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
vitality
Sean Stephenson
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]
The most meaningful thing for me is my health. I grew up in a physical container that’s caused me a lot of pain and grief. I was born with a rare bone disorder that fractured my bones more than 200 times by the time I was 18.
When I was 19, I got tired of hearing from the medical community that I had to accept my pain and health problems as the way my life was and would always be. Instead, I took matters into my own hands. I radically changed my diet. I started exercising and lifting weights. And I changed my mindset about my body – I started believing that mentality creates reality.
I’m in phenomenal shape now. In the 11 years since that shift, I haven’t broken any bones. I got rid of horrible acne and back pain. I’ve also written four books, worked in the White House, and filmed a fitness video with Miss Fitness Universe, called No Excuses. My TV show, 3 Foot Giant, aired on A&E’s Biography channel. And I’m now completing my PhD in clinical hypnosis.
What’s helped me stay engaged with what’s most meaningful to me is setting myself up to win by putting myself in an environment where I have no choice but to win. I got my family to agree not to bring me foods that don’t support my body. I set up a home gym in my bedroom and joined a gym at my office. I got a bunch of friends to agree to work out with me. I hired trainers. I did everything I could to make it so that when I woke up I knew exercise and eating healthy food was going to happen. I set things up so it became a habit. Then the habit became a ritual. Now it’s part of who I am.
My life is meaningful because I decided that everything stems from my vitality. If I don’t have it, I’m no good to the other things in my life, like my family, friends, spiritual connection, love life, or career. Rather than following a path of taking a lot of pain medication, withering away, and dying prematurely, which is what often happens to people with my condition, I decided to go a different route. I intuitively felt there was another, better way. There was.
– Sean Stephenson
Your Turn
- What are three self-care habits (sleep, nutrition, exercise…) you'd like to improve?
- Are there negative thoughts about yourself (I'm not good enough, I’ll never succeed, I'm not worth it...) that you may be repeating inside your head?
- Are there commitments you've made but haven’t completed? How could you complete them or let them go?
Explore More Meaning
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writer's shepherd. meaning beacon. surreal stepmama.
Grace Kerina founded The Writer's Shepherd to help people find their own words and bring their unique wisdom into the open. Her goal is to eliminate writer's block from the planet. [www.the-writers-shepherd.com]
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pediatrician. author. parent's best friend.
Dr. Harvey Karp is a pediatrician, child development specialist, and best-selling author. He's taught thousands of parents his secrets for making parents and children happy. [www.happiestbaby.com]
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writer. speaker. transformational communicator.
Christen Brown is a writer, speaker, and international leader in transformational communications. She is the founder of On Camera and YES World Wide. [www.yesworldwide.com]
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vegan chef. author. king of yummy.
Tal Ronnen is a chef, cookbook author, and teacher. He started the Veg Advantage program, which helps food-service operators integrate vegetarian options into their daily operations. [www.talronnen.com]
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actress. book dweller. literature cheerleader.
Lauren is the Founder and Program Director of Reading Opens Minds (ROM), an organization that brings the Book Club experience across Los Angeles. A graduate of Juilliard, Lauren has appeared on numerous stages and television shows. [www.ReadingOpensMinds.org]
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surfer. survivor. patience practicer.
After a life changing accident left him a quadriplegic, Jesse Billauer founded the non-profit foundation Life Rolls On. Jesse's passion is to inspire people to look at their lives in a more thoughtful and thankful way. [www.jessebillauer.com]
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yogi. truth pursuer. no bs'er.
Claudia Azula Altucher is an ardent student and teacher of yoga, meditation, and philosophy. She has travelled the world in search of truth only to realize that it can only be found within. [www.claudiayoga.com]
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animal lovers. life respecters. angels.
In 1996, Allen and Linda Anderson founded the Angel Animals Network ("Where Pets Are Family"), using the power of stories to increase love and respect for all life. [www.angelanimals.net]
- More
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