Words of Wisdom from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
This is one of the most profound books I’ve ever read on life, and the meaning of life. Coelho has written this book in the style of a parable (a story that is designed to teach a lesson), which makes it accessible to anyone of any age. I plan on reading this book with my children because the message is priceless. Here are the key learnings I took away from this book:
1. Ask the universe for help
“when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
2. Never give up – keep getting up
“The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”
3. Focus on YOUR life, not other people’s
“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
4. Everyone matters
“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.”
5. Anyone can achieve their dreams
“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”
6. Enjoy every moment
“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.”
7. Appreciate every. single. day.
“When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”
8. Listen to your heart, always.
“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say.”
9. Keep moving forward
“And, when you can’t go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward.”
10. This is the meaning of life
“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation.”
11. We are not controlled by fate alone.
“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.”
12. Don’t give up too soon
“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. That’s the point at which most people give up. It’s the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one ‘dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.”
13. Remain in the present
“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.”
