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
wow!
Jason Silva
celluloid visionary. abandoner of ordinary. awe seeker.
Television personality, filmmaker and philosopher, Jason Silva has been described as "part Timothy Leary, part Ray Kurzweil, and part Neo from The Matrix." He recently launched a series of non-commercial micro documentaries exploring the co-evolution of human and technology.
I’m always looking for new experiences that carry me away, that blow my mind. Basically, I’m a wonder junkie. Carl Sagan coined the term wonder junkie to describe somebody who’s addicted to awe. Anyone who likes to be immersed in what they love because they get off on it is a wonder junkie. Like anyone who’s addicted, I’m always looking for the next high. I want to be as high as possible as often as possible.
I always wake up with a hunger to experience feelings of transcendence, because in those moments I feel blanketed by reassurance and moved by awe and beauty. When I wake up, I wonder what I can do today to put myself in that head space.
It’s difficult to feel a sense of illumination around what’s most familiar. Habitual routines deaden the present moment. Radically new situations reengage us with the world, engaging our senses fully and deeply in the moment. I want to be engaged, inspired, and amazed. When we experience something for the first time, the brain comes alive. The brain loves to explore. It evolved to explore.
I grew up in an environment in which ideas and art were celebrated. My mother is an artist and teacher who’s written a lot of poetry books. She’s a lover of the arts and has directed a lot of theater. That atmosphere was like my womb. I have trouble with banality and the mundane. I want to be exalted. I look upon what is and figure out how it can be made better. How can I turn the mundane into the sacred and astonishing? What do I need to do? Do I need to tweak my biochemistry? See a film? Create art?
I’m not one of those Buddhist types who says go inward. I say go out and explore. Depart from the ordinary. Look for stimuli that trigger an internal transformation. I try to create circumstances that put the internal and external in sync. The hero’s journey that we’re on is both an external journey and an internal journey. It’s not about the destination, but about the journey itself.
A recent study out of Stanford on the subject of awe found that the regular experience of awe has long-lasting residual effects on individuals, including increased feelings of empathy and compassion toward others, increased feelings of altruism, and increased feelings of general well-being. That study is quantifiable proof that being exposed to experiences that make us dumbstruck by awe lead to all sorts of benefits in our daily lives.
– Jason Silva
Explore More Meaning
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television writer. playwright. comedienne.
Gloria Calderón Kellett is an author, playwright, television comedy writer and producer, sketch comedy group member, stand-up comedian, and Alma award winner. [www.everythinggloria.com]
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Guitarist. Songwriter. Rhythm Rider.
Kamil Rustam is a French guitarist, composer, arranger, songwriter, producer, and a prolific musician. [www.kamilrustam.com]
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innovator. fire starter. napper.
Danielle LaPorte is an inspirational speaker, former think tank exec and business strategist. Over a million visitors have visited her site for her straight-up advice on spirituality. [www.daniellelaporte.com]
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jazz jockey. choice maker. wannabe mermaid.
Shawn Ryan is an actor, comedian, singer, and teacher. He's released two albums and made numerous TV appearances. Shawn and his husband co-founded The Young Actors' Theatre Camp. [www.Shawn-Ryan.com]
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nurse vietnam veteran. healer. conscious percussionist.
Sarah Blum is a nurse Vietnam veteran, nurse psychotherapist, life coach, energy healer, spiritual guide, author, activist, African drummer, and has a black belt in aikido. [www.sarahshealinghaven.com]
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strategist. buddhist. light bearer.
Marc Sachnoff is a television producer, entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and a practicing Buddhist. He brings the Buddha to business, combining timeless wisdom and modern technology. [www.enlightenedent.com]
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belly dancer. nature lover. authenticity excavator.
Author Jacqui Lalita travels the world teaching and performing the ancient art of belly dancing. The moon, plants, and furry creatures of our world have been her greatest teachers. [www.danceofthedivine.org]
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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]
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