[Free Book] Notes From The Alchemist - 85 Insights From One Of the Greatest Parables Ever Written by msalek

NOTES FROM THE ALCHEMIST 85 INSIGHTS FROM ONE OF THE GREATEST PARABLES EVER WRITTEN

M SALEK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Notes & Insights

Favourite Quotes

Closing Thoughts

Pay It Forward

Other Books By The Author

About The Author

INTRODUCTION

Reading has always been one of my greatest passions in life. When I was a child, it was a great form of escape. While growing up, it was a great form of entertainment. Over the last decade or so, it has been a great source of learning, and insight.

I have to admit, over the last couple of years I got a bit engrossed in the knowledge seeking. So much so that I haven't read a fiction book in over 8 years. That is not to say I do not read for pleasure, because I do – I absolutely love learning new things, so reading is always fun. That said, there is a certain level of pleasure that you can get from a good story that non-fiction books just can't replicate. That was partly why I picked up Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist last December (and partly because it has been on my reading list for the longest time).

The Alchemist is one of the most famous books around, and frequently features on the “must-read” lists. So I wanted to find out for myself what the big deal was. I am happy to say that it did not disappoint. Coelho's Alchemist is the best parable I have come across to date. He did a masterful job at spinning an epic tale of a boy's journey, and destiny. I found the book to be not just entertaining, but also quite insightful.

When I find a book really insightful, I usually take notes. Only this time, I decided to expand on my notes so that others can benefit from them too. After all, knowledge kept to oneself is hardly of any benefit to others.

So what comes next are my notes, and insights, from The Alchemist. I do hope you find them useful.

Manila, Jan 2020

NOTES & INSIGHTS

Humans are adaptable: The boy got used to the schedule of the

sheep he was taking care of, even though that was not his original schedule. This is exactly what happens to each and every one of us – when we start something new, it's unfamiliar, sometimes uncomfortable even. But over time, we get used to it. It's never a question of “if” we will get used to something, but “when”.

Animals can be great companions: Like the sheep became

great companions for Santiago. He was alone most of the time, and told the sheep about his thoughts and life. Humans don't always need humans for companionship. This is of course why so many people have pets.

Don't complain about your burden, especially when you've

benefited from the object: That's what happened to the shepherd, Santiago, when he was getting frustrated about carrying his heavy jacket around. But upon reflection, he realised that the jacket actually was really useful during winter when it kept him warm. Without the jacket, he would have suffered. It's important to take stock of what we have and realise how they benefit us, before complaining about them. Perspective is a great thing.

Self-awareness helps us get perspective, and helps limit

mistakes: This is what Santiago did in the jacket situation. If he didn't have self-awareness, he would not have stopped to think about the flip side of carrying around the heavy jacket, and might even have done something stupid like throw the jacket - which would have been a cause for suffering come next winter. Selfawareness can help prevent us from making mistakes.

Parents often struggle so that their children can have a

better life: This was the case for Santiago's father, who longed to travel too but couldn't because of his responsibilities to his family. Parents, often, make sacrifices for their children.

God doesn't only exist in seminaries: This was the realisation

Santiago had one day, while he was reflecting about his life and the experiences he'd had, and was going to have. God, by His very definition, is Omni-present after all, and as such is present everywhere.

7. Taking unexplored paths can help us discover interesting and new things: This is why Santiago often let his sheep set the route, rather than determine a route using paths he'd already used. We're more likely to come across something new and/or interesting when we take unfamiliar paths (both literally and figuratively).

8. "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting": For Santiago, the dream that drove him during the first stage was that of meeting the merchant's daughter again, and that dream kept him happy and focused. Dreams and goals are great sources of inspiration, and can help make our lives more interesting and meaningful.

9. The stories we hear about others are usually what gives rise to prejudice: Like the stories Santiago had heard about the gypsies. Even though he was more open-minded than most people (largely thanks to his travels), he still could not help but feel apprehensive when he went to the old Gypsy woman. This is why it is important to separate facts from fiction when it comes to dealing with people you're not familiar with, because what you might have heard about someone might not necessarily be true. Don't be quick to judge others, especially when you are basing your judgement on assumptions and hearsay.

