“To be fully in the world is to believe that we can love other people and places more than we fear them.” –Gareth Higgins   Have you convinced yourself that you are better off alone? Today we're exploring the dynamics of the Isolation Story — the belief that we can avoid pain by avoiding others. As Gareth Higgins explains, “While it may not be physically violent, the Isolation Story is more than harmful, because it does two things. First, it moves us toward less connection with others, and therefore less community and support when we need it. And second, it turns life grey, where we miss out on the gifts of the rainbow.”  Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about Gareth Higgins, click here. To learn more about Brian McLaren, click here. To explore the seven stories in more depth, visit the website here. You'll find details about the children's book, essays for adults, and more. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Brian or Gareth to answer about the seven stories? Email us: [email protected] or leave us voicemail. Questions for this season will only be accepted until November 22nd, 2023. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!