Question

“inspected through the lens of paradox, my desire to become an aviator and advertiser contains clues to the core of true self... clues, by definition, are coded and must be deciphered.”
“some journeys are direct and some are circuitous; some are heroic, and some are fearful and muddled. but every journey, honestly undertaken, stands a chance of taking us toward the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.”
questions for reflection from your reading:
“if you seek vocation without understanding the material you are working with, what you build with your life will be ungainly.” what do you think the author means by that?
what role does gaining approval of others play in how you live your life?
as palmer recalls his childhood, he is able to uncover clues tho his true self. what were your childhood fascinations? were you an artist? were you building forts in the woods? what wors of things held your attention?
are there connections between the things that fascinated you then and the life you want to live?
“learning who you are does not simply mean learning your strengths but also your limitations. ‘who are you?’ is a very broad and difficult question to answer. i may not be able to tell you ‘who i am’ but i’ve got a list of stories to tell you who i am not.” finish the sentence “i could never be _, it’s just not me.”

Explanation:

The author likely means that without understanding the 'material' (which could be one's skills, interests, values etc.) in life - the foundation for a vocation - the life one builds will be unbalanced or ill - formed. Gaining approval of others can drive behavior, either positively by aligning with social norms and values or negatively by causing inauthentic actions. Childhood fascinations can be clues to one's true self and may have connections to the life one wants to lead as they can reflect underlying interests and passions. Completing the sentence "I could never be ____, it's just not me." requires self - reflection on what is contrary to one's self - concept.

Answer:

1. The author means that a lack of self - understanding in choosing a vocation leads to an unbalanced life.
2. Gaining approval of others can either positively or negatively influence how one lives.
3. Childhood fascinations can be clues to one's true self and may relate to the desired life.
4. For the sentence completion, it depends on individual self - reflection (e.g., "I could never be a cruel person, it's just not me.").