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
life whirls
Steve Chandler
coach. trainer. time warrior.
Steve Chandler is a corporate trainer, business coach, and co-founder of the World Mastermind network, Club Fearless. He is the best-selling author of Time Warrior. www.stevechandler.com
Meaning is what my mind plays with when my body has nothing to do. I find I can add meaning and significance to anything and then just as quickly subtract it!
Each time it’s a naming game in my mind. And in no case is any “true” meaning established for me beyond the naming game.
So, how to stay engaged? Friedrich Nietzsche once observed that “Man is the only animal who has to be encouraged to live.” I’ve needed that encouragement myself in past days and suicidal nights gone by.
And one day I no longer needed it. Those days and nights were gone for good and the blue was back in the sky. The long dreary linear life was over and I saw how short this vertical uprising called living could be! I mean it was already over! Who needs to be encouraged to sustain something that’s already over?
And in that same spirit, were I to find myself needing “help to stay engaged” in this life I would know it’s time to call the hotline once again.
It’s only when my mind is contaminated with beliefs that I try to add meaning to things. But that activity is always (as the Zen masters say) like adding legs to a snake. Like painting a rose with red paint.
The great mythologist Joseph Campbell was once asked by an up and coming writer what Campbell would recommend as a cure for writer’s block. “Cut off your head” said Campbell.
In other words, write from the heart, live from the heart. We are always and already totally engaged. We breathe in from life and breathe out to life and this mutual giving keeps us engaged.
Charlie Manson thought there was secret meaning in the Beatles’ White Album, especially in the song “Helter Skelter.” People have insisted to me that when Jesus says, in the Bible, that some men, if they behave certain ways, are better off at the bottom of the ocean with a millstone around their necks, there is a subtle symbolic “meaning” there that I might be missing. Something more spiritually elegant than “I’d like to drown those mofos.”
Only the mind that believes the darkest of superstitions can talk the body into feeling disengaged from this whirling life. So if I believe I need a method that helps me to stay engaged, I am like Nietzsche’s man who needs to be encouraged to stay alive.
That’s not for me anymore.
I like staying alive in the same way the Bee Gees like stayin’ alive. With the same level of meaning.
- Steve Chandler
Your Turn
- When things around you get hairy, what’s a new habit you could develop to re-center, recharge, regroup?
- What are some more possible habits to keep you engaged? (Our list: dance, laugh, ask for a compliment, nap…)
- How can you make it easy to remember your new habits? (A reminder on your keychain or your fridge door…)
Explore More Meaning
-
business expert. arbiter of style. smarty pants.
Small business expert Amy Swift has helped launch thousands of businesses and ideas. She founded Smarty to give entrepreneurs authentic space to partner and grow. www.smartypeople.com
-
author. spiritual transformer. teacher.
Jonathan Parker is an author and spiritual counselor with more than 30 years of experience teaching energy healing and enlightenment. He founded Quantum Quests International, Inc. www.JonathanParker.org
-
interactive marketer. pr strategist. awareness harnesser.
Interactive marketing and online PR strategist Jennifer Sall works with companies of all sizes to leverage the immediacy of the Web to build brand awareness and revenue. www.unionxunion.com
-
entrepreneur. author. philosophical adventurer.
Mike Dooley, a former PriceWaterhouseCoopers international tax consultant, is an entrepreneur, inspirational author, and founder of a philosophical Internet Adventurer’s Club with more than 350,000 members. www.tut.com
-
milkshaker. pr maven. difference maker.
Pamela Caffray’s background is in trending, forecasting, PR, and event planning. She co-founded Milkshake to join her love of discovery and sourcing with her passion for giving back and helping others. http://getmilkshake.com
-
actor. mixed media artist. traveling eye.
Actor and artist Cutter Cutshaw mixes the profane with the elegant. His mixed media approach combines original photography with digital and organic brushwork, transforming chaos into sensual portrayals. www.cutterartandphoto.com
-
design overseer. president and cco. solver.
As President and Chief Creative Officer for Kate Spade New York, Deborah Lloyd oversees all creative aspects of the Kate and Jack Spade brands, from design to public relations. www.katespade.com
-
athlete marketer. avid sports fan. family man.
Sam Freedman has a passion for sports. He works in Athlete Marketing at Fritz Martin Management, a boutique sports marketing agency. At 22, he has his dream job. And, yes, his family is very proud. http://fritzmartin.com/
- More
Today's Poll
Are you doing more of what you want to do or what you “should” do?
Comments