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
laughter
Leslie Harradine
consultant. facilitator. life enhancer.
For two decades, Leslie Harradine, a partner and Managing Director of Exhact GmbH, has traveled the globe to help individuals, teams, and business leaders enhance their personal and professional lives. [www.exhact.com]
What’s most meaningful to me is a combination of laughter and humor. I have a tendency towards seriousness, but have noticed that when I take myself or situations or life too seriously, I move into judgment and that creates separation – me vs. them, or me vs. the world, or me vs. myself. It actually narrows my vision, my perception of what’s true, so that I focus on what’s not working, what I’m doing wrong, or what they’re doing wrong. But when I bring forward humor or laughter, it lifts me. Finding the humor in a situation and being able to laugh at myself lifts me above the situation. I gain a higher perspective.
When I find myself in a serious situation, I use a little trick I learned from watching Cesar Millan’s TV show. When Cesar trains a dog to consider him the alpha dog, he flips the dog onto its back and makes a sound like “Sheee.” The dog quickly learns to stop his crazy behavior whenever he hears Cesar’s “Sheee,” which is a reminder that Cesar is dominant. So I treat my seriousness, my judgment, my separation like a crazy dog. I tell myself “Sheee” and it reminds me that I can take charge over it. And I get a little inner giggle going.
Also, I’m on the lookout for things that spontaneously happen to help me move out of a perspective of seriousness. An example of this is what happened when I had to put my cat Buster to sleep. The vet had come to the house to do it. I sat in a recliner and held Buster to say my final farewell. I was really sad, grieving and crying, but then I needed to sit up more to hold the cat for the vet. As I sat up, I said, “This is really hard.” With great compassion, the vet said to me, “I know it is.” But what I’d meant was that getting the footrest of the recliner to fold down while I was holding the cat was being really hard. In that moment, through my tears, I started laughing. I suddenly saw that there are sometimes such different perspectives or interpretations of a situation. And I saw that even within deep grief, there’s always the potential for a smile and a giggle.
– Leslie Harradine
Explore More Meaning
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library girl. love giver. social creator.
Susan Hayden is a mother, poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, montage artist, community builder, and grief center volunteer. She thrives on long walks and long talks, never-ending friendship, horses, Paris, good coffee, and Americana music.
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inner connector. country hopper. boredom fighter.
Stephen Light lives to serve. He loves who he is, and this has allowed him to love others. He serves people finding their inner love and letting it shine out. [www.peopleactiv.com]
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holistic helper. working mama. constant questioner.
Tara Hantske is a Board-Certified Holistic Health Counselor, a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and Team Northrup, and, most importantly, a mom. She helps people, especially moms, create health and balance. [www.tarahantskewellness.com]
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truth digger. motivated shifter. calendar ignorer.
Andrew Skotzko is a curious entrepreneur who's passionate about creating peak experiences and elegant products. He also enjoys finding bits of truth hidden in plain sight ... and going for long bike rides. [www.noticings.com]
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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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doctor. author. sweeper.
Dr. Charles Sophy has dedicated his life to the physical and mental well-being of children and families from all walks of life. [www.drsophy.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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inventor. educator. artist.
Artist, musician, inventor, and educator Bob Bates is the Artistic Director of Inner-City Arts, an art space on Skid Row where at-risk children explore their creativity, learn, and grow. [www.inner-cityarts.org]
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