10. Taking chances makes life more interesting: As Santiago puts it in the book "a shepherd always takes his chances with wolves and with drought, and that's what makes a shepherd's life exciting". Variety matters.

11. "It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary": This is what the old Gypsy woman told Santiago, and it is true. The little things in life are what makes our lives so wonderful, and extraordinary. Don't let familiarity, or the lack of perspective, blind you to all the great things around you. Appreciating all the little things that make your life great is actually a great way to increase your happiness level. So take a moment to appreciate the little things, regularly.

12. "If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry": This reminded of the expression â&#x20AC;&#x153;like people, like peopleâ&#x20AC;?. People are generally more prone to like people who are like them. The familiarity breeds likeness. Works the other way too, and this is why people often dislike people who are not like them. This is a bad way of thinking though, and can lead to prejudice and bias â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we stand to benefit more by being open and inclusive, especially when we cross paths with those who are not like us.

13. "Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his/her own": Often people are quick to pass judgments on what others should do and how others should lead their lives, even though they might not have any clarity about what exactly they should do or how they should lead their lives. This is because it is easy to tell others what to do, but not so easy to follow through. This is a common tendency, but not one to beat yourself over if you have done this, as knowing this can help you become more self-aware.

14. It is important to be respectful of the elderly: This is something Santiago's father taught him. This is a good lesson. This rule doesn't just apply to the elderly though, but to all people in general. Give respect - not only because that's the right and good thing to do, but also because it is the best way to get respect back.

15. The world's greatest lie is "that 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 what the old man told Santiago. This is, in fact, what Santiago didn't do. His parents wanted him to become a priest, but he chose differently â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he decided to take charge of his own life, and chose to become a shepherd in order to travel. He could have just resigned himself to â&#x20AC;&#x153;fateâ&#x20AC;? and gone with what his parents wanted, but he did not. He did not let fate control his life. Not everything in our lives is out of our control.

16. Often people don't want to ask about things for fear of appearing ignorant: This is what the boy did when he chose not to ask the old man about Salem, because he didn't want him to think he was ignorant. But that is a bad way of thinking, and counterproductive, as it actually perpetuates ignorance, rather than remedying it! Better option is to ask. That is the only way to know.

17. "People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of": As the King of Salem told Santiago this, he used the baker with the dream for travelling as an example. The baker delayed his dreams because he wanted to put money aside. But that meant delaying his dreams till late, which is not what Santiago did. If you have a dream, don't postpone it. It's better to find a way of achieving that, like how Santiago chose to become a shepherd to realise his dream of travelling, than delay it and risk never achieving the dream (and living with regrets).

18. Often people give up on their dreams right when just a little more effort would have helped them reach their destination: This is what nearly happened to the miner who was about to give up on his goal, his Personal Legend, of finding emeralds just when he was about to find them. If he had given up like he was thinking about, he never would have accomplished his goal. Achieving oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal isn't always easy, but giving up guarantees that it is never reached.

19. "If you start out by promising what you don't even have yet, you'll lose your desire to work toward getting it": Giving up what you do not even have can be demoralising, as then you might wonder what the point is in working hard. It's like promising to give up money you have not even earned yet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if you have to work hard for it, you might wonder why you are doing it as you have to give up some or all of it. This can be a bad way to start something.

20. Everything in life has a price: That's one of the things the King of Salem told Santiago about when he heard about his deal with the Gypsy woman. Everything in life does have a price, whether that is paid with money, or time, or energy or something else. This is one of the reasons why it is important to think carefully before you do something.

21. "Sometimes it's better to leave things as they are": This was what the boy thought about when he contemplated telling the baker what the old man had told him about the baker's goals. But he resisted the urge because even though the baker might not have quite achieved what he wanted originally (to travel), he had a good life. Telling him about the old man's point, about what could have been, would only cause him unnecessary anxiety and unhappiness. There are times when something needs to be said, but then there are also times when saying nothing is the better course of action. These are situations where weighing up the pros and the cons becomes useful.

