
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
listen

When I have a big, scary decision to make, I take a few deep breaths, look deep into my soul, and ask myself what it is I truly want to do. Usually, I find the answers inside, just waiting for the right question to unlock them.
I see people every day who aren’t honest with themselves. It breaks my heart a little, before reminding me why I started coaching in the first place. I help people uncover the deep-rooted reasons that hold them back from doing what they want to do. I help them realize that they’re only staying in jobs they hate because of some society-created idea or because of what their mother might say. Sometimes, people come to me with predetermined goals, but then realize that what truly makes them radiate happiness is something completely different.
The most meaningful, beautiful thing we can do is live a life that’s authentic, a life in line with our core self and our soul and, in turn, in line with nature and the universe.
We’re brought up brainwashed by the opinions, thoughts, and values of other people – people who don’t always want what’s best for us. People who grow rich at your expense will do anything to convince you that you need their products. Others will tell you that chasing your dreams is foolish, or that listening to your gut and swapping fast food for a vegan burger makes you a hippy. People are terrified of opening up, listening to their hearts, and doing what they know – deep down – they need to do.
Sometimes, people come to me and say “I feel as if my life is going nowhere. I’m happy traveling, but I see my friends getting married and settling down, like they’re all taking the next step, but I’m not.” What I usually ask is “The next step to what?” I don’t live in the hope of an afterlife utopia. THIS is what we have, here and now, this beautiful, fragile, yet feisty planet and everything it has to offer.
When we examine the voices that say, “You should do this” or “You can’t do that,” we often find that they’re not really part of who we are. When we learn to tune them out, we can really listen to our core self.
– Gwyneth Jones


Explore More Meaning
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military daughter. spontaneous adventurer. student of life.
College freshman Maurina Scott is the daughter of an active duty military member. She has moved frequently, lived overseas, and embraced a life of exploration. Her dad recently returned from a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan. [www.twitter.com/Maurina_Scott]
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