Heart Lessons from the Alchemist

I just recently finished the reading of The Alchemist, for the second time. And this reading seemed better than the first time I read it. It is filled with many life golden nuggets that if pondered upon, will certainly open up a world of possibilities for the reader.

Here are a few nuggets about listening to your heart, that struck chords with me:

• The heart is afraid that in pursuing your dream, you might lose everything you've won. 
• You will never again be able to keep your heart quiet. Even if you pretend not to have heard what it tells you, it will always be there inside of you repeating to you what you're thinking about life and the world.
• 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. 
• Along the way of our journey, we learn to trust our hearts, read the seemingly inconspicuous signs and understand that as we look to fulfill our dream, it looks to find us just the same, if we let it. 
• Because wherever your heart is, that is where you'll find your treasure. 

Although this is a fictional story, it is filled with so many nonfictional life lessons. I recently watched the author, Paulo Coelho on Super Soul Sunday with Oprah, and it was interesting to learn that he wrote this book in about two weeks and yet, it produces a lifetime of lessons.

Initially, there were only 900 copies printed at the time of the first publishing. The book was not a great seller at that time, so the publishing company decided not to print any more. It wasn't until years later that this book would become a phenomenon in its own right selling millions of copies and let me tell you something, it has made a world of difference in the lives of many people. 

I first heard about it in a video that Will Smith was in. Then I heard that Julia Roberts and President Bill Clinton read and spoke about it. From there, I've heard countless others tell their own stories and alchemy experiences. 

For those who have never read it, here is quick synopsis that I took from the back of the book:

It is about a shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried at the Pyramids. Along the way, he encounters some people who point him in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if he will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find wordly good turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. 

Lush, evocative and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. 

I give this book 2 Thumbs Up and highly recommend it for those who feel as if they are just drifting and don't know how to stop it. 

Thanks for reading. Leave a comment and feel free to share this post. You are Destined for Purpose: Empowered by Passion. Cassandra