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Worth the Risk: How to Microdose Bravery to Grow Resilience, Connect More, and Offer Yourself to the World
Discover the rewards of strategic risk-taking―an award-winning behavioral scientist shares a practical guide on using small, intentional acts of courage to build resilience, confidence, and connection.
We’re bombarded by messages about how dangerous the world is―from both real and fake news. Yet when we hunker down and try to live in a bubble of safety, we can cut ourselves off from the richness and joy life has to offer. In Worth the Risk , Dr. Kristen Lee shows us that by “microdosing” small acts of bravery and connection, we can regain the self-confidence and resilience we need to live full and meaningful lives. “We are hardwired for risk-taking,” she says. “As we become more comfortable with the uncomfortable, our nervous system changes to support us in experiencing a bold, adventurous, colorful life.”
In each chapter of Worth the Risk , Lee provides a solid dose of brain science combined with practical actions to build confidence and sustain yourself through challenges. With a blend of stories, composite sketches, science, ancient wisdom, behavioral science, and practical exercises, you’ll
• What is courage? Debunking the myths and discovering the power of everyday acts of bravery
• Why feeling overwhelmed doesn’t make you a “snowflake”
• Tools for understanding and regulating your emotions, anxieties, and habits of avoidance
• Healing practices and guidance to increase your resilience to trauma, acute stress, and PTSD
• Insights and strategies for navigating the unique challenges of our polarized, media-saturated culture
• How to own your “Personal Legend” and become an active liberator―for yourself and others
Risks are a part of life―and “playing it safe” can end up diminishing the very qualities that allow us to adapt, create, and serve our purpose in life. Worth the Risk guides you through a powerful approach to taking small, values-aligned chances that increase your ability to thrive. “You are not your trauma, labels, fears, or raw emotions,” Lee writes. “You are wired for resilience. Your human spirit is indomitable.”
We’re bombarded by messages about how dangerous the world is―from both real and fake news. Yet when we hunker down and try to live in a bubble of safety, we can cut ourselves off from the richness and joy life has to offer. In Worth the Risk , Dr. Kristen Lee shows us that by “microdosing” small acts of bravery and connection, we can regain the self-confidence and resilience we need to live full and meaningful lives. “We are hardwired for risk-taking,” she says. “As we become more comfortable with the uncomfortable, our nervous system changes to support us in experiencing a bold, adventurous, colorful life.”
In each chapter of Worth the Risk , Lee provides a solid dose of brain science combined with practical actions to build confidence and sustain yourself through challenges. With a blend of stories, composite sketches, science, ancient wisdom, behavioral science, and practical exercises, you’ll
• What is courage? Debunking the myths and discovering the power of everyday acts of bravery
• Why feeling overwhelmed doesn’t make you a “snowflake”
• Tools for understanding and regulating your emotions, anxieties, and habits of avoidance
• Healing practices and guidance to increase your resilience to trauma, acute stress, and PTSD
• Insights and strategies for navigating the unique challenges of our polarized, media-saturated culture
• How to own your “Personal Legend” and become an active liberator―for yourself and others
Risks are a part of life―and “playing it safe” can end up diminishing the very qualities that allow us to adapt, create, and serve our purpose in life. Worth the Risk guides you through a powerful approach to taking small, values-aligned chances that increase your ability to thrive. “You are not your trauma, labels, fears, or raw emotions,” Lee writes. “You are wired for resilience. Your human spirit is indomitable.”
264 pages, Hardcover
Published June 14, 2022
19 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Lee
3 books20 followersDr. Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, known as “Dr. Kris” is a recovering perfectionist, proud Mama, and an internationally recognized, award-winning author, clinician, researcher, educator, speaker and activist with over twenty years of experience. As Lead Faculty for Behavioral Science at Northeastern University in Boston, her research and teaching interests include individual and organizational well-being and resilience, particularly for marginalized and underserved populations. She is author of Reset: Make the Most of Your Stress, Winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Motivational Book of 2015, and Mentalligence: A New Psychology of Thinking. She is a regular contributor for the Huffington Post and Psychology Today and her work has been featured on NPR and CPS radio.
Her signature ability to engage with a diverse range of audiences has led her to be invited to speak nationally and internationally to students, educators, health and mental health professionals, business leaders and general audiences. Some of the venues she speaks at include Harvard University, Virgin Pulse, and Johnson & Johnson. In her spare time, she can be found out on the running trails, attempting tricky yoga poses, eating peanut butter cups and drinking kale juice—but not all at once.
