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
stay open
William Ury
peace groupie. mediator. life surfer.
One of the world's best known mediators, William Ury co-founded the Harvard Negotiation Project and has co-authored global bestsellers about negotiation and peacemaking. [www.williamury.com]
Walking connects me with myself and humbles me. At the same time, it makes me feel like I’m part of something much larger than myself. Love – with my family and friends, relating to other human beings – also gives me pleasure and meaning. Extending the circle out further, I find enormous meaning in engaging in the larger world and what’s happening right now.
At this particular moment, much more of our human family is in touch with each other than ever before, thanks to the Internet. Many tribes and language groups around the planet are in touch for the first time. It’s like a big family reunion. Like many family reunions, ours is not all peace and light. The question is, how are we all going to get along? How do we deal with our deepest differences and make the most of life here on this planet in this particular moment of the human story?
We’re being called upon to be resilient and present in the moment. I like the word engage. What we’re doing now is like surfing – we’re in the wave and the only way to get on it is to go into it, to engage with it.
We live in a society where avoidance is the primary way of not dealing with our issues. We have a problem with the neighbor, so we move. We have a problem with our partner, so we leave. The key, though, is not to move away from the issue, but into it.
The great challenge in life is to stay open. Rather than closing the heart when we’re having a problem with someone close to us and being fearful because we’ve been stung before, the way through is to relax, open, and get closer to the issue. That brings difficulties to the surface in a constructive way.
When we move toward a problem, move into it and engage with it, we lift ourselves and our spirits. Paradoxically, as I engage with a problem, getting closer to the issue, I feel safer and my heart feels lighter, because I know I’m not stepping aside from the issue, but am moving toward the cutting edge.
I’ve always worked in the field of outer peace, helping individuals, companies, and countries get to peace, but now I’m studying the relationship between inner peace and outer peace. Linking to inner peace is key. That means facing my inner demons and finding internal courage. That may be hard, but it’s how I stay open and engaged with life.
– William Ury
Explore More Meaning
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yoga infuser. course crafter. status quo shunner.
Ashley Josephine has been studying yoga for five years. A writer, a traveler and a whole lot of other things, Ashley is passionate about empowering women with yoga and mindfulness based practices. [ashleyjosephine.com]
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bestselling author. childhood reconnector. messy laugher.
Michael Neill is an internationally renowned transformative coach and creative sparkplug to CEOs, celebrities, and royalty. His books have been translated into thirteen languages around the world. [www.insideoutrevolution.com]
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Author. Activist. "Skinny Bitch".
Rory Freedman is a vegan, animal rights activist, Skinny Bitch, and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. [www.roryfreedman.com]
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history explorer. renaissance man. moral contributor.
Law professor, writer, film and record producer, musician, and creative risk taker, John Thomas recently penned Kalamazoo Gals which tells the hidden story of the women who built Gibson's WWII guitars. [www.kalamazoogals.com]
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Consultant. Game Player. Team Builder.
Jane Grossman, Catalyst of A Sustainable Way, works with individuals and work teams, helping them reach new levels of excellence and satisfaction. [www.asustainableway.com]
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edutainer. musician. balancer.
Aaron Ableman is an acclaimed "edutainer." He grew up under the mentorship of Hopi elders and children's musician Raffi, and has shared stages with K'NAAN and Joan Baez, among others. [www.balanceedutainment.com]
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Editor-in-Chief. Power Woman. Proponent of Fun.
Cynthia Leive is the editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine. She was named the "Most Powerful U.S. Fashion Magazine Editor" by Forbes. www.glamour.com
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Author. Success Coach. Happy Guy.
Best-selling author Robert Holden's innovative work on happiness and success has been featured on Oprah, Good Morning America, and in two major BBC TV documentaries. [www.robertholden.org]
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