Good Life Project Finding Your True Calling Through Life's Darkest Moments | Parker J. Palmer
Oct 17, 2025
Parker J. Palmer, a renowned writer and activist, shares his transformative journey through profound depression to discover his true calling. He discusses how embracing pain and vulnerability leads to authentic living and purpose. With gentle wisdom, Palmer emphasizes the importance of community in personal discernment, the role of shadow work in understanding power dynamics, and learning from failures in one's vocation. His insights encourage listeners to explore the interplay between inner guidance and the world, ultimately advocating for a life lived fully and authentically.
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From Burnout To Communal Renewal
- Parker left academia and community organizing after feeling burned out and spent 11 years at Pendle Hill, which transformed his sense of entitlement and status.
- That communal living taught him equality, simplicity, and reshaped his vocational path into writing and teaching.
Pain And Imagination Propel Change
- Major life change often begins when pain becomes too deep to ignore and active imagination opens new possibilities.
- Palmer describes experimenting with communal life as living his way into a new kind of thinking.
Run Experiments, Value Learning Over Success
- Treat life choices as experiments where failed attempts eliminate variables and teach you what not to do.
- Prioritize learning from each step rather than expecting instant, certain success.
