
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
centered

In my work of speaking and facilitating, I am “out there” a lot. I love the energy exchange with clients and audiences. However, sometimes I can feel depleted of energy and need to refuel, renourish, and recharge. Nature and spirit help me refuel and renourish, and relationships recharge me with connections and aliveness.
When in nature, I feel expansive gratitude, especially when I’m at the ocean experiencing its power and dynamic life. Walking along the beach and saying, “I am …” then adding a description of the water brings meaning to the interconnectedness and presence I feel. “I am movement. I am powerful. I am change.” After seeing and breathing the ocean, my perspective of life calms down and everything makes more sense. I feel centered and refueled by peace and gratitude.
Meditating also brings me back to center. Through meditation, I feel energy, love, and guidance from a universe that’s larger and wiser than I am. Peacefulness results, along with clarity and direction. I feel centered and nourished.
In contrast with that quiet gratitude are the times I connect with friends. When dining, wining, talking, and dancing with great friends, the energy is glorious! Those active energy moments make me feel alive and connected to what’s most important in life – joy! I believe we’re intended to live in community, honoring the contrast of reflecting alone then coming back together.
I discovered the meaningful state of being centered and then connected while participating in a retreat for “quality of life” professionals. One activity involved taking a square block of Play-Doh, closing our eyes, and molding the clay while connecting to our highest spiritual self. When I opened my eyes, I saw that I’d created a ball with gentle thumb imprints in it, like a golf ball.
Next, we took a new block of clay to form with our eyes open, creating without thinking – just being. I rolled strands of Play-Doh and pressed the ends into the round ball I’d created earlier, making a structure with clay “hair” strands extending all over.
Then we asked ourselves, “What does this creation mean to me in terms of quality of life?” Finally, I understood! The initial round ball was my need to draw inward first, to be centered and whole. Yet I allow others to connect with me, inviting them in through many connections which take me out of my comfort zone to experience life more expansively.
– Nancy Rosenfeld Daly


Explore More Meaning
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innovation guru. supportive dad. heart-filled husband.
Andrew Papageorge has built five businesses, one of which was sold to a Fortune 100 company. He has guided organizations of all sizes through thousands of innovations, and has written about personal transformation and business innovation. [www.gapzip.com]
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choice advocator. fear extinguisher. transformation guide.
Vaishali is an international health & wellness speaker who has appeared on The Dr. Oz Radio Show and Oprah.com. Vaishali learned to transform her life from the threat of two terminal disease diagnoses, domestic abuse, and financial devastation. [www.purplev.com/alivehealthy]
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