A NEW BLOG!

Thank you so much for being part of this blog, Your Happiest Life. If you enjoy being inspired with stories and cutting-edge advice on how to live your happiest life, then come over to my NEW BLOG. That's where I'll be posting from now on.

Let's stay connected! You'll find all my latest articles here: darlenemininni.com


xo Darlene

3 Simple Ways To Create The Life You Want

If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be? Your job? Your finances? Your contribution to the world? Many people dream of something better or something more, but the road from hope to reality can be a bumpy one.  

To create the life you want, you need more than goals and objectives. You need to shake up your normal way of doing things, how you view of yourself and your relationships. Here are 3 simple ways to do that.

1. Do One Thing Differently: Change is often tough because you're used to doing things the way you've always done them. That's called a habit. Thanks to your basal ganglia--the habit-center of your brain--you can drive home from work without even remembering how you got there. Sometimes being on automatic pilot is good, but not when you want to revitalize your life. To do that, you need to use your prefrontal cortex--the thinking-center of your brain.  

To start, you'll need to escape the fog of your routine. Find something in your day you can mix up: eat something new for breakfast, rearrange the furniture in your bedroom, visit a museum on your lunch hour. This engages the decision-making part of your brain that moves you forward.  

ACTION STEP: What one habit in your routine can you change today?

2. Shift Your Identity: How you view yourself is connected to the choices you make. If you think of yourself as unlucky, you probably won't apply for that competitive job. But if you see yourself as a winner, you likely will. That means to change your life, you need to see yourself in a new way.  

First, imagine who you want to be rather than what you want to do. Maybe instead of a couch potato you want to see yourself as fit. Carry that new self-image in your mind, and when the opportunity arises, ask yourself, "What would a fit person do?" If you're about to hop onto the elevator, you might now decide to take the stairs instead. Over time, you begin to rewire your brain with this new identity, and little by little, your life transforms.  

ACTION STEP: Who would you need to be to create the life you want? Start making choices as if you are that person already.

3. Connect with Supportive People: You can create change alone, but having cheerleaders along the way propels you forward faster, further and with less effort. Imagine how much easier it is to eat healthy when you've got a cooking buddy or to start a new business when you have a mentor?  

People with just one person in their corner to support, motivate or inspire them, have lower blood pressure, less anxiety and higher self-esteem. And with each connection--whether it's a listening ear, an approving nod or help loading your trunk--you'll stimulate the release of hormones responsible for calm and relaxation.  

ACTION STEP: When you think about the change you want in your life, who can help you make it happen? Find those people and ask for their support today.

Dr. Drew's New TV Show - Lifechangers!

Dr. Darlene Mininni Joins The Team!

I'm so excited to be part of Dr. Drew's new show Lifechangers as its resident Happiness Expert.

The program, which premieres September 19 on the CW, provides guests and viewers with simple, practical tools to turn their lives around on topics ranging from relationships to health to fitness.

Don't miss it!

Meet the Lifechangers

Is There An Upside To The Downside?

Nobody wants bad stuff to happen to them, yet sooner or later, if you're human, it probably will.

But the good news is that despite the difficulty of some events--like illness, job loss or financial troubles--many people come out the other side not only surviving, but thriving. There's even a name for it: Post-Traumatic Growth.

That was the case for Harry Potter best-selling author JK Rowlings as she looks back at the hardships she endured as a struggling, depressed single mother determined to write a book.

Although you probably won't feel the upside of your suffering when you're in the thick of it, given some time, many people, including JK, say they're stronger, wiser and more deeply connected to people because of it.

How To Grow From Tough Situations

If you're dealing with a hardship, here are 3 suggestions to help you ultimately thrive:

1. Accept It. When you're in a crisis, wishing things were different only makes it worse. Start by accepting where you are. JK Rowlings says doing that gave her a sense of freedom that allowed her to pursue her path.

2. Discover Your Strengths. Sometimes you don't realize the depth of your courage, your tenacity or your talents until they've been tested. The famous author found that she had a strong will and an ability to survive that she never knew.

3. Connect with Caring People. Accepting help from people who care about you will make you stronger. JK says adversity helped her realize the gift of her true friendships.

What Has Life Taught You?

Every experience in your life teaches you something. Some life lessons are fun to learn like: pudding tastes better with whipped cream. Then there are the lessons that aren't so fun like: losing a loved one hurts.

But what about other peoples' experiences? Can they teach you something too? I've always been inspired listening to peoples' stories because I believe every person's experience has something to teach me.

How To Benefit From Others' Stories

As you listen to others' stories, ask yourself these 2 questions:

1. What I can learn from their experience?

2. How do their lessons apply to my own life?

Here's a story from journalist and former California First Lady Maria Shriver that inspired me:

When Maria Shriver was "freaking out" trying to balance family, marriage and career, she felt like she was coming up short in every area. Then one day her mother said to her, "Maria, you can have and be all the things you want to be. Just do it over a lifetime. Don't try to do them all at once, because you can't."

That story meant a lot to me. It's a lesson I never forgot.

Steve Jobs' Advice For You!

If you've ever heard of the Mac computer, iPod or iPhone, then you've heard of Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer. He's a revoluntionary thinker, cultural icon and former TIME magazine Person of the Year.

But the path for this wildly successful college drop-out hasn't been an easy one. In fact, it's been surprisingly difficult. That's why I want to share his moving story with you. In his 15-minute graduation speech to Stanford University students, Steve reveals how his hard-won wisdom has ultimately guided his life.

In your life, you're sure to face unexpected or unwanted challenges. If so, remember Steve's inspiring lessons:

• Believe in yourself
• Have faith in your future
• Follow your heart

WATCH STEVE'S

WORDS OF WISDOM

My Holiday Gift To You!

Are you stressed just thinking about the holidays?

Then go to the beach.

The holidays can be a time of joy and fun. They can also be a time for worry and stress. So wouldn't be nice if you could get away to a peaceful beach whenever you felt overwhelmed? Well, you can...with guided imagery.

Guided imagery is a relaxation technique that uses the power of your imagination to calm your mind and body. Since your brain doesn't know the difference between reality and fantasy, when you daydream in a focused way, your body thinks it's real.

As my holiday gift to you, I've recorded a special guided imagery where I personally guide you through a 6-minute beach getaway. You can listen to it on your lunch break, before bed, whenever you'd like. You'll feel like you've just taken a mini-vacation. Looks like a little daydreaming can be a good thing after all.

Happy Holidays and Enjoy!

Free Beach Getaway Guided Imagery