22. It's important not to make snap judgments: - That's what the ticket seller did when he assumed Santiago was just a penniless dreamer, without knowing that he could afford the ticket to Africa just by selling one of his sheep. People often make snap judgments - but they are often misinformed, and as such this is the wrong thing to do. You wouldn't like others making snap judgments about you, so why not extend that courtesy to others?

23. There are few better ways to learn about something than learning by doing: When the boy started off with his flock of sheep, he didn't really know much about being a shepherd. But he learned a lot on the job, and got pretty good at it. This doesn't just happen in fictional stories though and nor is it an isolated incident. That's how it usually works with nearly everything - often when we start something new, we might know very little (if anything at all) about it; but with time and practice, we get better. Persistence is key to this. So, if you want to learn something (and I mean really learn), find a way to learn the thing by doing it, as that's really the best way to learn.

24. Making a choice between what we have and what we want is a part of life: This is the position Santiago found himself in, after his encounter with the old man. He really wanted to go after that treasure that he'd dreamed about, but he was also quite comfortable with his life as a shepherd. We all have to choose between something we have become used to, and something we want to have, at some point or another in our lives. And those choices dictate the direction that our life takes. So it is important to make this decision with careful consideration.

25. "When each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognise the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises" â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Every day is a blessing, whether we recognise it or not. The fact that we wake up is a blessing. Not everyone on earth gets to wake up this morning. So the next time you think about complaining about your life, consider all the ways you are blessed. Because even if it might not feel that you are blessed, you really are, and there are lots of things to be grateful for.

26. "The secret to happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon": This is what the wisest man in the world told the shopkeeper's son. He was talking about being appreciative and mindful of what you have, while also enjoying learning about and enjoying the wonders around us. The bottom line is that it is important to maintain a balance, as forgetting about one in favour of the other can cause unhappiness. So be mindful of what you have, while also enjoying the other things as and when you come across them.

27. Travelling can help you make friends: When Santiago went to Tangier, he didn't know anyone, until he met the Spanish speaking local boy. That helped them forge a friendship. Often travel helps you meet new people who you then become friends with. But there is a caveat to this, as you'll learn below.

28. The next best thing to not knowing the language of your destination is to get a local guide: That's what really helped Santiago out when he nearly got robbed by the owner of the bar. Having a local guide can make a huge difference when exploring new and unfamiliar places. That said, it is really important to choose your guide well, as bad choices can have serious consequences.

29. Beware of the kindness of strangers: The new friend Santiago made, unfortunately, turned out to be not a friend at all, but rather someone who wanted to rob him. Often in new places you'll come across locals who seem very friendly and helpful. Most of the time they really are friendly and helpful, but not all the time. So it is important to be cautious. Most definitely, do not do what Santiago did and give them your money!

30. Your life can change at a moment's notice: When Santiago arrived at Tangier's, he had money, and a plan. But within a few hours, he had been robbed of his money and was lost and confused. In a matter of hours, his fortunes had completely changed. That's just how life works sometimes. You never really know exactly how things will play out. This is why it's good to be pragmatic - hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

31. It's important not to become bitter and distrustful of people just because one person betrayed you: That was the situation Santiago found himself in after being betrayed by the Spanish speaking local boy in Tangier's. The feeling of bitterness, and even resentment, might be the initial feeling, because it feels terrible to be betrayed. But just because one person acted dishonestly does not mean everyone is dishonest. Lumping everyone in the same category only makes life harder.

32. People in general, like to see the world in terms of what they'd like to see happen, and not what actually does happen: This was the realisation Santiago had after the betrayal he experienced. What we believe to be true and what actually is true aren't always the same, so it is a good idea to not get blinded by our own beliefs, and verify the validity of our beliefs.

