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
every day
Zainab Salbi
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
The most meaningful thing for me is to live my truth. To know that I’m living what I value, I’m doing things I believe in, and I’m doing them now rather than waiting. And to know that if I die today, I would die a content and full woman.
Every night before I go to sleep, I ask myself, Where have I really lived my truth today? What issues still need to be taken to conclusion?
If I find that I’ve stopped living my truth, I ask myself questions: Did I exercise today? Did I take care of myself today? Did I hear music? Did I dance? Did I smile today? Did I show my gratitude to God today? When I was young, my mother told me the best prayer is to smile and to show gratitude to God.
I’m much less judgmental about myself at this point of my life. My biggest learning during the last year was something my teacher, Angeles Arrien, taught me: It’s good enough just to be. This is like practicing yoga: There are going to be days when I can do all the poses perfectly and days when I can’t. And there are going to be other days. Life is like a rollercoaster. Sometimes you’re up and sometimes you’re down. As my mother said, “As long as you enjoy the whole ride, you’re okay.”
Every day, I read a Rumi poem before I look at my Blackberry or anything else. That’s a gift I give myself. Hearing music or going dancing are also gifts I give myself, gifts I need to receive in order to keep going and to last longer. This helps me to set expectations for myself rather than reacting to others and ending up failing myself and failing others. I take care of myself so I can take care of others.
Every day, I say this to myself in the shower: It’s a good day to fly and it’s a good day to die, and I’ll be in my long tall body and my deep, deep roots ’cause I’m strong, soft, and settled. Every day is a good day to fly because the world is beautiful. How do I balance the deep, deep roots of my feminine side and the long, tall body of my masculine side? How do I learn today about where I have become strong and where I have become soft?
I wake up every day. I’ve been doing it for years. And if I die today, I will die a very content woman.
- Zainab Salbi
Your Turn
- What is ONE small action you can take right now to lower your stress (make a list of 3 incompletions, take three deep breaths, think of someone or something that makes you smile)?
- What is ONE small action you can take to increase your oxygen flow (jump three times, or touch your toes and touch the sky, clap your hands 6 times…)?
- What is ONE small action you can take to make you smile (read a joke in your emails, think of your dog or turtle, shoot a paper ball in your waste basket and give yourself a high 5…)?
Explore More Meaning
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advocating parent. identity reframer. lioness.
Shelly Christensen is a champion of people with disabilities who seek spiritual access. She helps sacred communities understand and be better at including children and adults with disabilities and their families. www.inclusioninnovations.com
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Producer. Entrepreneur. Idea Generator.
Donray Von is the CEO of Ready Set Go!, a producer of original content for film, television and online.
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skateboarder. artist. stirrer of the pot.
Mimi Knoop is a professional skateboarder and multi-media artist. She has won five X-Games medals in women’s vert and is a co-founder of The Alliance, a non-profit organization of female skateboarders. www.actionsportalliance.com
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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
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Author. Activist. “Skinny Bitch”.
Rory Freedman is a vegan, animal rights activist, Skinny Bitch, and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. www.roryfreedman.com
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father. entrepreneur. abc conceptualist.
Dmitri Leonov is an entrepreneur working to make the world a better place through technology at Sanebox.com. He spends his free time playing music and thinking about how to make the world a better place in general. www.leonov.org
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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
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new media publisher. social media strategist. mythic storyteller.
Kelly Holtzclaw is a writer, racer, and wine lover. He’s the founder of Facetious VSS, an interactive agency. He writes about marketing, mythic story, and film. www.kellyholtzclaw.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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