
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
the spark

The answer to my life’s biggest questions weren’t on my yoga mat. They weren’t at the bottom of my green smoothies or in the self-help aisle at the bookstore. I was shocked. Couldn’t 108 Sun Salutations calm my mind and warm my heart? Did I need to realize or shift something, again?
The answer was a resounding “YES.”
My first spiritual journey taught me to ditch toxic relationships and behaviors, meditate for clarity, and allow life to unfold. I thought I knew everything about spirituality and manifestation. After all, I had done the work.
But, surprisingly, at 31, I began to feel a spiritual buzz kill. I felt disconnected, my inner peace dulled, and I was emotionally paralyzed. Life was unfolding, but my spark was diminishing. Ultimate confusion set in.
I gave myself a choice: Either experience deliberate miracles or ignore divine opportunities. I’m not talking about the kind of miracles where seas split and bushes speak but the kind where personal awareness is witnessed. I’m talking about either co-creating a version of myself using past experiences or co-creating a new experience with responsibility, with spiritual spark.
My belief is that co-creating from past experience traps us. It keeps us locked in emotional chains. It’s the easiest and quickest place to go when we’re feeling tense and frustrated. It’s what we already know – autopilot – but it’s exactly what can halt our ability to grow.
What if we react another way? What if we pause for a second and open up to the possibility of miracles? I want to revolutionize miracles because they transform thoughts, composure, and actions in an instant. Rather than become victims of negativity, we can create new experiences. We can each spark a personal evolution – one in which compassion, understanding, joy, patience, and love occur and miracles ignite.
Living a life of purpose takes more than green smoothies and daily affirmations. Manifesting desirable outcomes takes more than yoga practice. It requires us to take the ownership of our lives to a deeper level. It requires spark.
When you find yourself in a misunderstanding or conflict, put the brakes on reactive patterns. Remind yourself that in every moment you have the choice of aligning with the greatest vision of your life or with excuses, anger, and fear. Choose to co-create a new experience. Choose to spark love, kindness, helpfulness, and compassion. Be the spark.
– Leona Mizrahi
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