
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
fly!

I see unconsciousness in our society. That living “in the box” is what we’re supposed to do. Most children go to school, get herded together and moved through a system that wants them all to come out the same. Even though the teachers usually want so much more for their students, they often have to set aside what is best for the child, to do what is best for the system.
Fast-forward those children, who were encouraged to “fit in the box” through their younger years. You end up with a society of adults who get lost trying to fit in, do what’s right, play it safe, conform and not unleash their brightest light in the world.
I had grown up always feeling like there had to be something more. So, when I graduated college – refusing to go to one more “on campus” interview that required pantyhose and heels – I moved 3,000 miles to live on the beach in sunny San Diego. I think I scared my parents with my free spirit, but I had to FLY!
My search continued for years to find myself. I got lost along the way, and fell into the same traps most of our young students do. I got stuck in herd mentality and pursued other peoples’ dreams. I kept myself safe inside the “box,” and did what I thought I was supposed to do.
The journey ended up being extremely challenging and painful. It led to a failed business, nearly broken marriage, bankruptcy, and the complete destruction of my ego based concept of who I thought I was. Thank Goodness! Going through this allowed me to discover my own authentic truth, and the courage to do what was right for me. To do what was truly meaningful!
It was so difficult at times. All I could do was surrender and trust the journey. I couldn’t do anything other than that. So, surrender I did. I asked for guidance from my inner Self. I found deep joy in the challenge. I found a whole new way of serving my clients. As a result, my business grew exponentially, my message has reached tens of thousands of people around the world, and I wake up every day happy knowing that I am finally living a meaningful life of service and authentic success.
It’s time to get out of the box and fly!
– Christine Kloser


Explore More Meaning
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singer / songwriter. dream interpreter. angelic messenger.
Former Canadian pop star, KAYA, walked away from fame to pursue a deep inner spiritual calling. His profound angelic encounters and intensive dream work led to his emergence as an international spiritual teacher with his wife, Christiane. [www.kayadreams.com]
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soul teacher. passionate writer. proud introvert.
Tamisha Ford, MBA, is a strengths strategist, assertiveness coach, and guide. She is the Founder of Strong & Soulful Living, which helps people embrace their strengths and spirituality in a socially saturated and distracted culture. [www.tamishaford.com]
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appreciative son. moment cogitator. lesson learner.
Jeff Semigran is a senior at UC Berkeley studying environmental and civil engineering. He is an alumnus of the Teen Insight Seminars and Leadership series. This piece is part of the Insight University and Life By Me week of giving back. www.givingtuesday.org/insight-university
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