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
meditation
Sharon Salzberg
meditation leader. author. buddhist.
Bestselling author Sharon Salzberg co-founded the Insight Meditation Society. She’s been a student of meditation since 1971 and has guided meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. www.SharonSalzberg.com
I have a strong conviction that meditation can be of benefit to everyone. One thing I’m passionate about is using very ordinary, everyday, accessible ways of speaking about meditation, so people can experiment to see if meditation could help them.
I usually encourage setting aside 20 minutes a day to meditate, if possible. If 20 minutes can’t be found on a certain day, then try five minutes. It’s the regular, daily practice that helps us remember we have a tool to use when we’re in a situation that’s challenging.
Maybe I’m at work and there’s a contentious meeting and tempers are starting to flare. If I’ve been practicing meditation, it can help me to remember to breathe before I say anything. It can help me return to myself and remember what I want out of this situation before I speak.
When I was first learning meditation, I’d hear about a practice, like breathing through the feet, and I’d think, “That’s stupid.” But then I’d try it and say, “Wow, this makes a difference.” That’s the key issue in taking on a meditation practice: It doesn’t work if we stand on the sidelines, discussing or admiring it. We have to actually start to experiment for ourselves.
In 1970, when I was 18 and a junior in college, I went to India. I’d been interested in learning meditation for a year or so. I had an intuition that it could really help me, but I had no idea how to learn about it in the U.S. The university I was going to had an independent study program – if I created a project they approved of, I could go anywhere. I proposed a project to go to India and study meditation. They said yes, and that’s how I got started.
Sometimes I don’t feel like meditating or I feel rebellious about it. My friend Joseph Goldstein told me about something he did which was very helpful. He resolved that he wouldn’t go to sleep at night until he’d at least gotten into a meditative posture. Well, that’s only a 30-second commitment. That’s getting into a place of returning to yourself every day, just coming back for a moment – and that’s the hardest part. I do believe the everydayness of meditation is most important – or at least as close to every day as possible, even if the meditation isn’t for a very long period of time.
One of the resolves I make for my meditation practice is to offer love and kindness to myself and others. I do this sometimes when I’m waiting in line, or waiting at the doctor’s office, or getting around in airplanes, on subways, or walking along the streets of New York. Times like that aren’t formal meditation periods, but they’re great opportunities for adding meditation to my life.
- Sharon Salzberg
Explore More Meaning
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author. lover. cheesecake enthusiast.
Author Judy Clement Wall recently finished her first book, a literary novel about love (and some other things). She also has a blog, Zebra Sounds. http://zebrasounds.net
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lupus awareness advocate. philanthropist. self improver.
Christina Tran is a proud spokesperson for the "Could I Have Lupus?" campaign and a passionate awareness advocate to organizations dedicated to researching, educating, and finding a cure for lupus. http://about.me/christina.tran
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promotional writer. personal supergirl. secret weapon.
Alexandra Franzen is a promotional writer and pro-active pimp who wrangles communications for pro-bloggers and helps entrepreneurs expand their empires--without the hassle of cloning. www.alexandrafranzen.com
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author. connection agent. change adventurer.
Author, speaker, and coach Kirk Nielsen founded OnenessOfUs.com to help women and especially men become aware and understand how we’re all connected to each other and our world. www.onenessofus.com
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granddaughter. continuous grower. self pusher.
Tahyira Savanna is a 24-year-old entrepreneur, talent manager, writer, blogger, dancer, and innovator. A Brooklyn native, she works every day to be a better person than she was the day before. www.allinayearstime.blogspot.com
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self acknowledger. dream reviver. bakery investor.
Nick Bassill is a serial entrepreneur, author, and the founder of Launch America!, a social networking, coaching, and advocacy site for start-ups and small businesses. Nick’s passion is helping men and women fulfill their American Dream. www.LaunchAmerica.org
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teacher. natural innovator. clementine artist.
Teacher, natural products innovator, and founder of Clementine Art, Diana Mercer works in pursuit of a world where all children are artists – even after they grow up. www.clementineart.com
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nut butter aficionado. ceo. green visionary.
Justin Gold, Founder and CEO of Justin’s Nut Butter, says he can’t live without his maple almond butter, snow covered mountains, or moments that make his heart race. www.justinsnutbutter.com
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