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Creating massive success for yourself is not an easy task. It's even more challenging when you have to do it from nothing. However, thousands of people throughout history have been able to break through limitations to actualize their dreams. How did they do it? Paulo Coelho tries to answer that question through The Alchemist. In this read, you will learn the everyday challenges people face when pursuing their dreams and tactics to overcome them.
This summary is for everyone who firmly believes they have a destiny to fulfill.
Paulo Coelho is a best-selling author of over 10 books. His works have collectively sold hundreds of millions of copies globally. He is also a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
“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.” ~ Paulo Coelho
Key points
1
Your passion and dreams are powerful pointers to your destiny
What are the things you’re passionate about? Do you have your dreams documented, or have the vicissitudes of life made you forget all about them? Most people know what their destinies are right from childhood. They imagine the kind of lives they want to live and design their futures through imaginative thinking. But then they grow up and forget all about those dreams; they instead begin to follow the norm, doing what everyone else is doing.
It would help if you learned to protect your dreams and passions from negative people and the harshness of this world. If you don’t, your dreams will only be a line of thought you’ve always had but will never become your reality.
It would help if you learned to protect your dreams and passions from negative people and the harshness of this world. If you don’t, your dreams will only be a line of thought you’ve always had but will never become your reality.
Write downyour life goals, and never stop reminding yourself about them.
Your pain and passions are a compass to your destiny. If you follow them carefully, you won’t miss the path. For Santiago, the shepherd boy, his passion has always been to travel the world. And he found that he could do so if he became a shepherd. By following his passion for exploring the world, he met people and circumstances that propelled him to his destiny. He would have missed out on destiny if he had resigned to his father’s peasant life in a small village. But the boy was brave enough to take the bull by the horns and search out his destiny.
Santiago’s life story is a picture of what you should expect when you set out to discover yourself and live life to the fullest. The subsequent chapters will reveal more details on what happens to anyone who wants to fulfill their life call.
Santiago’s life story is a picture of what you should expect when you set out to discover yourself and live life to the fullest. The subsequent chapters will reveal more details on what happens to anyone who wants to fulfill their life call.
It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. ~ Paulo Coelho
2
You won’t see the complete picture at the beginning
You’ve probably heard success stories and have seen how every success begins with a vision, a dream in the heart of the successful person. But what many people fail to realize is that no single successful person ever had their lives entirely figured out in the beginning. Even if a fortune – teller were to spell out your destiny, they could only tell you parts of what your future will look like because they can’t tell the whole picture, either.
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3
Nothing ever comes without a cost
4
Seek counsel when confused
5
You will have some setbacks on your journey, but your reaction to them determines if you succeed or fail
6
Listen to your heart for clear directions
7
