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
true love
Susan Chapman
devout writer. outdoor meditator. lover of life.
As an adopted person, Susan Chapman believes anyone can be her family. She explores and communicates this dynamic philosophy through her personal relationships and her work as a writer and Primordial Sound Meditation instructor. [www.themagicproject.com]
When I was very young, I’d sit by a brook and listen for God. I grew up in a rural area where there was a lot of space and nature. The brook was in the woods near my house. I’d sit in silence and listen for God, or the Universe, to speak to me through nature.
Today, I love animals, the Earth, and nature as much as I love people. I continue to evolve spiritually by spending time with myself. By knowing myself, my spiritual connection to life and to those around me expands. When we have true love and understanding of ourselves, it radiates out, allowing us to have true love and understanding for others.
When we deepen our spiritual connection, we begin to understand our specific purpose in life. We gain appreciation for why we’re on this planet. There are so many ways to connect and grow spiritually. I do it through yoga, meditation, and writing.
One of the most important things we can do is find and pursue a practice that really resonates with our spiritual self. Recently, I was at a yoga retreat on a golf resort. One early morning, I noticed a golfer dashing to his golf game with his bag over his shoulder. He seemed very excited. I thought to myself, Golfing is his yoga.
My suggestion to someone unsure of their spiritual path is to find a quiet space and contemplate these questions: As a child, what did you enjoy doing the most? What do you do now that makes time fly, and would you do it whether you got paid or not?
I remember trying to write at an early age, teaching myself to write out the alphabet and to form words, then learning how to write stories. Now, I write for a living, but I also do it because I love it. Even when I’m not writing to earn a living, I’m writing something.
The things that delight us as children are sparks from the Universe saying, Pursue this. What continues to delight us as adults are our true callings. They tell us what we really need to do with our lives. Allow yourself time to think about the things you love. Make a list. Pursue those things.
When we truly love and understand ourselves, we love our lives. When we love our own lives, we extend that love to others.
– Susan Chapman
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positivity purveyor. soul broadcaster. light-worker.
Marie Manning, known affectionately as "Twinkle" by many friends and colleagues, founded TV for Your Soul to bring positive messages of hope and community-stewardship, and empowerment to the world. [www.TVforYourSoul.com]
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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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lover. performer. card shark.
Tiffany Michelle broke records at the World Series of Poker for largest field ever conquered by a female in live tournament history. She also competed as part of the only female team on the fifteenth season of The Amazing Race. [www.tiffanymichelle.com]
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silent protesters. photographers. NOH8ers.
Celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley founded the NOH8 Campaign, a photographic silent protest in direct response to the passage of Proposition 8 in California. [www.noh8campaign.com]
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Singer. Musician. Soulful Songstress.
Stephanie Parodi is a gifted singer, songwriter, and musician who writes soulful music from the heart. She puts words to feelings that we can all relate to. [www.lifebeyondlimits.com]
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digital guru. buddhist. wonder seeker.
Nova Spivack is a technology futurist, serial Internet entrepreneur, and one of the leading voices on the next generation of searching, social media, and the Web. [www.novaspivack.com]
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jewelry artist. yogini. goddess.
Author, teacher, jewelry artist, and Yogini Laura Amazzone teaches goddess classes and workshops and is adjunct faculty at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. [www.lauraamazzone.com]
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musician. songwriter. joy sharer.
Singer and songwriter Jason Mraz uses his voice to raise our spirits and his fame to raise awareness for charities, including the Free the Slaves organization. [www.JasonMraz.com]
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