Jack Canfield Jack Canfield 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]

 
Arianna Huffington Arianna Huffington 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]

 
Seth Godin Seth Godin author. speaker. linchpin.

Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]

 
Krishna Kaur Krishna Kaur 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]

 
Norman Lear Norman Lear 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]

 
Leilani Münter Leilani Münter 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]

 
Kevin Bales Kevin Bales 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]

 
Sophie Chiche Sophie Chiche 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]

 
Mastin Kipp Mastin Kipp 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]

 
Liz Phair Liz Phair singer. musician. crier.

Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]

 
Desmond Tutu Desmond Tutu 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]

 
Zainab Salbi Zainab Salbi 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]

 
Sean Stephenson Sean Stephenson 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]

 
Kia Miller Kia Miller 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]

 
Simon Mainwaring Simon Mainwaring 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]

 
Shannon Bindler Shannon Bindler 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]

 
Mathieu Bitton Mathieu Bitton 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]

 
Jorge Perez Jorge Perez 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

 

appreciation

Leigh Fortson Leigh Fortson author. powerful healer. inspiration.

Author Leigh Fortson's personal and universal story shows how her thoughts and emotions dictated the well-being of her cells. She helps others understand what it means to heal. [www.embracehealingcancer.com]

I’ve lived a privileged life, always. As a child, I never went hungry. My mother loved me and showed it. We belonged to the country club. I could swim and play tennis every day of the summer, order a hamburger, French fries, and Coke, and go home to a comfortable house where I’d watch Bewitched and dream of all the things I’d do if I could wiggle my nose that way.

Growing up has its struggles and my family was imperfect – even so, those decades and the ones that followed were good. My taste for country clubs, food, and entertainment changed and my passions grew. I fell in love, got married, and had children. Yet, somewhere along the way, I adopted an outlook steeped in lack and rooted in judgment. I didn’t truly see that in myself until I got cancer – for the third time – and began looking at the tenor of my thoughts and deeply questioning why I’d copped the attitude I had about life.

During that inquiry, I realized I had the glass-half-empty syndrome. But when you’re led to believe you’re on the brink of losing everything, including your breath, your world turns upside down. That’s when my half-empty glass became half-full.

And it felt great. Rather than focusing on what wasn’t right, I saw beauty. I began turning my gaze from the things I’d judged and criticized and instead started noticing the little things surrounding me at any given moment that were remarkably perfect. My appreciation ranged from the simple design on a dinner plate to the magnificence of the night sky to the mess in my daughter’s room to the dancing brows above my dog’s eyes … to the woman I saw in the mirror.

Now, my glass is not only half full – it’s brimming over. I’ve learned that if I pay attention to what’s wrong in my world that’s what becomes my world. So I avoid heavy movies, sad books, and controlling humans. Instead, I feed my newfound love affair with life by creating a habit of focusing on what’s before me at any moment in time – seeing beauty and perfection, love and frailty, meaningful symbols and abstract mystery.

I believe I’m cancer-free today largely because I changed the tone within myself to the same pitch as the music and elegance and rightness of the world. It took more than wiggling my nose to get here, but sometimes it takes more than magic to know the truth about life.

– Leigh Fortson

Comments

Explore More Meaning

  • Jan Shepherd
    Jan Shepherd Jan Shepherd transformational coach. writer. vision clarifier.

    Jan Shepherd is a transformational coach and a featured blogger on The Huffington Post. [www.janshepherd.com]

     
  • Melvin Allen
    Melvin Allen Melvin Allen psychologist. facilitator. relationship alchemist.

    Melvin Allen is a relationship alchemist with a PhD in Depth Psychology – the study of the unconscious, and an MA in Spiritual Psychology. He has appeared on television and radio shows around the world. [www.melvinandsherrie.com]

     
  • Arianna Huffington
    Arianna Huffington Arianna Huffington 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]

     
  • Rob Hess
    Rob Hess Rob Hess positivity spreader. negativity combater. hoopla-hero.

    Rob Hess is the Managing Director & Executive Producer of HooplaHa.com, a website dedicated to spreading smiles and positivity. HooplaHa is focused on only good news and developing inspirational, feel good, positive content. [www.hooplaha.com]

     
  • Chameli Ardaugh
    Chameli Ardaugh Chameli Ardaugh feminine spiritualist. storyteller. illuminator.

    Chameli Ardaugh is a speaker, author, practitioner, teacher, and leading pioneer of feminine awakening and empowerment. She founded The Awakening Women Institute. [www.awakeningwomen.com]

     
  • Dean Ornish
    Dean Ornish Dean Ornish doctor. bestselling author. integrative medicine pioneer.

    Bestselling author Dean Ornish, MD, is the founder and president of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute, which performs scientific research investigating the effects of diet and lifestyle on health. [www.pmri.org]

     
  • Deborah Barron
    Deborah Barron Deborah Barron dream midwife. contributor. possibility example.

