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
awareness
Tara Stiles
yoga expert. author. couch yogi.
Tara Stiles is reinventing yoga practice, proving you don't need to call yourself a "yoga person" to make it part of your life. She founded Strala Yoga and is Deepak Chopra’s personal yoga instructor. www.tarastiles.com
What’s meaningful to me is living consciously, being aware of how I am in the world, how I interact with other people, and how I treat myself on a day-to-day basis. That’s meaningful to me because when I live with conscious awareness, life becomes more exciting, I feel more connected, and I feel like I’m able to be of more use in the world.
When I have a series of moments when I feel connected with that awareness, it feels so good. Then if there’s a disconnection, if fears or insecurities rise to the surface, or if I’m tired, I notice it. What brings the connection back is simply taking a moment to focus on my breath rather than my thinking, because thinking gets in the way of tapping into awareness. With awareness, I see that everything is as it should be. The trick is to have enough awareness to notice when I’ve moved away from the connection. Once I become aware that I’m not where I want to be, I start to be more proactive about the situation.
Awareness feels like something I’ve had for a while. I was around nature so much when I was growing up in the country on a little farm in Illinois. In nature, it’s so much easier to make a connection and to be aware. Even though I didn’t know what I was doing at the time, I used to meditate as a kid. I’d sit and follow my breath for a long time. I’d also dance around in the forest and do poses I found out later are related to meditation practice. I felt good. I was aware of the world and my own creativity, and I knew that everybody has something very unique and special to give. I remember being really excited about life and how everybody is unique and everybody is essential to the world.
Even though it’s nice to surround myself with people who are doing similar things, like meditating, it’s also interesting to be around somebody who’s not, who’s living a more distracted life or going through a hard time. The contrast makes me remember times in my life when I was unconnected, and then I smile and find a connection with myself and with them. Everybody is inspiring, whether they’re enlightened or not.
When I connect with awareness, I’m excited to be alive.
- Tara Stiles
Explore More Meaning
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author. worker. inquirer.
Bestselling author, Byron Katie, has one job: to teach people how to stop suffering. When Katie appears, lives change. www.thework.com
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storyteller. question asker. catalyst.
Antonio Neves is an award-winning broadcast journalist and the founder of THINQACTION, where he coaches young professionals to transform potential into performance. www.thinqaction.com
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belly dancer. nature lover. authenticity excavator.
Author Jacqui Lalita travels the world teaching and performing the ancient art of belly dancing. The moon, plants, and furry creatures of our world have been her greatest teachers. www.danceofthedivine.org
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artist. designer. heart threader.
Artist, designer, and manufacturer Scott Wilson is the founder and CEO of HeartThreads, a clothing line designed to inspire from the inside out. http://heartthreadsclothing.com
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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
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story weaver. mystery buff. bull follower.
Author Kent Nerburn holds a PhD in religion and art. His most recent work completes a trilogy filled with spiritual and inspirational stories. His books have been Minnesota Book Award winners. www.kentnerburn.com
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leadership consultant. business coach. proud redhead.
Dr. Zara Larsen is a change leadership consultant and business coach. Her weekly radio show encourages us to create our own path by walking on it. www.thelarsengroup.com
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musician. dad. digital renaissance man.
Mike Meeker is a father, musician, yogi, surfer, and digital renaissance man. His mission is to inspire his audience as he finds creative ways to affect the quality of the day. www.mikemeeker.com
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Today's Poll
Are you doing more of what you want to do or what you “should” do?
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