33. It is easier to deal with challenges when you stop being a victim: After Santiago lost his money and was left penniless in a new country, he was very disappointed and sad and felt hopeless. But after thinking for a while and considering his situation and options, he started to view things in a new light. That's when a strange, foreign, scary place became just a "new" place. That's when he realised that "he had to choose between thinking of himself as the poor victim of a thief or as an adventurer in quest of his treasure." That change in thinking made a significant difference to his stress levels, and ultimately helped him get out of his challenging situation. There's always light at the end of the tunnel, but the light only becomes visible when we are not in a state of panic and despair. Feeling sorry for yourself only holds you back and makes a challenging situation more challenging.

34. Good deeds come around: The first morning the shepherd found himself penniless in a new place, he went around and helped a local candy seller put up his stall in the marketplace. That good deed was immediately repaid when the candy seller gave the boy the first sweet he had made. The boy was hungry, and this helped. He wasn't looking for payment, but his good deed came back to him. That's the nature of good deeds. They might not always deliver a return, but eventually a good deed always leads to more good deeds.

35. Travelling helps you gain new perspective and learn new things: When Santiago travelled to Tangier's, he had new experiences right off the bat. Some good, some bad. What they did do though was give him new perspective and knowledge. This is one of the key reasons why travel is great for broadening your horizons.

36. Change is difficult: When Santiago proposed expanding the crystal merchant's business, the merchant wasn't keen on the idea. Not because it was a bad idea - in fact, he realised that it was a good idea, but he resisted because he wasn't ready to deal with the change that would result from expanding the business. Change isn't easy, but growth seldom happens without change, and often it's unavoidable. This was ultimately the merchant's realisation, and why he agreed to Santiago's plan. "Sometimes, there's just no way to hold back the river."

37. Doing something new is a great way to stand out: When Santiago started selling tea, he wasn't really doing anything new or different. There were lots of other people selling tea as well. What he did do differently though was sell tea in crystal glasses. That drew people, as they were attracted by the shop that was selling tea in this unique way. In a sea of usual, the unusual will always stand out.

38. Going with the flow can positively impact your life: When Santiago arrived in Tangier's, he had specific plans, but things didn't work out as planned and he ended up staying in that place for a lot longer than he expected to. This was a blessing in disguise, as this ended up helping him amass the resources he needed to make his journey as per his original plan. It also enabled him to gain valuable knowledge and experience. Life doesn't always work out as we hope it will, and being flexible and adaptable is a great way to deal with the twists, and curveballs. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, like Santiago did.

39. Life-altering quests seldom present themselves: Going after what you don't know can be scary. When Santiago saved up enough money to take on his quest, he debated doing so. In fact, he was all for going back to his old life as a shepherd, as that was a life he knew about, that was an easy and comfortable choice. But the quest to the pyramids was full of unknown elements, and as such, was a somewhat scary and uncomfortable choice. Unfortunately, sticking with the known, as comfortable as it is, doesn't usually lead to the big things in life. That's how most people end up discontent and with regrets. In Santiago's case, he chose to risk it and decided to go on his quest as he realised that he could always try out the things he knew, but chances to explore the unknown, something life changing, don't always present themselves. So when they do, they need to be attempted. Because once gone, they might never come back.

40. You can't cry over spilt milk: When the Englishmen was feeling a bit sorry for himself about his situation, he quickly moved on as he realised there was no point in crying over spilt milk. Things don't always work as you hope they will. But the best way to deal with them is to move on.

41. Hardships become easier to deal with when you commit: The Englishmen found it difficult to deal with the situation he was in when he went to Egypt, but then when he remembered his goal and resolved to achieve it, that resolve made it easier for him to deal with the hardships. This is exactly how marathon runners end up finishing their runs despite how challenging it often becomes their resolve to reach the finish line keeps them going, and makes it easier to deal with the hardships. Having resolve is a powerful driver, and can help you move mountains.

42. Being multilingual helps you connect with more people: This is a pretty obvious fact, because when you speak/know multiple languages, you can communicate with more people. The more languages you know (and the better you know them), the more people you can connect with. This is why the Englishman was happy to find out that the boy knew Spanish, which was a language he knew better than Arabic, the commonly spoken language where he was. This meant he had someone he could communicate more easily with.

