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
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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goddess. writer. guide.
Goddess Leonie is the creator of GoddessGuidebook.com, a popular creativity + spirituality website for women. [www.goddessguidebook.com]
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beauty seer. abundance recognizer. world inheritor.
Life By Me is partnering with Insight University to bring you a week of giving thanks and giving back in support of Giving Tuesday. Eldrick, Maggie, and Ben are now young adult graduates of Teen Insight. [www.givingtuesday.org/insight-university]
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Author. Motivational Speaker. Life Savorer.
Eli Davidson is a motivational speaker, internationally best-selling author, and executive coach who helps individuals and organizations re-kindle the zeal that fuels success. [www.elidavidson.com]
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aquatic healer. youth encourager. fear slayer.
Professional life coach and visionary Dave Towe is the founder and executive director of Wave Academy. He's committed to serving wounded worriers those returning from war diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. [www.waveacademy.org]
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survivor. fitness motivator. serenity manifester.
In 2000, Jenna Phillips survived a head trauma accident and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She motivates and inspires people through Mission Possible, her health and fitness company. [www.jennaphillips.com]
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television journalist. author. chief correspondent.
Jim Moret is a veteran television journalist, author, and attorney who's currently Chief Correspondent for Inside Edition and a CNN contributor. [www.jimmoret.com]
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spiritual psychologist. philanthropist. happiness harvester.
Lisa Cypers Kamen is a happiness expert whose blend of positive and spiritual psychology coaching, workshops, and philanthropic projects cultivates well-being in private and public audiences around the world. [www.HarvestingHappiness.com]
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teacher. vibrational catalyst. emissary of love.
Panache Desai is an old friend you asked a long time ago to remind you at this very moment of your brilliance, perfection, and connection to limitless potential. [www.panachedesai.com]
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