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
vitality
Sean Stephenson
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]
The most meaningful thing for me is my health. I grew up in a physical container that’s caused me a lot of pain and grief. I was born with a rare bone disorder that fractured my bones more than 200 times by the time I was 18.
When I was 19, I got tired of hearing from the medical community that I had to accept my pain and health problems as the way my life was and would always be. Instead, I took matters into my own hands. I radically changed my diet. I started exercising and lifting weights. And I changed my mindset about my body – I started believing that mentality creates reality.
I’m in phenomenal shape now. In the 11 years since that shift, I haven’t broken any bones. I got rid of horrible acne and back pain. I’ve also written four books, worked in the White House, and filmed a fitness video with Miss Fitness Universe, called No Excuses. My TV show, 3 Foot Giant, aired on A&E’s Biography channel. And I’m now completing my PhD in clinical hypnosis.
What’s helped me stay engaged with what’s most meaningful to me is setting myself up to win by putting myself in an environment where I have no choice but to win. I got my family to agree not to bring me foods that don’t support my body. I set up a home gym in my bedroom and joined a gym at my office. I got a bunch of friends to agree to work out with me. I hired trainers. I did everything I could to make it so that when I woke up I knew exercise and eating healthy food was going to happen. I set things up so it became a habit. Then the habit became a ritual. Now it’s part of who I am.
My life is meaningful because I decided that everything stems from my vitality. If I don’t have it, I’m no good to the other things in my life, like my family, friends, spiritual connection, love life, or career. Rather than following a path of taking a lot of pain medication, withering away, and dying prematurely, which is what often happens to people with my condition, I decided to go a different route. I intuitively felt there was another, better way. There was.
– Sean Stephenson
Your Turn
- What are three self-care habits (sleep, nutrition, exercise…) you'd like to improve?
- Are there negative thoughts about yourself (I'm not good enough, I’ll never succeed, I'm not worth it...) that you may be repeating inside your head?
- Are there commitments you've made but haven’t completed? How could you complete them or let them go?
Explore More Meaning
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former dieter. current helper. self acceptance discoverer.
Julie M. Simon, MA, MBA, MFT is a psychotherapist, life coach, personal trainer, speaker and author of The Emotional Eater’s Repair Manual: A Practical Guide for Putting an End to Overeating and Dieting, based on her 12 Week Program. [www.overeatingrecovery.com]
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entertainer. driver's seat dj. life by me'er.
Andrew DiPalma is a storyteller. As a television and film actor and the owner of an Internet marketing and PR firm, he strives to choose scripts and clients that inspire him so he may inspire others. [andrew dipalma]
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author. professor. emotional liberator.
Dr. Judith Orloff, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry and best-selling author, passionately asserts that we have the power to transform negative emotions and achieve inner peace. [www.drjudithorloff.com]
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neurotransmitter. sound innovator. yummy hummer.
Sound visionary and author Alex Theory draws upon extensive training in psychology, integrative medicine, and psychoacoustic music production to innovate new styles of music and media. [www.unifyearth.com]
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Life Coach. Authentic Relationship Builder.
Alexis Shepperd, Ph.D., is a life coach and co-founder of the Authentic Woman Experience, dedicated to passionate romantic relationships, sisterhood, and every woman's birthright to adore her life. [www.authenticwomanexperience.com]
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Writer. Philanthropist. Community Transformer.
Brian Center has worked on the issues of violence prevention and strengthening families from many angles. He's the Executive Director of A Better LA. [www.abetterla.org]
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business expert. arbiter of style. smarty pants.
Small business expert Amy Swift has helped launch thousands of businesses and ideas. She founded Smarty to give entrepreneurs authentic space to partner and grow. [www.smartypeople.com]
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playful educator. success redefiner. guy next door.
Philip Maher has travelled to more than 80 countries, working in some of the harshest environments as a communications professional and photographer. He asks one question in his work: How do we get people to care? [www.philipmaher.ca]
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