43. Making a decision is only the beginning of things: This is what Santiago realised while he was struggling to concentrate, waiting at the warehouse for the journey that would help him get to his destination in Egypt. As he very rightly realised, the decision was only the start of his journey. That doesn't make the importance of decisions any less though, as without a start the journey would never even take place - this is also why making decisions is of such importance.

44. The words “luck” and “coincidence” are the words that the universal language is written with: Like the Englishman told the shepherd, luck and coincidences make up a big part of our lives. Most of our lives are not really within our control, so understanding this can help us come to terms with the fact that life doesn't often happen as we want it to, but also that life often happens better than we thought possible.

45. When making a treacherous journey, it's important to have a guide and trust him or her: This is what the people who were going to Al-Fayoum did, when they joined the caravan, and decided to trust the leader of the caravan. As he pointed out to them, not listening to him would have dire consequences. There isn't much point in having a guide if you're not going to listen to their advice and guidance.

46. There's a mysterious chain that links one thing to another: This is what the shepherd was contemplating after what the Englishman said about there being no coincidences, meaning everything happens for a reason. This is often (if not always) true, even though the reason might not be apparent at the outset.

47. There's something to learn from everything: The lessons we learn don't just come from people, they can also come from animals, and even nature. This was the realisation the boy had when he contemplated how he had learned things from his sheep, and the inanimate crystals he helped take care of and sell. Lessons can and do come from all sorts of sources, so it is important to keep an open mind.

48. Nothing stays still: When the shepherd was feeling nostalgic about his old flock of sheep, it occurred to him that they were very likely to have forgotten about him, and focused on their new shepherd. In the same way the baker's daughter very likely was married to someone else by that point. That's just the nature of life. Nothing stays still. Everything and everyone moves on.

49. Obstacles are part and parcel of a journey: During the caravan's journey to Egypt, it experienced lots of obstacles - the way being blocked, large impassable rocky areas, extremely fine sand which made it difficult for the animals to walk on, treacherous ground, deaths, and so on. They dealt with all of them on their stride, and took many detours and made many adjustments, in order to carry on. For that was the only way to reach their destination, and complete their journey. Obstacles are an unavoidable part of a journey. The point is to overcome them, rather than be overcome by them, and only the first option leads to the end destination.

50. The unthinkable does happen: Often, life changes in ways that you might think unthinkable, impossible, or unlikely. But no matter how unlikely a possibility might seem, they can and do happen. Like it did for the camel driver, who lost everything to a flood he never imagined affecting him and his livelihood. But it did, and he lost his livelihood, and his life changed forever. Only because something's unlikely to happen does not mean it can never happen.

51. It's important to be resilient and realise that when one door closes, another opens: The camel driver was dealt a terrible hand when he lost his vineyard and his land was ruined. But that was not the end of it. That was not the end of his life, because he was resilient and found another way to earn a living. Life often throws us curve balls, and the only effective way to deal with them is to be resilient as that gives us the strength and options we need, and helps us deal with whatever happens.

52. It's foolish to judge people negatively just because they don't think like you do: This is what the Englishman did when the boy read his books and had a different view about them than he did. His conclusion was that the boy's soul "must be too primitive to understand those things". It never occurred to him that different people can (and usually do) have different opinions about the same thing. This is exactly why some people love the Star Wars movies, while some are not fussed about them at all - doesn't make the other people any less smart, or anything even remotely close. All it means is that people are different, and think differently. Judging others negatively just because they don't think the same way you do, only makes you narrow minded, and limits your ability to learn and grow. The boy understood this, which is why he didn't think any less of the Englishman even though the Englishman did the opposite. It's wise to work with our differences, rather than against them.

53. Everyone has their own way of learning things: When the Englishmen and the boy failed to learn from each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s methods of learning (books for the Englishman, observations for the boy), the Englishman was disappointed, but the boy realised that each person has their own way of learning. Just because one way of learning works for one person, does not mean it will work for everyone. To borrow from the previous point, everyone is different, so it goes without saying that people have different learning styles too.

