Meet Danica McKellar
You might remember Danica McKellar as Winnie Cooper from the TV show The Wonder Years. But she’s gone on to accomplish much more since her days as a child actress, including becoming a New York Times bestselling author. In college, Danica discovered she was really good at math. So she started writing books that help young people (and their parents) break down complex mathematical principles into fun, easy-to-understand equations.
Why Danica McKellar Is Mentally Strong
Her bestselling-author status hasn’t ended her acting career, however. Danica continues to star in TV shows and movies, including Hallmark’s popular Christmas movies. She uses her platform to talk about mental health, including her own personal struggles.
What You’ll Hear on the Show
How she reinvented herself How she deals with the fear of failure Why she considers herself a work in progress How girls are getting the message that their main value comes from their appearance Tips for parents who are homeschooling their kids The strategy that helps her feel better when she’s depressed The three things you need in order to discover your purpose The best strategy for accomplishing something big
What You’ll Learn About Reinventing Yourself and Mental Strength
It’s tough to push yourself to take action when you don’t feel like it, but it can definitely help you grow stronger. You might think, “I’ll go to the gym when I feel motivated,” or “I’ll get together with my friends when I feel less depressed.” But sometimes you have to change your behavior first, and your feelings will follow.
Quotes From Danica
“I get super depressed…I’m an actress. I’m empathetic, and it just weighs me down like a ton of bricks..““One of the things I do when I’m feeling down is to ask myself what I can do to make a difference.““People give up on their dreams because they’re afraid they’re going to fail."“I was known as “that girl from the show” over and over again. I had to deal with the fact that the world had not moved on.”
More About the Podcast
The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too.