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
presence
Leigh Taylor Young
actress. environmental advisor. world peace representative.
Leigh Taylor Young is an Emmy Award-winning actress. She's also been a Special Advisor in Arts and Media for the United Nations Environment Programme. [www.lty.com]
What’s most meaningful to me is what I call simply loving God. I also call it the presence. The moment I say to myself, “I’m loving,” “I’m in tune,” or “I’m present with the presence,” I immediately focus on what I love the most, which is feeling a connection with the divine. There’s a warmth in that, a sense of safety, a sense of “I’m okay” that has nothing to do with who I am in this world, who I am in any relationship, or who I am on my to do list.
I’m a perfectionist, so I can set myself up very nicely for procrastination if I romantically idealize what spirit is for me. If I find myself going into shoulds, thinking, for instance, that my practice should look like sitting down and meditating, then I can get judgmental because I may not be doing that. But God isn’t judging me, I’m judging myself. What I’ve been learning to do instead is give myself permission to very quickly make contact by moving my consciousness.
When I practice moving my consciousness, there’s an immediate effect. In an instant, faster than an intake of breath, I shift into a deep honoring in the moment of who I am in the spirit – even if I do it through just a quick, “Hello, God. I’m here. I’m yours. I love you. Be with me as I travel through this.”
This is practical spirituality – if it doesn’t serve me, I’m not going there. I may think I’ll have time to sit down and meditate, but then all of a sudden I’m preparing lunch instead. So I just bring God in as I’m making lunch. Practicing the presence of God can look like chopping the carrots, making a salad, and having my consciousness there as I do it. It doesn’t even matter if the TV’s on. The conditions don’t matter. Part of what I’m practicing is that the presence of God is not conditional. I can practice by thinking things like, “Wow, this is a noisy room right now, but I know you’re with me, God.”
This way of practicing the presence is about not making it so special that I make it separate. I practice being creative with how I can tap into the presence as much as possible, no matter where I am or what I’m doing in this fast-paced world. And the truth of the matter is that God’s presence is never going anywhere. It’s with us every single minute.
– Leigh Taylor Young
Explore More Meaning
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miboso guru. life lover. light shiner.
Sabrina Bolin founded MyMiBoSo (My MInd, BOdy, and SOul), a coaching and healing practice where she compassionately guides others to create joy through the mind, body, and soul. [www.MyMiBoSo.com]
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Poet. Educator. Philanthropist.
Author, poet, and educator Paul F. Cummins is the Executive Director of the New Visions Foundation, which finds innovative ways to educate underserved children. [www.newvisionsfnd.org]
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unstressing visionary. connected traveller. one of us.
Heather Day spearheads the Unstressed Revolution, inspiring people to choose trust over fear with gentleness and ease. A teacher of simplicity, she crusades for a world free from stress. [www.vitalbeingwellness.com]
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actor. mixed media artist. traveling eye.
Actor and artist Cutter Cutshaw mixes the profane with the elegant. His mixed media approach combines original photography with digital and organic brushwork, transforming chaos into sensual portrayals. [www.cutterartandphoto.com]
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possibility enthusiast. forward mover. creative renegade.
Using her psychology background and experiences in settings as diverse as jails, middle schools, and boardrooms Michelle Welsch founded Project Exponential, a series of curated networking experiences delighting people into personal growth. [www.projectexponential.com]
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juxtaposer. course corrector. chicken soup maker.
Alan Cohen loves to extract lessons from the practical experiences of daily living and find beauty in the seeming mundane. He's an inspirational leader, author, and contributor for the Chicken Soup series. [www.alancohen.com]
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Photographer. Artist. Soul Revealer.
Alexandra DeFurio is a photographer who specializes in portraits that reveal women's real beauty. [www.defuriophotography.com]
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non-profit leader. progressive mind. gerbode fellow.
Adam Borelli is the Executive Director of New Leaders Council. In 2011, he received the Gerbode Fellowship, an award given to the top five non-profit leaders. [www.newleaderscouncil.org]
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