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
transform
Rasanath Dasa
full-time monk. compassionate mentor. instrument of growth.
Rasanath Dasa went from being an investment banker on Wall Street to being a monk of the Bhakti tradition. He draws his spiritual wisdom from a wide range of personal experiences. [www.gitanyc.com]
When I was in my second year as an investment banker on Wall Street, I felt the calling to become a full-time monk. I quit banking and dedicated my life first to personal transformation and then to becoming an instrument for helping others with their own transformation.
The calling to become a monk started almost a year before I quit banking, but when faced with making such a drastic decision, I had to combat deep-rooted fears. A big component of that fear was about giving up a prestigious job to live a life with no money and no assurances. I had to get into touch with my own insignificance.
As I played out my fears and dreams, I began to see firsthand that money really doesn’t buy happiness. That realization didn’t come easily. I had to be very honest with myself about my motivations. My personal experience has been that insecurities come from unclean motivations disguised as clean ones.
When I was finally honest with myself, I could see things for what they were. Then I was able to work from a place of modesty and true grounding. Because I’d hit the ground, I could walk.
Feelings give us very strong clues to our underlying motivations. Once we can feel our true motivation things become very clear. I was fortunate to have a mentor with an open heart and delicate balance. In a caring and compassionate way, he guided me through my transformation, though he never told me what I should do.
Transformation is very personal. Our decisions need to come by choice, through our own realizations. Although no one can tell us what we need to do, a mentor can be crucial in helping us question our thoughts and feelings. When we open our hearts to a trustworthy person, we get to see our feelings outside of ourselves. When we speak our thoughts out loud, clarity sets in.
The love and compassion of a mentor can help us learn to accept things as they are. We learn to see the situation for what it is. Then we can be completely present in it without expecting to squeeze something out of it. That’s when we come out of a situation having learned more about ourselves. That’s when we truly transform.
– Rasanath Dasa
Explore More Meaning
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focused fashionista. go-getter. miracle creator.
Erin Norton is a director at JBrand Jeans, a leading Los Angeles based fashion brand. She is a friend enthusiast, appreciates a good glass of wine, and is slowly learning to love squats. [www.jbrandjeans.com]
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love doctor. story buster. enoughness spreader.
Relationship coach Mitch Newman provides individuals and couples with tools for staying in relationships longer than a holiday weekend. Side effects may include joy, gratitude, and an enlarged heart. [www.cardtherapy.com]
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digital humanitarian. why finder. frequent flyer.
Amy Jo Martin, founder and CEO of Digital Royalty and Digital Royalty University, teaches brands, corporations and individuals to how to measure and monetize their digital universe. [www.digitalroyaltyuniversity.com]
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author. living master. attractionist.
Bob Proctor is widely regarded as one of the living masters and teachers of The Law of Attraction. He's worked in the area of mind potential for over 40 years. [www.bobproctor.com]
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appreciative hairdresser. challenge survivor. silliness embracer.
Stephanie Carter has been a hairdresser for 23 years. She loves making others even more beautiful than they already are! [johnsbarbershoptx.com]
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professor. big medicine seeker. mystery inviter.
Louis G. Herman is the author of Future Primal: How Our Wilderness Origins Show Us the Way Forward, as well as a professor of political science at the University of HawaiiWest Oahu. [www.futureprimalbook.com]
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truth seeker. voice attendant. nurturing teacher.
Cheryl Bigus works with women who've neglected their well-being. She helps women regain vitality and hotness in their lives without punishing themselves through diets of deprivation or extreme workouts. [www.naturalvore.com]
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fitness expert. lifestyle changer. anti-aging guru.
Jeffry S. Life, M.D., Ph.D. is the bestselling author of THE LIFE PLAN and MASTERING THE LIFE PLAN. He is a Senior Partner at Cenegenics, the world’s largest age-management medicine practice. [www.drlife.com]
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