
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
found

Honoring and loving ourselves and understanding the relationship we have with life is ultimately our connection to meaning. This approach of living life didn’t come to the forefront until I realized that whatever I long for or envision begins with me. The turning point came when I could no longer hide or ignore the events unfolding in my life.
For a while, I lived inauthentically, trying to fit in, knowing all along that I needed to embrace my uniqueness. I kept ending up in the same scenarios. I attracted and selected relationships that weren’t good fits for me and were way beyond what I could afford on a mental, physical, spiritual, and financial level. In every area of my life, there was a pattern of disconnection – of things being almost, but not quite.
Through a series of events that created loss and pain, I noticed that I wasn’t getting the results I wanted. I finally recognized those scenarios as prompts to define my worth and myself, to re-ignite my flame and live a meaningful life. I was able to get back on track, to find my voice and myself.
When we don’t realize our own power or value in this world, when we allow others to make decisions for us, to control us or determine our value, we end up miserable and in a state of denial.
It helps to be present. I allow myself to be fully tuned in to each moment of my life. Even during the lulls and valleys of my life, I just sit with them and let them move through me. I notice how I feel in that particular moment. If there’s something I need to say or do, I say it or do it. I speak and live my truth.
Making connections with others and living my life on purpose and by design is most meaningful to me. There’s always work to do. On myself. In my relationships. In life.
– Cecelia Fresh
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