
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
now

I always planned out my life meticulously. I knew where I wanted to be in five years. I had a list of goals to achieve, places to visit, and hobbies to pursue. My life was compartmentalized and I strived for my own model of success: being a young, international executive with qualifications and friends.
Three years ago, I collapsed, burnt out and stressed. My life was not going according to plan. I suffered severe migraines and vertigo problems and couldn’t get out of bed. I plunged into a major depression and even attempted to take my own life a few times. I felt like I’d disappointed the world and, most of all, myself.
As I lay on the hospital bed, half-alive, with an IV drip sustaining me, I looked at my life – and how I’d missed out on enjoying life because I was too busy planning it.
Slowly, through the guidance of my psychologist, I became more aware of my thoughts and emotions. I learned to concentrate less on achievements and more on myself. I paused to relax and savor the moments as I lived them. I learned to focus on the present and not the future.
Old habits are hard to change. Every time I find myself structuring my week, I delete my calendar and allow life to simply unfold. I wake up, pour myself a cup of tea, and let the day dictate itself.
Living in now is my focus: the dogs barking downstairs, the people around me, my writing, and my recovery.
Tomorrow can be left for tomorrow.
I take some time out of every day to just sit and observe. I may do it at home or out on a bench. I observe what’s happening and pass no judgment. I calm down and remind myself to enjoy the present moment, even if only for five minutes.
I hope to one day master the art of relishing the moments I live.
– Noch Noch


Explore More Meaning
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spiritual alarm clock. soul purpose hunter. visionary.
Sahra Renata is a mystic, artist, writer and poet, with an M.A in spiritual Philosophy and a Ph.D in metaphysics. Sahra has taught advanced metaphysics and mastery of the healing arts throughout Europe, the U.S., Australia and Mexico. [www.bookofsahra.com]
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