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
letting go
Rama Hughes
illustrator. roughhousing dad. unhurried achiever.
Two truths and a lie about Rama Hughes: He dropped out of school to work on a farm. About 15 years before they met, he described his wife accurately in a letter. He wrestled bear cubs while working as a zookeeper. [www.ramahughes.com]
I always thought I’d be a really great dad, but parenting is a lot harder than I realized. I may want to be great, but there’s a good chance I’m going to blow it. The most important thing is that I’m present for my children. When I stop trying so hard, I can relax and enjoy the moment.
I don’t worry about being great at things any more. I don’t need to be the best artist, or the best teacher. I want to be good and dependable, but I don’t want my whole identity to be caught up in trying to be amazing. I’m learning how to just be myself.
When I’m stressed, everything around me starts to move fast. My thoughts are consumed by what needs to get done. Since I have more control over my physical body than my mind, as soon as I notice the stress I start to move my physical body really, really slowly. I tell myself to slow down, to write slower, walk slower, type slower. In doing this, I slow down my breath and my mind. Then I’m able to focus on one thing at a time.
Everything is better when I’m just where I am. Everything is harder when I’m trying to do two things at once. On resumes, people often brag about being great multitaskers, but if we aren’t here in the present moment, then in a very real way we aren’t here at all.
My happiest times are when I’m with my family and not thinking about other things. I’d rather be with them than anywhere else, yet often when I’m with them I’m thinking about all the other things I need to do. Being present doesn’t come naturally to me. It’s something I continually work on. The more I think about it, the more I want it. The more I want it, the easier it becomes.
The other day I was playing with my son and my daughter. We were roughhousing and laughing together. About 45 minutes passed before my adult brain finally asked how much time had gone by. Then I realized I hadn’t thought of anything else that whole time. I’d only been me being happy with my children. Those experiences are still rare, but when I can achieve them and just be in the moment, it’s beautiful. That’s all I need. I don’t need anything else.
– Rama Hughes
Explore More Meaning
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horse partner. contentment holder. inner critic silencer.
Angela Dunning founded Equine Reflections in 2007 to share her passion for learning life skills through interactions with horses. In addition she writes and dances the Argentine Tango. [www.equinereflections.co.uk]
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heartfelt activist. truth detective. passionate space-seeker.
Bryant McGill is an internationally renowned author, essayist, speaker, and activist in the fields of self-development, personal freedom, and human rights. [www.bryantmcgill.com/vor]
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Writer. Linguist. Belly Laugher.
Sarah Samuel lives in a mouse-infested apartment in New York City with three best friends. She likes to draw comics, write, and talk about linguistics. Whatever the future has in store, she hopes it includes an exterminator.
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spiritual connector. yogi philanthropist. magic carpet rider.
Brian Hyman teaches donation-based yoga classes at Strand Street Yoga in Santa Monica, and 12-Step Yoga at various Los Angeles facilities. He's writing a book about his path to wellness. [www.brianhymanyoga.com]
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community stretcher. flexible mama. simple doer.
Liz Eustace is a total yoga dawg who's savored hundreds of yoga classes throughout North America. She's a certified yoga teacher and the CEO and founder of an online community connecting people to yoga. [www.alignyo.com]
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kin collaborator. judgement dropper. purity seeker.
Kern Konwiser is a writer, director, and producer who, along with his brother, has collaborated with the industry's most influential artists to create award-winning features in different media. [www.konwiserbros.com]
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matriarch. compromise advocate. wise daughter.
Yvonne Mariko Martin is an accomplished educator in the field of adult education and special needs. She advocates for and gives voice to those who have yet to learn to speak for themselves.
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speaker. author. parental philosopher.
Mike Riera, PhD, speaks and writes on the topic of understanding teenagers and children. [www.mikeriera.com]
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