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
bali bliss
Arielle Ford
Arielle Ford is a leader in the personal growth and contemporary spirituality movement. She’s been living, teaching, and promoting consciousness through many forms of media.
When The Soul Mate Secret came out and my married friends asked me, “How do I turn my mate into my soul mate?” I started examining my relationship with my husband and how we’ve managed to make it work so well. I realized we’ve been practicing Wabi Sabi.
Wabi-Sabi is an ancient Japanese aesthetic honoring all things old, worn, weathered, imperfect, and impermanent. It seeks to find beauty and perfection in imperfection. In relationships, we learn to love the imperfections in ourselves and in our mates.
People have been brainwashed by society to seek perfection in every area of life. We know that’s impossible. When we’re seeking perfection in ourselves and our mates, we’re constantly upset, disappointed, frustrated, and unhappy. If we can learn to love people for exactly who they are, life becomes easier, simpler, and a lot more fun.
I used to be a real perfectionist, always trying to get into perfect shape. I ran, worked out, lifted weights, measured every piece of food, and measured myself. I had a goal one year of what perfection would look like: I’d wake up one morning and weigh exactly 125 pounds, have the exact measurements I wanted, and all ten fingernails would be the same length.
When I woke up one morning and had reached that goal, after about three minutes glee I realized I wasn’t any happier than the day before. I’d spent an entire year chasing something ridiculous. I saw that it wasn’t really perfection I sought, but love, understanding, and connection. That realization shifted my entire life and freed me to start really enjoying it.
At the ends of our lives, we aren’t going to miss perfection. We’re going to miss all the crazy, quirky things we beat ourselves up for. That’s what people love most about us: our quirkiness. It’s so much better to be able to say to somebody, “You know, I just love that you can’t eat without dropping food all over yourself. I find that so adorable!”
Accepting ourselves and others for exactly who we are helps us relax. It’s a way of removing stress. Last year, we went to Bali and I ended up having healing work done every day, until I got to an incredibly deep level of relaxation I’m not sure I’ve ever been to before. Since then, I’ve made a conscious decision to notice when I’m stressed out and do something about it. My goal for this year is to maintain that sense of Bali Bliss.
– Arielle Ford
Explore More Meaning
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surfer. fashion designer. marine life crusader.
Lisa Burke is a surfer, marine life activist, and fashion designer who founded the swimwear line Lisa Blue. Lisa Blue donates 25% of its net profits to helping protect whales and dolphins. [www.lisablue.com.au]
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philosopher. author. integral theorist.
Ken Wilber is a philosopher, mystic, author, and the originator of Integral Theory, in which the insights of mysticism, science, and systems theory come together to form a coherent picture of the Kosmos. [www.kenwilber.com]
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bestselling writer. comedic caregiver. ambulette driver.
Bestselling author Jane Heller's romantic comedy novels entertain readers around the world. Her latest book is nonfiction. You'd Better Not Die or I'll Kill You: A Caregiver's Survival Guide to Keeping You in Good Health and Good Spirits. [www.janeheller.com]
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fearless lady. radio inspirer. challenge acceptor.
Fenesha Hubbard helps women use their innate intuitive abilities to create profound changes in their lives. Find her teaching Kemetic Yoga, facilitating group learning sessions, and serving up fuel for your mind and soul on her radio show. [fenesha.com]
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supporter. nature whisperer. weather survivor.
Judy Hill is a Supportive Life Therapist, Wellness Coach, and CEO of Redwolf Coaching and Consulting. She mentors creative consciousness with compassionate insight, guiding people toward external resolutions through their internal contributions. [www.redwolfcg.com]
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juxtaposer. course corrector. chicken soup maker.
Alan Cohen loves to extract lessons from the practical experiences of daily living and find beauty in the seeming mundane. He's an inspirational leader, author, and contributor for the Chicken Soup series. [www.alancohen.com]
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Artist. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ambassador.
Mileece I'anson is a multi-disciplined sonic artist and hydrogen fuel cell ambassador. She designs installations that enable human interaction with plants and other elements and organisms in our galaxy. [www.soniferousearth.com]
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playful educator. success redefiner. guy next door.
Philip Maher has travelled to more than 80 countries, working in some of the harshest environments as a communications professional and photographer. He asks one question in his work: How do we get people to care? [www.philipmaher.ca]
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