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
exploration
Eric Hiss
writer. explorer. risk-taker.
Eric Hiss navigates the world in search of unexpected, entertaining, off-the-beaten-path stories. He's written about everything from spas to pop bands. Eric also co-founded wandermelon.com. [www.wandermelon.com]
We’re all here exploring what’s meaningful. For me, that exploration is about different things at different times. Writing is what I do first and foremost, because it puts me in contact with so many different and interesting people and situations. Right now, I’m pushing the boundaries of my profession, exploring the realm of travel and developing travel experiences. But it all comes back to pushing my own boundaries and finding out new things about myself.
I’ve always been an explorer, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to be a better explorer and a bigger risk-taker. I’ve developed skills that have helped me get into different places and record them, whether with my pen, a camera, or just my eyes. When we become better explorers, we take more away from our experiences. I try to cultivate that learning.
It helps to be mindful and able to realize that when I or my explorations are off track I need to do something about it. Then I make that a priority. What works best for me is getting out in nature. Going for a hike or doing something a little more challenging – like sailing or going out into the desert – always helps me and brings me back. I find being in nature very settling. It gives me perspective. It reminds me that there’s a big matrix and I’m part of it.
It’s seems to me that if we’re willing to explore, to be honest and dig down, we see that it’s fear that keeps us from doing meaningful things in our lives. Maybe we don’t recognize it as fear at first. Maybe it’s the fear of achieving something or having a breakthrough, or getting closer to someone, or it could even be a physical fear. We develop little fears as we grow.
That’s why courage is so important. If we have courage, everything else follows. It takes courage to live an honest life, to do what we really want to do. It’s not easy to go against other people’s opinions, to say, “I’m going to take this job because it’s what I really love, even though it pays less,” or “I’m going to leave school before I finish my degree, to do something that’s more interesting to me,” or “Even though everyone thinks I should, I’m not going to marry this person, because it’s not the right fit for me.”
We make courageous decisions every time we explore. That’s how we get close to what’s meaningful.
– Eric Hiss
Explore More Meaning
-
lifestyle coach. psychotherapist. balancer.
Stacy Kaiser is a psychotherapist, lifestyle coach, author, and media personality with a reputation for bringing thoughtful and provocative insights to a wide range of topics. [www.stacykaiser.com]
-
public intellectual. social activist. provocative spiritual artist.
Center for World Spirituality co-founder Marc Gafni is a gentle and provocative spiritual artist and teacher, public intellectual, bestselling author, television personality, social activist and lover of people. [www.ievolve.org]
-
author. lover. cheesecake enthusiast.
Author Judy Clement Wall recently finished her first book, a literary novel about love (and some other things). She also has a blog, Zebra Sounds. [http://zebrasounds.net]
-
kombucha brewer. purity purveyor. devoted son.
GT Dave began bottling Kombucha after his mother successfully drank it during her battle with breast cancer. He's committed to bringing us the purest and most potent Kombucha available. [www.GTSkombucha.com]
-
author. depression overcomer. avid listener.
Evelyn Resh is a writer, sexuality counselor, and nurse-midwife. She does all she can to lead a life filled with laughter, pleasure, and generosity towards others. [www.evelynresh.com]
-
greatness inspirer. show-n-tell survivor. self-follower.
Best-selling author and speaker David Irvine is one of the most respected voices in Canada on authentic leadership, accountability, and organizational culture. His focus is building trusting workplaces that attract and retain greatness. [www.davidirvine.com]
-
spiritual experimenter. youthful heart. vet elevator.
Maryle Malloy is a conscious business leader, consultant, trainer, and motivational speaker who currently works to provide veterinarians with management techniques and marketing tools that support personal and organizational change. [www.dvm-marketplace.com]
-
floating doctor. kindness promoter. life grasper.
Dr. Benjamin LaBrot from California, USA is the founder and director of the non-profit Floating Doctors medical relief team. [www.floatingdoctors.com]
- More
Comments