The Five Most Inspiring Quotes from 'The Alchemist'
Inspiration awaits around every corner. We just need to be open enough to acknowledge it.
Take for instance Paolo Coelho's best selling book, The Alchemist. This book tells the story of boy who goes in search of his destiny, which Coelho calls his 'Personal Legend.'
He's travels to different cities, befriends strangers along the way, meets an alchemist who becomes his mentor, and then he ultimately journeys his way to discovering God, himself, and his personal legend.
This story is so powerful because it lights the way for each of us to find our own personal legends. It's a tale of being open, flexible enough to change course, trusting yourself, trusting love, and following your heart.
There are so many universal nuggets of wisdom and truth in this story, and the following quotes are my top five.
These quotes speak of connection with God, living your destiny, and realizing the power each of us holds within.
Brace yourself.
You'll want to Amen! and shout after each these.
1. "No heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity."
Ain't that the truth?! Following your heart on a journey to manifest your dreams is actually taking a journey with God. So many people allow fear to keep them from pursuing their purpose, when it's God who's given us that purpose in the first place. And if it's a God-given dream, don't you think God would journey with us as we work to make it come true?
It's so true that God is with us wherever we go, and this quote shows us that God is especially with us when we're brave enough to go after our dreams.
2. "…his heart whispered, 'Be aware of the place where you are brought to tears. That’s where I am, and that’s where your treasure is.'”
You've probably heard the saying "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." What I love about this quote is that it gives us an indicator of what that relationship feels like, and it also casts this connection in a spiritual light instead of in the material one like in common perception. It shows us that we can feel whether or not we're doing what we're called to do because once you're in that sweet spot of walking in your purpose, your heart will know.
3. "That’s what alchemists do. They show that, when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too."
I love this quote because it teaches us two things: (1) what a good mentor does and (2) what happens when we rise to meet our full potential. In this story, the boy did not go in search of a mentor. Instead, the alchemist was led by his own intuition to sow into this young boy's life. In that relationship, the alchemist pushed the boy to realize his full potential, and in the process, the boy found both his true love as well as his personal legend.
To me, this quote is a symbol for what happens when we open up to life. For when we're open, the universe brings exactly what we need. Opening up allows us to grow from within, which causes our outward life to flourish as well.
4. "The boy reached through to the Soul of the World, and saw that it was a part of the Soul of God. And he saw that the Soul of God was his own soul. And that he, a boy, could perform miracles."
Where do I even begin with this one? So much truth and power in these three little sentences.
Backstory: At this point in the story, the boy had reached a pivotal moment on his journey to find his personal legend. He'd already been equipped with what the alchemist taught him, and at this moment was about to reveal what he was actually made of.
What's most striking about this quote is that is shows us that we're all connected - the world, God, self. There is no division amongst the three. And what's even greater is that, once the boy realizes this, he learns the true power that he holds within himself.
The same is true for each of us. We're all connected to God and to the world, and from the power of this connection, we have the power to co-create the life of our dreams.
5. "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."
Last, but certainly not least, this quote sums up the message of my ENTIRE business. Each of us already has everything we need to fulfill our destiny. We don't need extra certifications to validate us. We don't need to be living in a certain location. We don't need to have a certain pedigree. WE ARE ALREADY FULLY EQUIPPED WITH EVERYTHING WE NEED.
AND...
The only thing that will EVER keep us from living out our dreams and best possible version of our lives is ourself. Allowing fear to stop you from moving forward is the ONLY obstacle that has the potential to keep you from living your personal legend. Everything else is circumstantial.
The good news is that just like with external circumstances, we can also overcome debilitating fear. Just open up, listen to your heart, tap into the power within, and go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
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