Her signature ability to engage with a diverse range of audiences has led her to be invited to speak nationally and internationally to students, educators, health and mental health professionals, business leaders and general audiences. Some of the venues she speaks at include Harvard University, Virgin Pulse, and Johnson & Johnson. In her spare time, she can be found out on the running trails, attempting tricky yoga poses, eating peanut butter cups and drinking kale juice—but not all at once.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 29, 2022
A Booster Shot of Encouragement
The art of "daily life" -- la vita quotidiana -- was mastered by my ancestors, who were adeptly able at staying present, hour to hour. Hard labor took their hours. My "modern life" is more rife with anxiety and fear, heightened now, with underlying grave health conditions, during the pandemic. THIS BOOK IS HELPING ME HEAL. The words on these pages, are in my corner, like a compassionate coach, listening, empathizing, and urging me on to micro-dose risk to live the life that I want to live, everyday. The world needs this book, right now, when mental health and violence is at a nadir, and Dr. Kris dishes out delightfully peppered with humor, the truest medicine of all. I am comforted by her comedic and personal asides, woven with details from her own life, and her astute pragmatic breakdowns toward evermore emotional freedom.
The art of "daily life" -- la vita quotidiana -- was mastered by my ancestors, who were adeptly able at staying present, hour to hour. Hard labor took their hours. My "modern life" is more rife with anxiety and fear, heightened now, with underlying grave health conditions, during the pandemic. THIS BOOK IS HELPING ME HEAL. The words on these pages, are in my corner, like a compassionate coach, listening, empathizing, and urging me on to micro-dose risk to live the life that I want to live, everyday. The world needs this book, right now, when mental health and violence is at a nadir, and Dr. Kris dishes out delightfully peppered with humor, the truest medicine of all. I am comforted by her comedic and personal asides, woven with details from her own life, and her astute pragmatic breakdowns toward evermore emotional freedom.
December 31, 2022
A new year is right around the corner. We seem to make resolutions that never really stick. What we can do is make a resolution to do better because we know better. One way to do that is by reading and learning.
I highly recommend this read that will help you do better and be better!!! I have applied what I learned to my life already and I am reaping the rewards!
I highly recommend this read that will help you do better and be better!!! I have applied what I learned to my life already and I am reaping the rewards!
November 1, 2023
Mixed feelings on this one. Dr. Lee's overall message and intentions are good--in order to get good results in life you have to be willing to take risks and for some people that is more difficult than others--but her way of delivering said message occasionally got on my nerves. I also don't know that that message I just summed up in a few words warranted this entire book. It presents itself as a "how to" guide, but there were only a couple of things I personally felt were actionable. Maybe it always had to be that way, though; after all, much of this issue has to do with internal thoughts.
I heard Dr. Lee speak in person at a professional development presentation for my job and was moved to tears when she spoke about her depression. Meanwhile, hearing her words spoken by the audiobook narrator, Eva Wilhelm, felt lifeless and occasionally cringeworthy. I won't say that all of what Lee has to say is brilliant (there was an entire aside story at one point where the punchline was basically just "a kid farted in an enclosed space") but maybe her work is better kept confined to public speaking appearances. I was more engaged hearing her speak. On that note, BOY were a lot of her talking points word for word the same in her presentation as they were in this book.
There were descents into what felt like humblebragging on Dr. Lee's part about various influential figures and connections she made. It exasperated me. Maybe I should just suck it up and accept that I need to be braver about shamelessly networking rather than feel nettled. Am I just jealous? Maybe I'm just jealous.
A couple of positive things--many of the quotations from other figures throughout felt appropriate, interesting, and varied in their ideas and sources, so that's a plus. Comedians, philosophers, modern, ancient, etc. I was also forced to confront the idea that I am not my accomplishments. As a chronic overachiever and hard worker, I value what I have done and am able to do a lot, but it would doubtless be helpful if I parsed out my identity from those things. After all, I can't take for granted that I'll still be able to perform XYZ thing tomorrow.
I don't want to sound like I perceived this book altogether negatively--I did finish it, after all, and I'm settling on a middle of the road rating--but there are a few things holding it back. This might just be another one on the pile of "how many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?" self-help books that aren't very good at helping me help myself.
I heard Dr. Lee speak in person at a professional development presentation for my job and was moved to tears when she spoke about her depression. Meanwhile, hearing her words spoken by the audiobook narrator, Eva Wilhelm, felt lifeless and occasionally cringeworthy. I won't say that all of what Lee has to say is brilliant (there was an entire aside story at one point where the punchline was basically just "a kid farted in an enclosed space") but maybe her work is better kept confined to public speaking appearances. I was more engaged hearing her speak. On that note, BOY were a lot of her talking points word for word the same in her presentation as they were in this book.
There were descents into what felt like humblebragging on Dr. Lee's part about various influential figures and connections she made. It exasperated me. Maybe I should just suck it up and accept that I need to be braver about shamelessly networking rather than feel nettled. Am I just jealous? Maybe I'm just jealous.
A couple of positive things--many of the quotations from other figures throughout felt appropriate, interesting, and varied in their ideas and sources, so that's a plus. Comedians, philosophers, modern, ancient, etc. I was also forced to confront the idea that I am not my accomplishments. As a chronic overachiever and hard worker, I value what I have done and am able to do a lot, but it would doubtless be helpful if I parsed out my identity from those things. After all, I can't take for granted that I'll still be able to perform XYZ thing tomorrow.
