This week’s episode of the Growth Guide podcast features Dr. Kristen Lee, a researcher and expert in the field of behavioral science.  She is the author of Worth the Risk: How to Microdose Bravery to Grow Resilience, Connect More and Offer Yourself to the World.  She talks about her book which provides a fresh take on how risk-taking and resilience can be leveraged for the greater good.

Dr. Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, is a behavioral science clinician, researcher, educator, lecturer, and comedian based in Boston. She is the Lead Faculty for Behavioral Science and Faculty-in-Residence at Northeastern University. Kristen focuses on the well-being and resilience of individuals and organizations, especially those that serve underrepresented communities. She also consults with businesses and leaders worldwide to help them develop positive mental health cultures that reduce the risk of burnout and increase their chances of long-term success.

Throughout today's discussion, we discuss "what-if" living, defined as being plagued by worries about the past and the future. Kristen adds that one's mental health and well-being might be negatively impacted by having such an attitude. She maintains that a "what is" perspective is preferable to a "what if" since it includes embracing the realities of life and concentrating on the positives.

[01:07] What-if living - Instead of being paralyzed by worry and dread, accepting the world as it is and making the best of it can liberate you to pursue your dreams.

[16:57] Microdosing Bravery - Bravery and courage are not about grand gestures or impressive displays but rather about taking small and manageable steps towards our values and goals, facing our fears and anxieties, and getting comfortable with the uncomfortable.

[22:15] Emotional Regulation - When we learn to regulate our emotions, we control our feelings better, react with greater awareness, and rely less on habitual, unthinking responses.

[29:37] Mental Health  - Kristen stresses the need to address the current mental health problem because of the unprecedented level of suffering in the world today.

[37:51] Labels and Diagnostic Frameworks - You are not your diagnosis, you are still [Name].

[01:20:03] Tolerance, Acceptance, And Reverence  - We discuss the difference between the concepts of tolerance, acceptance, and reverence and how these can be used to choose values over passivity when dealing with different biases, racism and other "isms" that exist in the world. 

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Kris(ten) Lee:

Website: kristenlee.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drkris1/

Tiktok: tiktok.com/@drkristherapycomedy

Instagram: instagram.com/therealdrkris/

Twitter: twitter.com/TheRealDrKris

Book by Dr. Kristen Lee

Worth the Risk: How to Microdose Bravery to Grow Resilience, Connect More, and Offer Yourself to the World

Mentioned in the Podcast:

Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion

Life Is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way