
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]

Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]

Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]

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]

Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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
quiet

Sometimes the music in my head gets really loud. I’ve been experiencing a lot of important transitions in my life recently. I just turned 30, and my mom’s been diagnosed with cancer. My friends remind me to take a breath and turn the internal music down a little. I don’t know where I’d be without my friends and family.
When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, they can either beat the odds or transition. Entertaining that thought has been the earthquake in my life. Now every conversation I have with my mom or every interaction I have with a friend or family member about her is different from before. I have a lens on of “Wow, this really is meaningful, because who knows if this will be the last time we’re talking about her on this plane.” Being aware to this extent can be a burden, but with my friends and family I’m able to keep a level head and feel supported and not alone.
I feel like the situation I’m in is like going to school and getting a PhD in mathematics. You learn all the equations, pass all the tests, and now you’re ready to go out in the world and be a scientist. I’ve been afforded a luxurious awareness of how things work for me morally, but now I’ve got my scientist suit on and I’ve got my first job of applying what I’ve learned to a real-life situation. All those great quotes I’ve read, interactions with spiritual advisors, and meaningful conversations now need to be put to work. Applying concepts to our own actual lives can be the biggest challenge.
Mentally checking out in a state of bliss – that’s what I call quiet. When I need to get quiet or find my pure state of bliss, I get in my car and turn the music on. Yes, I can find quiet even while driving a car with the radio blaring. Typically, in that space, I receive from myself everything I need – beautiful thoughts or gentle reminders of something I already know. Most recently, people have been popping into my head out of the blue. When I think of someone, I pick up the phone, send an email, or shoot off a text. Nine times out of ten, I get a response like “Oh my God, I was just talking about you” or “That’s so funny. I just had a dream about you.”
No one is really ever alone. Are you aware enough to accept that and create the support and comfort you need while navigating through this life?
– Andrew DiPalma


Explore More Meaning
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narrative multitasker. life saver. creative activist.
James Lecesne has been telling stories for over 25 years, though acting, writing, and teaching. He's one of the creators of The Trevor Project, an organization focused on suicide prevention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. [www.thetrevorproject.org]
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