I don't want to sound like I perceived this book altogether negatively--I did finish it, after all, and I'm settling on a middle of the road rating--but there are a few things holding it back. This might just be another one on the pile of "how many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?" self-help books that aren't very good at helping me help myself.
February 8, 2022
Excellent book for those who struggle with fear either from within or without. Fear is contagious. The intensive journal work and ideas presented in this book are an inoculation to fear for fear's sake. Highly recommend.
June 17, 2025
I was able to read this one pretty quickly, and I’m well on my way to my reading goal for the year.
Worth the Risk has been one of the better psychology/self-care books I’ve read. It covers a lot of ground and gives you not only great insights but also amazing quotes and anecdotes that help support Lee’s themes.
This book is structured with “sessions” instead of chapters, and it really feels like you’re going to therapy. At the end of each chapter, there is a worksheet that gives you tons of reflection questions and action steps to really process what was said. I could not have appreciated this more and wrote 20+ pages of pure reflection, which I haven’t done in months.
I do have a few critiques. Not every session has the same impact, and the quality of reflection questions can vary based on what connects to you more. There were also a few writing errors, and sometimes Lee has a very “text”-like ”approach to her writing. This is a double-edged sword, as it makes it feel like I’m not reading a textbook but could also be distracting.
All in all, definitely worth the risk to read (pun intended), especially if you have an interest in mental health and growth mindsets. This book has had a significant impact on the way I think, and I’m excited to see the long-term ways reading this can influence me.
Worth the Risk has been one of the better psychology/self-care books I’ve read. It covers a lot of ground and gives you not only great insights but also amazing quotes and anecdotes that help support Lee’s themes.
This book is structured with “sessions” instead of chapters, and it really feels like you’re going to therapy. At the end of each chapter, there is a worksheet that gives you tons of reflection questions and action steps to really process what was said. I could not have appreciated this more and wrote 20+ pages of pure reflection, which I haven’t done in months.
I do have a few critiques. Not every session has the same impact, and the quality of reflection questions can vary based on what connects to you more. There were also a few writing errors, and sometimes Lee has a very “text”-like ”approach to her writing. This is a double-edged sword, as it makes it feel like I’m not reading a textbook but could also be distracting.
All in all, definitely worth the risk to read (pun intended), especially if you have an interest in mental health and growth mindsets. This book has had a significant impact on the way I think, and I’m excited to see the long-term ways reading this can influence me.
Read
May 12, 2023Worth the Risk is an interesting read about microdosing bravery and taking small risks. I loved many things about this book, including the various chapters' names (‘you are not your automations’, ‘you are not your fear’, etc.), the numerous examples, research and worksheets in the book. There are many opportunities to self-reflect in these pages. There are also quotes from known and unknown people about the topics. The book refers to many works I am already familiar with like those of Brene Brown, Julia Cameron, and Paulo Coelho.
I struggled with the writing in this book. There were pop culture references, anecdotes, capital letters, analogies and situations that I could not relate to. Some concepts that were introduced like Family of Origins were not thoroughly explained. There was breadth but not enough depth for new concepts. There is a lot packed in this book.
I consider this a motivational read that I go back to for quotes. I have highlighted a lot of good stuff that I am hoping to reread and reflect on.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me a complimentary copy of the book for an honest review.
I struggled with the writing in this book. There were pop culture references, anecdotes, capital letters, analogies and situations that I could not relate to. Some concepts that were introduced like Family of Origins were not thoroughly explained. There was breadth but not enough depth for new concepts. There is a lot packed in this book.
I consider this a motivational read that I go back to for quotes. I have highlighted a lot of good stuff that I am hoping to reread and reflect on.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me a complimentary copy of the book for an honest review.
June 1, 2025
This book started out as I expected, encouraging readers to take risks to acknowledge who they are. Then, for me, it got a little uncomfortable, with very liberal topics. There were some sections the author uses her own made up acronyms which were hard to follow since it is not common vernacular. Perhaps my favorite part of the book was the Recommendation section at the back. What a great resource to help readers open their minds to truth versus norms. She gives many suggestions to help interested readers learn and grow.
July 6, 2022
Fun. Transformational. A Must Post-Pandemic Read!!
A unique approach to the power of mental health and flourishing. Lots of fun jokes and comedy that make this an enjoyable read.
This is a powerful healing book after the COVID pandemic. Worth the Risk approaches mental health with a lot of fun, joy, and science-based microdoses to help find the light within+after the tunnel.
A unique approach to the power of mental health and flourishing. Lots of fun jokes and comedy that make this an enjoyable read.
This is a powerful healing book after the COVID pandemic. Worth the Risk approaches mental health with a lot of fun, joy, and science-based microdoses to help find the light within+after the tunnel.
October 25, 2025
This book was cute and also kind of annoying, had some good reminders, and filled in some small gaps for me. It felt like a nice friend that accompanied me for a bit while I read it. The grammatical errors and lack of editing were really jarring.
November 14, 2022
The author's voice shines through as she encourages the reader to "microdose" bravery and make safe bets to build courage and resilience over time. And the safest bet is on ourselves.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews