
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
magic

I am enchanted by magic. From my earliest days I have always expected magic to be my friend – whether it’s naturally occurring magic or the kind of magic I conjure up through choosing a new reality.
Sometimes magic just falls into my life and sometimes I consciously go looking for it … searching the freshly-rained sky for a rainbow … watching the hypnotic and graceful hovering of a hummingbird …. smelling the captivating fragrance of night-blooming jasmine …. reading words on a page so juicy they bring tears to my eyes …. noticing the orangey-red full moon rising on a summer’s night.
Magic can also be the simple synchronicities that make me smile while working. At least once a day I call someone who says to me, “I was just about to call you!” (Did I somehow intuitively know that or did their “about to call me” cause me to pick up the phone and dial?)
Every day I make my To-Do list and at the end of the day I realize I have not consciously gotten around to doing several of the items (especially the ones that seem like the most work!), yet inevitably, by forgetting about them some of them magically get done. It always surprises and delights me. It’s as if some unseen friend in the ether decides “Let’s make Arielle’s day a little easier and do this item for her.”
For the moments (or days) when I’ve lost my footing with magic, I rely on favorite quotes or phrases that gently return me home. Here are some of my soul-stirring favorites from A Course In Miracles:
“The only thing lacking in any situation is that which you are not giving.”
“In this moment I have everything that I need.”
“On this day where would you have me go? What would you have me do? What would you have me say and to whom?”
My access to magic seems to be closely related to surrender and trust. When I trust my inner knowing, magic abounds. And when I surrender my attachment to outcome, magic thrives.
Finally, I really, truly know that we live in a friendly Universe and that the worst things that have ever happened to me ultimately became the things I am most grateful for. And while I wouldn’t want to re-experience the pain of the past, I know now that everything really does happen for a reason.
– Arielle Ford


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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