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I recently read the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It is a story about a shepherd named Santiago who leaves everything he knows to discover treasure in Egypt. During his quest, he learns many lessons but most importantly Santiago discovers the importance of listening to his heart and facing his fears to discover his personal legend. Paulo Coelho defines personal legend as “what you have always wanted to accomplish”, in other words, your destiny. All of us want to discover why we were placed on this earth at this moment in time. All of us wish to fulfill extraordinary goals. All of us yearn for direction for our future. Through Santiago’s story, The Alchemist explains why so many of us are afraid to take action towards our life’s purpose and how to overcome those fears. Below are a few quotes from The Alchemist that opened my eyes to my own life’s purpose and hopefully will encourage you to reflect on your own personal journey.
Tugs at Your Heart
“…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.’”
We’ve all heard the saying, “follow you heart”, many times but I’ve never given it too much thought until I connected it with this quote. Your destiny is the place where your heart is softened. It is what you find a deep connection to. It is what makes you emotional and what you feel passionate about. Many times, I feel I am lost in a world of decisions and distractions but when I truly ponder on what makes me emotional, I can connect that back to my life’s purpose. I can see God placing a little emotional string in our hearts that connect to our destiny, to guide us to discovering life’s paramount assignment, your own personal legend.
Other’s Opinions
“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
There is no one in the world who can tell you what your life’s purpose is, not even your family and friends. The only person who can help you discover your life’s purpose is you, through God’s vision. There is never a shortage of people who will have opinions on how you are living your life. If you are working towards the path of fulfillment, put blinders on those who are casting doubt in your mind. Although it is not easy, block out the judgements, doubts, and opinions of those who don’t support you. You have the power to achieve your dreams and don’t allow anyone to tell you otherwise.
Fear of Failure
“Don’t give in to your fears,” said the alchemist, in a strangely gentle voice. “If you do, you won’t be able to talk to your heart.”
Failure. The thing we fear the most. Such a big part of the fear of failure is putting ourselves out there and then the people closest to us see us fail. Perhaps we feel we are not worthy of achieving extraordinary things. Don’t waste another moment giving into these lies. If you surrender to your fears, you will miss your heart encouraging you to take that next important step towards your life’s purpose. You were made by the hand of God to achieve astounding things because your creator is miraculous. Believe that and you achieve anything through hard work, dedication, and the desire to listen to your heart and not the fear of failure.
We Are In Control
“At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.”
We are in control of the decisions we make and the direction we choose to live our lives. We have the ability to shape our lives into anything we wish. Every choice we make, big or small, will lead us a certain way. Every person has hurdles and hardships along the way but choosing to rise above these is what allows us to thrive. You are in control of your life and if you choose to listen to God through your heart, you will be able to accomplish amazing feats. It is never too late to take action on your dreams and make them a reality. You are in control!
Perfect “Coincidences”
“It’s true; life really is generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend.”
If you choose to listen to God’s calling, through the tugs at your heart, amazing things will begin to happen. You may be introduced to the perfect person to help guide you towards your goal. A sudden job offer may occur that you have been looking and praying for. A friend may encourage you to read the perfect book that you needed to begin steps towards your life’s purpose. You may find the courage to quit the job you were unhappy in for many years to begin focusing on starting your own business. Whatever the situation may be, if you invite God to help you achieve his will for your life, he will help you achieve it, and amazing “coincidences” will begin to happen, all to encourage you that you are on the right path towards your destiny.
Conclusion
All of us have the desire to achieve great things. Our desires will only remain dreams if we don’t take action towards achieving them. I truly recommend reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho to begin reflecting on God’s will for your life. I can’t wait to hear about all the adventures life takes you on when you begin making your dreams a reality. It takes the first step of action, hard work and dedication, prayer and reflection, and from there, my friend, you are capable of amazing things!
If you are unsure of what your life’s purpose is, take a peek at 12 Steps to Fullfillment by Paulo Coelho. He discusses steps to take to begin having a honest conversation with yourself regarding your life’s purpose.
To purchase The Alchemist on Amazon, click below.
Take a peek at my post Carpe Diem, a short reflection on the adventures of each day.
I am so excited for you!
Xo,
Merr
Loved perfect coincidences!