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
devotion
Georgia Gwynne-Gruber
rapper. screenwriter. devotee.
Georgia Gwynne-Gruber was a rapper/singer in the rock band Weapons before arriving in Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. Her science fiction trilogy Darklight is presently in development.
I was 21 years old when I was sentenced to nine months in prison for a small recreational drug offense. Less than a year earlier, I’d graduated from Oxford University with a law degree. The irony didn’t escape me.
That seemingly “small” offense changed my entire life. The former Georgia died. Inside prison, she reached a point, inside herself, where the entire human situation seemed pointless. It was a moment of profoundest despair – the space Zen Masters call serenity, the space that must be felt before spiritual practice can truly begin. In that moment, when my fear, sorrow, guilt, remorse, and anger burst their bubble, I was transported to a space where tears of laughter overwhelmed my being until the peace of surrender outshined all the shadows.
It was years later, when I met my Spiritual Teacher Adi Da Samraj, that I realized I’d been given the gift of positive disillusionment. I’d reached a place where I knew in my heart that a conventional life would not be enough to bring me happiness. For true happiness, there had to be realization, and for the realization of happiness to be ultimate instead of fleeting, I would need to learn the art, science, and love that is devotion.
The practice of devotion may be difficult, but the rewards are immeasurable: devotion to serving others, devotion to happiness (not merely seeking happiness, but practicing being happy, regardless of what arises), devotion to spiritual practice, devotion to creativity, devotion to family, devotion to loving when it’s most difficult.
During eight years of globe-trotting as a freelance journalist, and later as a TV producer for an international travel show, I filmed and spent time with spiritual teachers. From those experiences and the ten years I’ve spent in relationship to my own guru, Adi Da Samraj, the thing that stands out about these enlightened teachers is that their happiness, intelligence, wisdom, and ability to positively affect others comes from a deep place of unwavering devotion.
The secret of devotion seems to be a heart willing to surrender to The Great Mystery. When I remember to feel and breathe the Mystery and to be the Mystery, I’m happy, and all kinds of more-than-wonderful events occur. And when I feel happy, I’m in a much better position to help and love others. To be happy and to love … what greater joy is there?
– Georgia Gwynne Gruber
Explore More Meaning
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archer. demon confronter. life re-arranger.
Ambi Sitham began her career as a lawyer and went onto become a coach, author, commentator and television personality. [www.ambisitham.com]
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clean water champion. pro surfer. global changer.
Jon Rose founded the non-profit organization Waves for Water, which works with world leaders and strategic partners to provide clean water to communities in need around the world. [www.wavesforwater.org]
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unique individual. differences encourager. life magician.
Katie McClain coaches moms and their boys to dispel thought-fueled angst and create radical self-acceptance. She finds home with her family and dogs, by creating magic with clients, and on visits to Paris. [www.katiemcclain.com]
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world citizen. conversation seeker. enthusiasm retainer.
Todd Gailun is an entrepreneur building neurotechnologies. He's curator of the seminal TEDx at the Rubin Museum on Spirituality and The Hero's Journey. He also explores the Zen, tango and yoga threads.
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movement specialist. passion cultivator. soultree planter.
Karin McDermott is the founder and owner of Soultree Motion, Inc., a movement and lifestyle company. She teaches movement as a method for unearthing the passionate human soul. [www.KarinMcDermott.com]
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non-profit leader. progressive mind. gerbode fellow.
Adam Borelli is the Executive Director of New Leaders Council. In 2011, he received the Gerbode Fellowship, an award given to the top five non-profit leaders. [www.newleaderscouncil.org]
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author. theatre kid. laughing backpacker.
Poet, actress, and activist Judy Prescott lives in Los Angeles, where she works in film and television. She's the author of a just-released collection of poetry and art. [www.judyprescott.com]
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beauty capturers. artistic analysts. why askers.
Photographers and directors Angela and Ithyle teamed up when they realized how much fun it could be. They like to travel by hot air balloon and eat grape popsicles. [www.angelaandithyle.com]
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