
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
ask

I still get a jolt when I’m about to ask for what I need. That knot in my stomach is part excitement, part relief, and part fear. It’s hard sometimes to share what’s in my heart and make a request, even to those who love me most. Yet the love and freedom that follows is worth every step of the journey.
Years ago, I was married and struggling with the decision of whether to stay or leave. My family was giving me advice based on what they thought I should do or what they thought I wanted to hear. They advised me to persevere and make it work. Their intentions were good and came from a loving place, yet it wasn’t what I really needed. I hungered instead to know that I was supported in whatever decision I made. I remember the moment I figured that out for myself. It took every bit of strength I had to directly ask my family to support my happiness above everything else. After what felt like an eternity of silence, they understood, and they appreciated the clarity. With that simple (though not easy) request, we all felt closer and I felt more genuinely understood. Then I could receive the love they were offering.
A client of mine made a life-changing decision when she asked her friends and family to help her lose weight and get healthy – by not continuing to tell her she looked great the way she was. Even though they were trying to make her feel better, she felt pushed away because she didn’t feel heard. By opening her heart, sharing her deepest truth, and asking for the support she craved, they could be there for her in the way she needed them.
It lifts my spirit to have people around who want to support me fully. And it exhilarates my soul to know it’s up to me to ask for what I need, to face my fears, and take the risk each time I ask. Each time, I give those around me the chance to support me in a way that works for me and honors them. And those times, the times I dare to ask, are the juiciest moments of all, because they create a bigger chance for love to be expressed, shared, and received.
What support do you really need? Let your heart guide you. Ask for what you need.
– Tracey Trottenberg
Comments