Ask yourself,
“How can I develop and nurture myself in a way that benefits me and those around me?”

Dr. Darlene Mininni is a UCLA psychologist and learning & development professional. She is author of The Emotional Toolkit: 7 Strategies to Nail Your Bad Feelings (St. Martins Press), a book inspired by the curriculum of her popular UCLA undergraduate course LifeSkills. Her work focuses on designing and teaching research-based strategies that build wellbeing and success in life and work.

Darlene has spoken for audiences including TEDxUCLA, The Juilliard School and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and her work has been featured on media outlets such as: CNN with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, PBS, and NPR as well as Prevention, SELF and Huffington Post. She is also a founding member of the Wellness Advisory Board for Everyday Health.

With an interest in media’s power to transform, Darlene founded and was artistic director of UCLA’s Kaleidoscope Theatre, a performance troupe using storytelling to enhance wellbeing. She also hosted The Emotional Toolkit Series on SiriusXM Radio and The Dr. Darlene Mininni Show for Clear Channel in Los Angeles.

My Story

I grew up in a tight-knit, New York Italian family. When I think about my childhood, I remember silly pranks with my brothers and my mom’s famous raviolis on Sunday.

I also think about my dad, who struggled since I was a little girl with chronic illnesses too numerous to name. Watching him and my mother bravely endure his threatening conditions left me with a profound appreciation for life. And a strong desire to answer the question, “How can you thrive no matter what?” In time, my interests expanded beyond health to ask: How can you thrive in your career, relationships, and just plain living?

A WELLBEING CLASS

These questions led me to UCLA, where I developed the first undergraduate course to teach students scientifically-based strategies to thrive in their lives focusing on the 4 pillars of wellbeing: mind, body, relationships and purpose.

Within 10 weeks, my students made profound shifts in their lives and shared their stories of increased happiness, greater success and better relationships. By 18 months, the number of applicants to the class jumped from 30 to 700 and soon my students’ parents were calling to learn these simple lessons.

THRIVING IS A SKILL

It has since become my mission to teach the evidence-based skills of wellbeing to people of all ages. I believe that small changes in our mindset and actions can create powerful shifts in our lives, both personal and professional. 

No matter where life takes you, ask yourself this: “How can I develop and nurture myself in a way that benefits me and those around me?” That’s the question I ask myself. It’s a question that opens the door to your wellbeing.