the alchemist by paulo coelho
written by Jasmine Irven
I rarely read novels anymore, seemingly always searching for another self-help or business book where I can learn, be inspired, and take action steps from, but this fable has given me the urge to begin leaning back into more fiction books, looking to discover wisdom amidst the pages and stories.
The Alchemist follows the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who yearns to travel. Along his journey he meets several people who show him the beautiful workings of the world, and how when you step into your personal legend or journey, things will align and the universe will conspire to help you achieve it. The book “invites us to live out our dreams, embrace the uncertainty of life, and rise to meet our own unique destiny.”
As many of my intentions for 2020 revolve around following my dreams and stepping into my higher self, this book offered a beautiful approach to exploring life lessons and diving deeper into self-discovery, and it’s exactly what I needed to read for some additional guidance on my personal journey.
Below are some of my key takeaways and favourite quotes from the book, which I hope are helpful for providing some guidance and inspiration for you as you aspire to fulfill your own personal legend. And, if they do inspire you, I’d definitely recommend reading the book in its entirety.
on dreams & our personal legend
Coelho writes about the fact that everyone, when they are young, knows what their personal legend is.
“At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their personal legend.”
Think about where this might have manifested in your own life. What were your hopes and dreams as a kid? At what point did you stop believing these were possible? Was it because of something someone said or did? Or did you start to filter yourself based on societal norms?
“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
Stop letting others dictate your future. Instead, lean into your dreams, because it’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. You don’t need to have everything figured out, you don’t need to have a full plan from a - b, or to have mastered your craft. All you need is the vision, the dream, and to start taking small actions towards this dream, giving yourself small wins that prove you’re worthy and capable. Then, lean into and begin to trust the universe.
on the universe & success
A concept that comes up a lot in the book is this idea of leaning into the universe. Because, when you really want something, the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it, “because that desire originated in the soul of the universe.”
At the beginning, you’ll notice this often in the form of beginners luck, or what Coelho describes as the principle of favourability:
“When you play cards the first time, you are almost sure to win…[in a similar way] there is a force that wants you to realize your personal legend; it whets your appetite with a taste of success.”
Where have you noticed this in your own life? When you first step into your higher self, have you seen that opportunities seem to appear where they weren’t before?
As time goes on however, and where many get stuck, is when this apparent beginner’s luck begins to wear off and you begin to be presented with tests and obstacles. It’s important to see these tests not as signs that you shouldn’t take action, but as a way of proving your commitment to your journey; to fulfilling your personal legend.
“Before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream; the darkest hour of the night [comes] just before the dawn.”
And so, in reality, there’s nothing to hold you back except yourself. Because the universe is on your side.
on being present
I’m a sucker for the concept of mindfulness and continue to find it showing up in my life in a variety of ways. Even in pursuit of big dreams and goals like our personal legends, there is a continued importance on being present and in the moment.
In The Alchemist someone brings up a comment that I think often about, and it’s the objection that “maybe I just want to focus on the future so I can prepare myself for what’s coming.” And the response given is the perfect explanation of mindfulness:
“If good things are coming, they will be a pleasant surprise, [and] if bad things are, and you know in advance, you will suffer greatly before they even occur.”
How often has this come up in your own life? How often do we cause ourselves pain and frustration based on worrying about the future? About things that aren’t under our control? Life is the moment you’re living. So focus on the present, be interested in it and mindful of it, and you’ll be much happier (in the present & the future when it comes).
“The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better.”
on fear & suffering
The shepherd also comes across a number of people in his journey, who he sees potential in, but who have given up on their dreams. They often have a number of excuses or reasons why they stopped pursuing their journey, why it wasn’t for them, or why they aren’t capable of achieving it; so many of which are excuses that stem from fear. A few that really resonated with me:
Fear of disappointment
“I’m afraid that it would all be a disappointment, so I prefer just to dream about it. But you are forcing me to look at wealth and at horizons I have never known. Now that I have seen them, and now that I see how immense my possibilities are, I’m going to feel worse than I did before you arrived. Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish, and I don’t want to do so.”
Fear of being uncomfortable
“He had worked for an entire year to make a dream come true, and that dream, minute by minute, was becoming less important. Maybe because that wasn’t really his dream...I can always go back to being a shepherd, the boy thought. I learned how to care for sheep, and I haven’t forgotten how that’s done. But maybe I’ll never have another chance to get to the Pyramids in Egypt.”
Fear of failure
“People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don’t deserve them, or that they’ll be unable to achieve them…[but] there is only one way to learn [and] it’s through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey.”
“If a person is living out his Personal Legend, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
Fear of suffering
“Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place. “So, we, their hearts, speak more and more softly. We never stop speaking out, but we begin to hope that our words won’t be heard: we don’t want people to suffer because they don’t follow their hearts.””
“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say. That way, you’ll never have to fear an unanticipated blow.”
“The fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.”
When have these fears shown up in your own life? When have you given up on something because you aren’t sure of how it will turn out? How will you ever know if you don’t try?
Lean into your intuition; to the language of enthusiasm and of things accomplished and believed in and desired, rather than of fear. Lean into love and exploration and discovery.
final thoughts
“No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn’t know it...on the way toward realizing his own Personal Legend, he had learned all he needed to know, and had experienced everything he might have dreamed of...The path [is] written in the omens, and there [is] no way [you can] go wrong.”
Life is generous to those who pursue their personal legends. The universe wants you to fulfill your life’s purpose, and will conspire to help you achieve it. Lean into this. Take small action in pursuit of your dreams.
Know you’ll experience both beginner’s luck, showing up as seeming miracles and boosts to your intuition, as well as trials and sufferings as you are tested on your commitment. Know that fears will come up, but that there’s no reason to give into these. Know that the universe has your back and that it has prepared a path for you to follow. Focus on your dream and the big picture, but never forget to also experience and soak in the joys of the present moment.
“I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the same hand, and we have the same soul, [and] when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.”
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about the author
Hey there! I’m Jasmine, founder of the Sustainable Bliss Collective, a Certified Meditation Teacher, and lover of all things self-care, slow-living, and personal development.
I believe that ambition and self-care can coexist, and as such I hope to encourage and inspire you to take care of yourself, breathe deeply, connect with who you are, manifest your dreams, enjoy the blissful moments of each day, and make an impact in this beautiful world we call home.
Connect with me on Instagram here!