    Deborah Barron is a life coach, writer and curious explorer, passionate about expanding feminine consciousness on the planet, one courageous woman at a time. [www.deborahbarron.net]

     
  • Harvey Karp
    Harvey Karp Harvey Karp pediatrician. author. parent's best friend.

    Dr. Harvey Karp is a pediatrician, child development specialist, and best-selling author. He's taught thousands of parents his secrets for making parents and children happy. [www.happiestbaby.com]

     
  • More

Contributors

  • Bruce Lipton
    Bruce Lipton Bruce Lipton author. stem cell biologist. bridger.

    Bestselling author Bruce H. Lipton, PhD, is a pioneer in stem cell biology and a leader in the new biology that reveals how the mind controls genes. [www.brucelipton.com]

     
  • Elyse Glickman
    Elyse Glickman Elyse Glickman word samurai. story gifter. barrier pusher.

    Elyse Glickman is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor with more than two decades of experience in magazine and newspaper journalism, online content production, and public relations collateral production. [www.elyseglickman.com]

     
  • Moleen Madziva
    Moleen Madziva Moleen Madziva shona tribe member. rooted achiever. happiness chooser.

    Moleen Madziva was raised in Zimbabwe, in the village community of Macheke. Having witnessed her community sink further into poverty, she founded the Macheke Sustainability Project. She is studying for a PhD in Sustainability Education. [www.machekeproject.org]

     
  • Marci Shimoff
    Marci Shimoff Marci Shimoff author. consultant. no-reason lover.

    Marci Shimoff is the best-selling author of six Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She's one of the nation's leading experts on happiness, success, and the Law of Attraction. [www.happyfornoreason.com]

     
  • Ron McElroy
    Ron McElroy Ron McElroy surfer. heritage explorer. puanani.

    Ron McElroy is the CEO of Real Office Centers and the author of Wrong Side of the Tracks, a memoir about coming of age with a loving, hard-working mother's strong connections to her family's Hawaiian heritage. [www.realofficecenters.com]

     
  • Joanne Abellera
    Joanne Abellera Joanne Abellera Artist. Designer. Knitting Machine.

    Joanne Abellera is the designer of KKIBO – a collection of one-of-a-kind handmade knitwear creations. [www.kkibo.net]

     
  • Jennifer Pastiloff
    Jennifer Pastiloff Jennifer Pastiloff inspiration seeker. laughing yogini. true listener.

    Jennifer Pastiloff is a lover of life, laughter, poetry, yoga, and a really good glass of wine. She created Manifestation Yoga, which is all about causing serious breakthroughs in life without being too serious. [www.manifestationyoga.com]

     
  • James Craigmiles
    James Craigmiles James Craigmiles actor. observer on set. tear jerker.

    James Craigmiles resides in Hollywood chasing the dream he has had since four years old. He recently launched My Hollywood Way to provide other entertainers with the tips and tools he wishes he had upon his Tinseltown arrival. [www.myhollywoodway.com]

     
  • Christiane Northrup
    Christiane Northrup Christiane Northrup body whisperer. wellness watcher. menstruation embracer.

    Christiane Northrup, MD, is a board-certified ob/gyn and a visionary pioneer in the field of women's health and wellness. She is a bestselling author and the host of seven successful public television specials. [www.drnorthrup.com]

     
  • Bill Cumming
    Bill Cumming Bill Cumming director. supporter. kindness power plug.

    Bill Cumming is Director of The Boothby Institute. He supports individuals, children, and teachers in schools; prisoners; and YMCA and corporate staff in discovering the power of loving-kindness. [www.theboothbyinstitute.org]

     
  • Carole Brody Fleet
    Carole Brody Fleet Carole Brody Fleet loss educator. transition encourager. hope infuser.

    Carole Brody Fleet is a popular motivational speaker, helping people touched by the pain and challenge of loss, regardless of age. She's been a regular guest on local, regional, national, and international media programs. [www.widowswearstilettos.com]

     
  • Robert Chapman
    Robert Chapman Robert Chapman ceo. heart-centric leader. human steward.

    Robert Chapman, Chairman and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller Companies, is committed to people-centric leadership, continuous improvement, and disciplined growth to realize a vision of "Achieving Principled Results on Purpose." [www.barry-wehmiller.com]

     
  • Steve Robertson
    Steve Robertson Steve Robertson transmedia philanthropist. music enthusiast. peace crusader.

    Steve Robertson is the founder and CEO of Project Peace On Earth, a music, entertainment ,and transmedia company producing inspirational content that benefits a variety of worldwide charitable causes. [www.Project-PeaceOnEarth.org]

     
  • Ebony Utley
    Ebony Utley Ebony Utley knowledge seeker. perspective shifter. obsessive googler.

