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
uncertainty
Pamela Beere Briggs
innovative home schooler. lifelong learner. possibility seeker.
Pamela Beere Briggs is a filmmaker, writer, and the mother of a happy teen. Her passions include good food, engaging books, and re-thinking the wisdom of middle school. [www.TwointheMiddle.com]
When we’re learning, we’re so much more open. There’s a freedom, a feeling of being able to change, of knowing we can make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. My central goal is to always be in that process of learning.
My husband teaches at the University of California in Los Angeles and his dean’s favorite piece of wisdom is “The gift is in the problem.”
When I’m learning and having fun, I’m aware that I’m learning. When I’m in the midst of a problem, I have to more actively remind myself that it’s a learning opportunity. I ask myself, What’s the learning opportunity or the gift in this problem?
In a wonderful little book I just read, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv talks about this family’s realization that they were feeling stressed out. They all sat down and made lists of the things they loved to do and the things they hated to do.
The son’s list really surprised the mom because it turned out he didn’t like soccer at all, though that’s what he’d been playing. What he liked to do was work in the backyard garden. They all realized that what they liked was being outside and going on long walks. So the parents cut down on their overtime at work and on some outside social engagements, and they started going on long walks as a family.
What if we pay attention to what makes us feel loving and lovable and do those things? It probably means not doing at least a few other things – maybe even a lot of other things – that we think we’re supposed to do.
Maybe finding balance is a matter of choosing between uncertain happiness and certain unhappiness. There’s a sense of security in certainty. Even if certainty is connected to unhappiness, people are probably likely to choose certainty because it feels safer.
There’s a little spice of uncertainty in every learning moment that makes it also exciting, even if also a little scary. Be excited about possibilities rather than afraid of them. There might be something incredibly beautiful or wonderful or happier or healthier just around the corner.
– Pamela Beere Briggs
Explore More Meaning
-
consciousness shifter. choice embracer. happy dancer.
As an intuitive guide, transformative healer, author, and creator of Soul Integration Therapy, Kate Bares-Johnson has developed a very real and powerful approach to life as a choice. [www.thecenterforwellbeing.com]
-
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]
-
high climber. responsible risker. philanthropist.
Alison Levine is a mountaineer, explorer, teacher, and founder of the Climb High Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of African women by training them to be local guides and porters. [www.alisonlevine.com]
-
cartoonist. creator. funny guy.
Cartoonist Dave Kellett previously worked as a writer and toy designer at Mattel Toys. He founded Sheldon Comics and is the creator of Sheldon cartoons. [www.sheldoncomics.com]
-
money demystifier. curious observer. legacy advisor.
Valery Satterwhite is a counselor, author, and speaker who champions those challenged with the paradox of privilege who want to live worthy, wealthy, and wise lives from the inside out. [www.WorthyWealthyWise.com]
-
natural manager. innovator. love tuner.
John Mackey, Chairman and CEO of Whole Foods Market, is a leading practitioner of empowerment management. He co-founded FLOW, a think tank focusing on "Liberating the Entrepreneurial Spirit for Good." [www.wholefoodsmarket.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]
-
mindful entrepreneur. present appreciator. business transformer.
Kenneth champions life-sustaining entrepreneurism. As The Clarity Guy he brings focus and simplicity to the grand notion that businesses big and small can and must transform the world. [www.veraclaritas.com]
- More
Comments