
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
soul

I spent a large portion of my life being a busy person, working 70 to 80 hours a week. I used to think that meant I was a good citizen and highly productive, but the wealth of my life is actually in my relationships, in the love and truth I share with others, in the present moment that can’t ever be replaced.
I’ve had a couple of near-death experiences which have made me more aware and awake and interested in being present. My first near-death experience happened because of an adverse reaction to a drug I was given during the birth of my son. The drug arrested my breathing and I almost bled to death. During that experience, I observed my body from another part of the room. As my spirit left my body, I realized that my body can die, but my spirit can’t. I was part of everything in the room – not just the other people, but everything. The whole energetic field of the room was part of me.
That experience gave me a deep sense of peace. I know now that I’m an immortal being. I’m a spiritual being here having a human experience. I used to think I was a body that had a soul, but through that near-death experience I realized I’m a soul that has a body. Because I no longer fear death, I’ve gained an extreme sense of relief and release.
My spiritual journey has made me the person I am. I wouldn’t trade any of the experiences I’ve had. I started my spiritual journey by asking questions about my own existence and the purpose of my existence. I’ve seen that when you start a spiritual journey and begin looking for answers, the answers are revealed.
I’m trying to eliminate all judgment from my life. It’s a huge challenge. We tend to look at things and immediately sort them into piles: This is good. That’s bad. But all things have purpose. It doesn’t help to judge the roles people or entities play. I try to remove myself from anger and recognize the paradigms that exist and that need to shift.
I can’t change anyone else and I can’t make the world a less judgmental place, but I can make myself less judgmental and maybe that change will be a pebble in the pond and have a ripple effect on everyone around me.
I try to take responsibility for myself. That’s a big enough job.
– Gwen Olsen


Explore More Meaning
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shoeologist. meaning maven. ted x'ers.
Shannon Bindler describes her pal, Soph, as a bridge, connecting countless people. Sophie Chiche describes her pal, Shan-Shan, as the sunshine that enters the room. In December of 2012 they presented their TEDxMalibu talk. [Happy Parents of Children who Live Out Loud]
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