
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
perfection

For a long time, I ignored my talents as an artist, not acknowledging my ability to create beautiful things. I ignored the gift that was constantly being presented to me. Instead I RSVP’d to the thoughts in my head that fed me spoonfuls of fear and doubt. I would constantly second guess myself. I needed others to stamp “approval” across my projects in order for me to believe in their worth. The thought of someone not liking what I presented translated to me as not being good enough to gain interest from others, leading me to believe that I wasn’t a true creative.
I knew that I was born to design but wasn’t sure how to capture my desire. I purchased an arsenal of New Age books, watched the Secret (twice) and subscribed to O Magazine to find some “a-ha moments” of my own. After many nights of turning pages and highlighting religiously, a thought nestled into my head and instructed me to meditate. I did what most of us do with the whispers…I ignored them. For about a year I continued to read articles on being awakened while I slept through my pain of not connecting with my true self. Then one day, my awakening process gradually began on its own. I began to feel uncomfortable in my own skin. I was getting tired of hearing the conversations between myself and my negative thoughts. I was finally ready to create!
Now I have started a meditation practice that is still being tweaked. Soon I’ll be at the point of not falling asleep while focusing on my breath. I also started yoga, and I’m attempting to consume a healthier diet. I understand now that creating is a sacred invitation from the Universe that allows me to sit with my true being. It provides me the opportunity to share an extension of myself with others. At this stage in my life, embarking on my true journey is where my attention lies. In the past, I chose to look at my life through rose-colored glasses that only revealed a distorted picture of contentment. What I know for sure is that I’m equipped with everything I need to guide me on my destined path. There’s no need to pick up lingering baggage to fill my imaginary voids. I am ready to take a selfish pause to focus on my creativity, nourish my soul and understand that everything doesn’t have to be perfect.
– Angela Mayhoe


Explore More Meaning
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possibility enthusiast. forward mover. creative renegade.
Using her psychology background and experiences in settings as diverse as jails, middle schools, and boardrooms Michelle Welsch founded Project Exponential, a series of curated networking experiences delighting people into personal growth. [www.projectexponential.com]
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