Jack Canfield 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]

Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington 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]

Seth Godin

Seth Godin author. speaker. linchpin.

Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]

Krishna Kaur

Krishna Kaur 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]

Norman Lear

Norman Lear 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]

Leilani Münter

Leilani Münter 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]

Kevin Bales

Kevin Bales 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]

Sophie Chiche

Sophie Chiche 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]

Mastin Kipp

Mastin Kipp 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]

Liz Phair

Liz Phair singer. musician. crier.

Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]

Desmond Tutu

Desmond Tutu 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]

Zainab Salbi

Zainab Salbi 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]

Sean Stephenson

Sean Stephenson 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]

Kia Miller

Kia Miller 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]

Simon Mainwaring

Simon Mainwaring 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]

Shannon Bindler

Shannon Bindler 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]

Mathieu Bitton

Mathieu Bitton 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]

Jorge Perez

Jorge Perez 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

unlearning

Claudia Pornaro blogger. mother. possibility creator.

Claudia Pornaro is a mother, blogger, writer, and creator of amazing possibilities now that she knows what she want to be when she grows up. [www.facebook.com/claudiapornaro]

Looking back, you could say that I checked my identity at the door when I made the sudden, bold decision to leave my very well-paying corporate position to become a stay-at-home mom after I had my first child.

I could say that it was right after 9/11 and I wouldn’t return to the airline-industry I was leaving, or that I wouldn’t have been very successful at balancing my job and motherhood, given that I was a workaholic who put in long hours and often traveled internationally for weeks on end.

I like to say I traded my past life for a wonderful journey in unlearning.

I unlearned needing to be someone else or anyone else. I need to be myself, no matter what.

I unlearned thinking that everything I did needed to be perfect or that I needed to live up to a certain made-up ideal. I only need to be me, and that IS perfection.

I unlearned being ashamed about nearing forty and still not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up. I needed to be anywhere else than where I was. I need to enjoy the moment, even if there’s a crayon-drawn picture on my wall or spilled milk on the floor.

Now I can teach my two wonderful teachers – my children – how to stay true to the beautiful nature they arrived with. That’s what I dedicate my life to.

I teach them the power of the words they use.

I teach them that not fitting in might mean they’re being exactly who they need to be, and if they stick to it they’ll find their circle of friends.

I teach them the importance of finding friends who are fun to be with, friends who keep them wanting to forever improve themselves, friends who inspire.

I teach them the power of one, the power of giving back. I find volunteer opportunities suitable for young children, so we can give back together.

Unlearning means identifying where the cloak of labels I wear every day begins and ends. Unlearning has meant shedding some of those layers. Unlearning has meant discovering the fascinating one who’s here, quietly beneath it all.

– Claudia Pornaro

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Your Turn

Is there a role you play that you’d like to shift toward something that’s more like the real you?
What’s your favorite role in your current life?
How could you have more fun in your favorite role?

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Lucia de Garcia multicultural leader. laureate poet. inspirational transformer.
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