
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
do good

My life is directed by seeking and doing good, ever greater good. I see everyone as having innate gifts and abilities which, when found and fully utilized, can create ever more good. We can enjoy sunsets and share smiles. We can speak encouraging words and listen. We must move from the limitations and insecurities created by fear and doubt and reach out to help, take risks, and explore to discover better ways. I find tremendous value in overcoming life’s challenges while helping others in kind.
I see us as put upon this earth to be loved and to love in return, over and over, more and more. We need to make peace with this world by striving to contribute to making it better. We begin with ourselves, by trusting in the sanctuary of our hearts, especially when there is conflict and suffering to overcome. There’s no lasting value in separation and againstness, nor in allowing hurt or in hurting others. We need to offer an open hand, not a closed fist, and we need to stop violence by heeding messages calling for resolution and harmony.
I find that the first journey is within, into the truth that respects and considers what serves all. I take this journey through worship and connection with the divine source that is the living God of all. I find the most satisfaction in experiences which reveal the constant presence within that understands my predicaments and shows me that lasting solutions work through love, honor, and compassion.
This world is a testing ground upon which we can learn and grow by developing our wisdom, strength, and ability to create good. We can exercise our faith by holding to our heartfelt nature and enduring through whatever tests come our way. We truly are never alone, abandoned, or forsaken. As we trust in love, we discover new wisdoms and develop our strengths and new abilities. In each moment, we can choose through our attitude to enjoy or despise, to be open or closed, to have patience or impatience, to continue or stop.
We can create what my friend, John-Roger, calls portable paradise – the experience of paradise wherever we are, regardless of the conditions. We can join with others to actively create paradise by doing good. That’s my rallying call: Let’s go out and do some good!
– John Morton
Comments