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
help others
Daniela Torres-Mattus
angel of music. hypnotist. guide.
Daniela Torres-Mattus uses hypnosis, NLP, and her skills as an interviewer to empower people around the world. Her passion is guiding people to live extraordinary lives.
I volunteer for the non-profit organization Musicians On Call, which brings the healing power of music to hospital patients’ bedsides. I guide musicians from room to room, ask patients if they’d like the musician to come in, and witness miracles in the process. People are so happy to have somebody singing for them that, in that moment, we all become more alive. I’m not a doctor, but that’s what I call healing.
The first time I volunteered was in a New York hospital for kids with cancer. The first child we played for was a little girl who was crying. Her mother had her in her arms and allowed us to come in the room. When the musician started playing guitar and singing, the little girl’s eyes stopped tearing and began to shine. There I was, a witness to a moving and heartbreaking scene.
“How can I not cry?” I thought. I realized I wouldn’t be much of a volunteer if I couldn’t contain my tears. All of a sudden I heard a voice in my head: “It’s not about you.”
In that moment, my focus shifted away from my thoughts of “poor me, it hurts to see this.” I got out of myself and focused on the people around me. It became so clear that when I’m in pain it’s because my focus is on the little scary world inside my head.
After that, every visit became a wonderful, non-judgmental experience. I was there for one reason: to bring music and joy to the patients, not to bring more sadness. I tapped into an amazing strength I never knew I had. Every week I looked forward to going to the hospital and getting my doses of energy that would last until I went again.
So, my advice is: when in pain, get out of yourself by helping others. Even a couple of hours here and there will do it. That will give you strength to take care of yourself, to keep centered and balanced. Focus on what really matters for you in your life and find the feelings that feel really good (or that feel real and good), so good that nothing else matters.
– Daniela Torres-Mattus
Your Turn
- Have you ever had an experience where helping others lead to you feeling better?
- If you are someone that does not like to ask for help, and you gain from helping others, do you ever wonder if others would gain from helping you?
- Do you sometimes find yourself helping others as a way to avoid what you know you need to focus on?
Explore More Meaning
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miss smartypants. situational editor. grace dweller.
Entrepreneur and advisor Courtney Nichols Gould is the co-founder/co-ceo of SmartyPants Vitamins. Their goal is to simplify health, putting it in the reach of more people more of the time. [www.smartypantsvitamins.com]
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goal accomplisher. finish line crosser. adrenaline junkie.
Jonathan Hippensteel is an Ironman triathlete, adventure traveler, part-time model and full-time banker. His passion is inspiring people primarily by what he does, but also by what he says. [www.linkedin.com/in/jonhipp]
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horse partner. contentment holder. inner critic silencer.
Angela Dunning founded Equine Reflections in 2007 to share her passion for learning life skills through interactions with horses. In addition she writes and dances the Argentine Tango. [www.equinereflections.co.uk]
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writer. actor. life enthusiast.
Matt Schweppe is an enthusiast of life. He writes, coaches, and acts. He founded Taking-A-Stand and he co-founded The Authentic Family Experience and The Inspired Leadership Institute. [www.mattschweppe.com]
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Writer. Linguist. Belly Laugher.
Sarah Samuel lives in a mouse-infested apartment in New York City with three best friends. She likes to draw comics, write, and talk about linguistics. Whatever the future has in store, she hopes it includes an exterminator.
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creativity facilitator. inspired dad. theater baby.
Kyle Hermans runs the West Coast division of Synecticsworld, a global innovation and creativity firm. He's deeply committed to releasing and enriching the creativity of others. [www.synecticsworld.com]
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pilot. search dog handler. grandmother.
A retired PE instructor, grandmother of four, and passionate flyer, Wilma Melville founded the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation to address a gap in our nation's disaster response network. [www.searchdogfoundation.org]
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shona tribe member. rooted achiever. happiness chooser.
Moleen Madziva was raised in Zimbabwe, in the village community of Macheke. Having witnessed her community sink further into poverty, she founded the Macheke Sustainability Project. She is studying for a PhD in Sustainability Education. [www.machekeproject.org]
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