
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
play

Often, we seem to think that a meaningful life is a serious life. But play is a key component for keeping life in balance. When we play, we automatically disengage fear. I find that there’s no wrong way to play or pray and, in fact, they’re really the same thing. Play is that expression of innocence and curiosity we see in children, when everything is magical. When I engage in play, I’m involved with the core of who I am and who we all are.
Play is the delicious spice of life. We play when we savor color and taste and when we engage in the exquisite poetry of movement. To play is to celebrate life.
If we divide life into four quadrants — work, play, me, and others – play tends to be the one most easily ignored. When we do at least one activity in each of these quadrants every day, life takes on richness and fullness. Also, studies show that our brains engage more effectively when we play. Playing helps us bond with others and solve problems. It’s the opposite of the 21st century sin: rushing. We’re all so busily involved in rushing that we’ve stopped playing. A meaningful life is one we savor, and play helps us do that.
As much as I love to play, I do get caught up in deadlines and all the details of life. One of the things I do to get myself back on track is I give myself $50 every month just for play, for purely goofy play items and activities. The first time I did this I bought 17 pieces of bubble gum and chewed them all at the same time. I’ve bought a tiara and a feather boa. I bought a crazy dog lamp. I take myself to different places and play. I do things I loved to do as a child. I go to toy stores. Sometimes I take myself away and go on a trip, like skiing in Tahoe.
What I’ve discovered is that if I ignore the play quadrant, both my creativity and my income diminish. So when I feel blocked, I go play, and everything opens up again.
– Eli Davidson
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