Gathering Gold

The Fear of Taking Risks

By nature or nurture, or some combination of the two, some of us are chronically risk averse–especially if we struggle with anxiety. While some cautiousness can be healthy, extreme risk aversion can keep us from engaging with the world deeply, living our values, and just plain enjoying life.

By taking risks, we learn more about ourselves and the world. And by learning more about ourselves and the world, we learn how to take more intentional, skillful, and enriching risks. 

In today’s episode, we explore some of the inner templates that make it challenging for us to take risks, and how we can reframe healthy risk-taking as an exciting part of life and an essential part of personal growth. 

References:

• Gathering Gold Patreon Community
• Recent episodes: "Why It’s Hard to Receive Good Things," "Adding Good Things," and "Living IRL"
• Perennials Podcast episode "Lights Up with Felicia Russell"

Living IRL

Our relationship with screens, digital devices, and online media is complicated. We can gain so much valuable information and connection in a more accessible way, but we can also get sucked into a vortex of information overload, analysis paralysis, social comparison, and doom scrolling. 

In today's episode, we discuss using our devices as tools to help us engage more deeply with the world, not as substitutes for living. We also discuss some of the blocks and obstacles that make it difficult to disengage with with online world: discomfort, awkwardness, and fear, to name a few. And we talk about the importance of living our values through intentional action, not just vicariously.

Whether planting a seed in a pot, having a courageous conversation with a loved one, or visiting a new city, we can always try something new and see what happens. We invite you to reflect with us on your own values and desires to engage with life IRL. 

Adding Good Things

In our last episode, we talked about why it can be hard to receive good things. Today, we are discussing the importance of actively adding good things to our lives. 

It can be easy to focus on all of the problems, challenges, and hardships we are facing, and to assume that if we could just remove those, then we could experience a greater sense of wellbeing. And while there are certainly times to focus on removal of things that are hurting us, there is also great power in pouring our attention into adding goodness: adding more fruits and vegetables onto our plate, adding more visits with friends, adding encouraging thoughts into our inner dialogue. And sometimes, we find that the more good things we add, the easier it is for old painful habits to fall away. 

This can, of course, bring up feelings of “easier said than done.” In today’s episode, we discuss how to work with some of the obstacles to adding good things, from self-judgment to low motivation. 

References:

• Recent Gathering Gold episodes: "Summer Solstice" and "Why it’s Hard to Receive Good Things"
• Pema Chödrön, “No big deal”
• Rob Bell’s podcast 
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• The Many Lives of Mama Love, by Lara Love Hardin
• Sheryl’s book, The Wisdom of Anxiety
• Carl Rogers’ teaching on unconditional positive regard

Why It's Hard to Receive Good Things

Today’s episode was requested by one of our lovely Patreon members, who asked us to talk about why it can be hard to receive good things, and how to do so with more ease.

In this conversation, we discuss some of the stumbling blocks to the unfettered gratitude that we desire: blocks including guilt, shame, fear, and distrust. And, we discuss how we can orient ourselves towards more receptivity, reciprocity, courage, and openheartedness.

References:

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Robin Wall Kimmerer’s upcoming book, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World

Gilmore Girls

Perennials Episode 61: Embracing Weakness with Shannon K Evans

THRESHOLDS: Panic Attacks

We continue our deep dive into themes from Sheryl’s new audio collection Thresholds: Reflections at Midlife, with an exploration of the terrifying undertow of panic attacks. 

Sheryl shares how panic attacks have grabbed her in the ocean, in elevators, while driving, and at nightfall. She introduces the Greek mythological Pan, and gives us a sneak peek into how she befriended the god of pandemonium, which she unpacks in more depth in Thresholds. 

We talk about the subtle shades of light and shadow that can evoke panic, and the roots of trauma from which panic may grow. And we discuss how both on-the-spot tools and deep therapeutic work can help us to move through fear and into life.

For 10% off your purchase of Thresholds, enter code Gold10 at check out.

Patrons of Gathering Gold can receive 20% off with a code that we shared on our Patreon page.

References:

• Pan: the Greek god
• Dare, by Barry McDonagh
• "Imagine," by John Lennon
• "All Things Must Pass," by George Harrison

Summer Solstice

Sheryl and Victoria take a pause from exploring themes of Thresholds: Reflections at Midlife, in order to honor the Summer Solstice. 

Sheryl explains why it is so important to honor these season portals, and receive their goodness. Sheryl and Victoria reflect on their previous episode about Summer from three years ago, and discuss why Sheryl was so focused on loss, nostalgia, and grief at that time. Victoria unpacks how she has grown stronger in using her voice since that episode aired.

Together, Sheryl and Victoria lean into the joyful, abundant, and juicy invitations of summer, while acknowledging the diversity of thematic invitations that each season holds.

References:

• Gathering Gold episode about Summer from June 2021

   

• Find the exact time of Summer Solstice where you are

   

• Gathering Gold Patreon Summer Solstice Meet-Up: June 23

   

• The Power of the Pause episode

   

• The Hidden Gifts in Slowing Down episode

   

• Sheryl's first book, The Conscious Bride

   

• Patreon visualization: Practice Joy

THRESHOLDS: Parenting

Sheryl has entered a new era in her parenting life: an era of letting go.

Today’s episode continues a series exploring themes from Sheryl’s new audiobook, Thresholds: Reflections at Midlife, with a conversation about parenting. As Sheryl’s sons have grown into teenagers, and one has flown the nest (…literally!), Sheryl has welcomed grief, gratitude, and new beginnings. 

Offering personal stories about some of the hardest and most joyful moments in her midlife parenting journey, Sheryl reminds parents to turn towards trust—trust in their children, in Mother Earth, and in life’s unfolding. 

Thresholds is available now! 

References:

• Sheryl’s Trust Yourself course
• The Frugal Friends podcast, episode “How to Keep Your Garden Alive with Nicole Johnsey Burke”

THRESHOLDS: Midlife Magic

Today, we're announcing an exciting new offering from Sheryl: a beautiful audiobook entitled Thresholds: Reflections at Midlife, which will be available next month! 

In today's episode, we share sneak peeks and talk about the seeds of inspiration for this compendium of dreams, poems, stories, and reflections. We discuss myths about midlife, a major decision that Sheryl faced about the direction of her work, and themes of visibility, vitality, self-trust, and leaning into a more feminine way. 

References:

• The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant
• Circle of Stones, by Judith Duerk