    Ebony Utley, PhD, is an expert in popular culture, race, and romantic relationships. She's a public speaker, a professor, and the author of Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta's God. [www.theutleyexperience.com]

     
  • Jon Fitzgerald
    Jon Fitzgerald Jon Fitzgerald conscious filmmaker. change advocate. action inspirer.

    Jon Fitzgerald is a filmmaker, film festival director, and author. Through CineCause, he connects socially relevant films to related causes. [www.cinecause.com]

     
  • Arielle Ford
    Arielle Ford Arielle Ford  

    Arielle Ford is a leader in the personal growth and contemporary spirituality movement. She’s been living, teaching, and promoting consciousness through many forms of media.

     
  • Stan Deland
    Stan Deland Stan Deland platoon commander. flower essencer. unraveler.

    After returning home from being an Infantry Platoon Commander in the Marine Corps in Iraq, Stan Deland and Geoffrey Greenspahn launched the flower essence company Siddatech. [www.siddatech.com]

     
  • Lissa Rankin
    Lissa Rankin Lissa Rankin pink medicine revolutionary. community builder. mojo reconnector.

    Author, artist, motivational speaker, and Pink Medicine Revolutionary Lissa Rankin, MD, founded OwningPink.com, a website and workshops that build authentic community and empower women to get their mojo back. [www.linkedin.com/in/lissarankin]

     
  • Tara Stiles
    Tara Stiles Tara Stiles yoga expert. author. couch yogi.

    Tara Stiles is reinventing yoga practice, proving you don't need to call yourself a "yoga person" to make it part of your life. She founded Strala Yoga and is Deepak Chopra's personal yoga instructor. [www.tarastiles.com]

     
  • Wrenwyck Williams
    Wrenwyck Williams Wrenwyck Williams jet-setting exec. family guy. man of god.

    Wrenwyck Williams has been a highly sought-after corporate executive for the past 27 years and has served as president and CEO of multi-million dollar corporations. He is a devoted husband and father to two beautiful daughters. [www.babyfoodbook.net/book]

     
  • Margalit Ward
    Margalit Ward Margalit Ward life coach. listener. get up girl.

    Margalit Ward is an ICF-Certified Life and Executive Coach and co-founder of Get Up Girl Coaching, which specializes in women's empowerment programs. [www.getupgirl.com]

     
  • Brennan Smith
    Brennan Smith Brennan Smith hypnotherapist. neurophysioligist. pattern shifter.

    Through his study of subconscious behavior patterns, Los Angeles hypnotherapist Brennan Smith realized that none of us is broken – we're 100% worthy of having the lives we want. [www.brennansmith.com]

     
  • Marcia Alesan Dawkins
    Marcia Alesan Dawkins Marcia Alesan Dawkins professor. empowerer. encouragement entrepreneur.

    Marcia Alesan Dawkins is an intellectual entrepreneur from New York City. She has written two books, including Eminem: The Real Slim Shady, as well as articles for Huffington Post and Truthdig. [www.marciadawkins.com]

     
  • Eric Buterbaugh
    Eric Buterbaugh Eric Buterbaugh flower man. beauty crafter. traveling buddy.

    Designer and world traveler Eric Buterbaugh is the owner of Eric Buterbaugh Flower and Event Design – creating floral masterpieces daily. [www.ericbuterbaugh.com]

     
  • Jonathan Fields
    Jonathan Fields Jonathan Fields serial entrepreneur. author. papa.

    Jonathan Fields is a dad, husband, author, speaker, and serial entrepreneur who blogs at JonathanFields.com and runs the educational book marketing venture TribalAuthor.com. [www.jonathanfields.com]

     
  • Dawn Shaw
    Dawn Shaw Dawn Shaw insightful speaker. obstacle climber. destiny fulfiller.

    Dawn Shaw authored her memoir Facing Up to It about living with a facial difference. This creation inspired her to become a speaker. She also raises and trains Icelandic horses. [www.facinguptoit.com]

     
  • Davy Rothbart
    Davy Rothbart Davy Rothbart publisher. contributor. FOUNDer.

    Davy Rothbart, creator of Found Magazine, is an author, frequent contributor to the radio program This American Life, and the subject of a documentary released in 2011. [www.foundmagazine.com]

     
  • Jenna Avery
    Jenna Avery Jenna Avery writing soul. creative mama. nudge listener.

    Jenna Avery is a sci-fi screenwriter, writing mentor, big dream coach, and life purpose hand analyst who inspires people to take action to make their dreams real. [www.jennaavery.com]

     
  • Madelin Adena Smith
    Madelin Adena Smith Madelin Adena Smith dream cartographer. promise keeper. sayer and doer.

    Madelin Adena Smith is a novelist, creative shapeshifter, and strategic visionary. She specializes in helping ambitious young women build road maps around their wildest dreams. [www.madelinadenasmith.com]

     
  • More

Connection


© 2010-2023 lifebyme.com. All rights reserved. (design by nodethirtythree)