It seems that love is our main job here on earth!
If love is our job description, then the most important thing we can do is find that ocean of love within us and take it out into the world – to ourselves, to our loved ones, to strangers we pass in the street, to everyone and everything.
Here are a few of the things I do on a daily basis to connect with that essence of love inside:
1. Take time for silence, through mediation, prayer, or walks in nature. I’ve been meditating since I was 16 and it helps me connect to the universal field of love within.
2. Move my body. When I get the energy flowing in my body, I feel more vital, alive, and loving.
3. Throughout the day I ask myself this question: What is the most loving thing I can do right now? The answer may be staying up late to finish a project, pampering myself with a bath, helping a friend, or saying no to a request.
4. Trust that this is a friendly, loving universe and that life is on my side. Einstein said that the most important question we can ask is whether this is a friendly universe. Believing that it is helps me welcome everything that happens, however challenging, as a gift to support myself in opening to love.
If How well did you love? is part of life’s final exam, maybe it’s a good idea to prepare now to answer that question well. I don’t think this is the kind of test we can cram for at the end!
- Marci Shimoff
Explore More Meaning
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angel of music. hypnotist. guide.
Daniela Torres-Mattus uses hypnosis, NLP, and her skills as an interviewer to empower people around the world. Her passion is guiding people to live extraordinary lives.
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Narrative Therapist. Question Asker. Listener.
Larry Zucker is a narrative therapist who believes in people's abilities to create – and find support for – many different and wonderful ways of showing up in relationships and community. www.larchmontassociates.com
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writer. activist. asker of questions.
Pat Thomas is a journalist, campaigner, and author specializing in health and environment. She’s the author of dozens of books for adults and children and creator of the interactive game Infrequently Asked Questions. www.iaqs.org.uk
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inventor. educator. artist.
Artist, musician, inventor, and educator Bob Bates is the Artistic Director of Inner-City Arts, an art space on Skid Row where at-risk children explore their creativity, learn, and grow. www.inner-cityarts.org
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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
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writer. traveler. unconventionalist.
Chris Guillebeau travels the world and writes for a small army of remarkable people on his website. His focus is on helping unconventional people do remarkable things. chrisguillebeau.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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publishing pioneer. novelist. dot aficionado.
William Gladstone is a bestselling novelist, a literary agent for exceptional authors, and a publishing pioneer. He contributed to the creation of the first print-on-demand book publishing company and the first eBook publishing company. http://12thebook.com
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