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
engagement
Bridget Pilloud
professional life shifter. intuitive advisor. authenticity aligner.
Creator of the Life-Shift series, Bridget Pilloud works with people all over the world to help them enact positive change in their personal and professional lives. [www.bridgetpilloud.com]
Engagement is a willingness to show up for life. The word engagement comes from a 15th Century French word meaning to pawn or to pledge. It’s putting your skin in the game. To me, engagement means committing to presence, committing to living this life no matter what I experience and being present with others no matter what we experience together.
From engagement and presence come co-creation, whether in a moment (with my barista in the morning) or through a lifetime (with my partner and my children), whether with God or friends or strangers. The act of co-creating a moment or a project teaches, informs, and expands us.
Although I come from a family of people who try to engage, my mother is not a natural engager. Growing up, I saw how that affected her life and knew it wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want to ever be afraid of experience. Many of the experiences I’ve had started out being frightening or uncomfortable, but turned out to be beautiful things.
I try to cultivate a sense of whether I’m engaging or not. When I’m not connecting, it’s not always obvious. It’s a slippery thing. Usually, I notice the symptoms: I’m watching too much TV or craving sugary snacks. Often, I’m acting on a child’s need to be comforted and I’m not engaging because I don’t want to feel something. So I ask myself questions like, “What am I afraid of feeling?” and “What feeling am I avoiding?” Then I stop and feel it. I don’t put a story to it or try to figure out the why of it. I just stop and feel the emotions coming forward.
The body is such a wonderful tool. As humans, we tend to be very cerebral. We tend to be way up in our heads. When we let our big, beautiful brains take a backseat and let our body or spirit drive a little more, or at least share the decision-making, our experience shifts. Our bodies allow us to engage. We can feel engagement in our bodies. There’s a physical reaction to it.
When I was thinking about the word engagement, I looked it up in the dictionary to get a better understanding of it. One of its meanings is to go into battle. So, when do we go into battle with life? How do you engage? How do you want to engage?
When I engage with life or myself or others, I commit to living this life. That commitment brings presence.
– Bridget Pilloud
Explore More Meaning
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writer. design spotter. brand strategist.
An expat living in Barcelona, Chauncey Zalkin is a writer, brand strategist, and the founder of What Women Make, a female design showcase and blog. [whatwomenmake.com]
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author. coach. acceptance sustainer.
Mike Robbins, author of two best-selling books, is also a highly sought-after speaker and coach, and a regular contributor to Oprah.com and the Huffington Post. [www.mike-robbins.com]
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soul-full musician. self seeker.
Ifé Sanchez Mora is a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter. Her latest album, "Fire Inside of Me," has received praise from NY Daily News, Billboard, and American Songwriter. [ifesanchezmora.com]
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publisher. contributor. FOUNDer.
Davy Rothbart, creator of Found Magazine, is an author, frequent contributor to the radio program This American Life, and the subject of a documentary released in 2011. [www.foundmagazine.com]
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revolutionary. miracle seeker. divine opportunist.
Leona is a spiritual gangster by birth, radical mentor by default, and evolving entrepreneur by surprise. She ardently believes that life is lived best with faith, gratitude, love, and courage. [www.leonamizrahi.com]
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greatness inspirer. show-n-tell survivor. self-follower.
Best-selling author and speaker David Irvine is one of the most respected voices in Canada on authentic leadership, accountability, and organizational culture. His focus is building trusting workplaces that attract and retain greatness. [www.davidirvine.com]
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sustainability advocate. entrepreneur. fosterer.
Ingrid Vanderveldt is an entrepreneur, TV personality, and passionate advocate of working with women to foster a more sustainable future. She consults with Fortune 500 companies on their WOMEN + GREEN initiatives. [http://ingridvanderveldt.com]
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melody maker. peanuts appreciator. energy seeker.
Gabe Morgan, music and business student at CSU Northridge, is a musician, songwriter, lyricist, and producer. He is a 2004 graduate of Teen Insight and our featured contributor for Giving Tuesday. [www.givingtuesday.org/partner-detail/insight-university]
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