54. Being mindful helps stave off worries: When the caravan was in the desert, a war started between the desert tribes. This worried the people who were part of the caravan, but the camel driver who the boy was good friends with was an exception. He wasn't very stressed or anxious about the war, and this was because he focused on the now, rather than what might happen. This focus on the present helped him worry less, and helped him get on with things. Being mindful, and present, is a great way to live life well, because the reality is that now is all we have. The past doesn't exist, and neither does the future. You can worry your whole life about what might happen, for it never to happen. At the end of the day, worrying about what might happen only gets in the way of your present moment, and life. Like the camel driver said, "When I'm eating, that's all I think about. If I'm on the march, I just concentrate on marching. If I have to fight, it will be just as good a day to die as any other".

55. Focus on the present, it'll make you happier: Following on from the above point, being mindful isn't just good for reducing stress and anxiety, it is also great for increasing our levels of happiness. As the camel driver put it, "because I don't live in either my past or my future, I'm interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man".

56. It's important to prioritise your well-being: When the caravan came near an oasis and stopped within viewing distance, the boy wondered why they weren't just going there right away. The camel driver told him it's because they needed to sleep. The caravan prioritised sleep over travel, and rightly so. The oasis wasn't going to go anywhere, and they needed to rest and recuperate. We often prioritise the wrong things at the cost of our own well-being, but that takes a toll. Looking after yourself is important, and it's important to have your priorities straight.

57. Don't be impatient: Things don't always work out at the pace that you might hope or expect, but that's just the nature of things sometimes. Sometimes things take longer than you expect, and it is what it is. Being impatient about it does you no good. This is what the boy noticed when it dawned on him how the path before him was not quite as straightforward as he had hoped or expected to be. He focused himself on being patient by reminding himself of what the camel driver had said to him "Eat when it's time to eat. And move along when it's time to move along". Everything in its own time.

58. Two heads are better than one: Trying to do things on your own, and solve problems, is great. But often better solutions appear when one more person is involved. This was the case when the Englishman searched for the alchemist on his own. He spent the whole way searching without any results, but then things changed when he took the boy's advice. Consulting others is often a great way to increase the chances of hitting upon the best solutions.

59. It's good to ask for help: Having help is very useful, not just because it can provide solutions you yourself might not otherwise have thought of, but also because it speeds up the process of getting things done as the other person can usually more or less double the capacity and speed of progress. Also, asking for help provides access to information that might otherwise be unknown - which is how the Englishman and the boy moved forward in their pursuit of the alchemist by gaining new information as a result of asking for help. Asking for help is a smart thing to do.

60. What may seem like a curse now, might just be a blessing in disguise: Life is mysterious, and unexpected. Things often happen in ways we never anticipated, or things that we hoped would never come to pass, come to pass. But often the thing that seemed like a terrible thing at the time, turns out to be something wonderful later - maybe because of the lessons it brings, or the doors it opens, or the opportunities it can create. But none of that is apparent at the outset, in the same way the silver lining of a cloud isn't apparent as soon as the cloud appears. Unfortunate things can and do happen, but things rarely are as bad as they seem initially. This is what happened when the boy found himself detained at the oasis because of the war - he thought the war was a curse as it got in the way of his mission. But something great came out if it, something that he was able to recognise as the blessing that it was, thanks to his awareness and patience. Patience and awareness is what helps us discover the good in even seemingly bad situations. So it's important to not lose hope. Look for the good, and usually you will find it.

61. Better late than never: It's better to start late than never, something that the Englishman realised when he came across the alchemist. He was commencing work he could have started many years ago. But he didn't regret that too much â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what he did was celebrate the fact that he wasn't waiting for many more years and was finally able to get started. What's done is done - there's no point in lamenting over the time and opportunity lost. All we can do is make the most of now, rather than wasting even more time wondering what could have been. At the end of the day, the only real way to find out what can be is by actually getting started, and doing it. That's the only real way we stand any chance at turning our dreams into reality.

62. The only way to create a better future is to do what's necessary in the present: Like the old seer told the camel driver, "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". Taking the steps you need to take is the only way you stand any chance at achieving the things you want to achieve.

63. The best you can do is the best you can do: The boy had a premonition about an imminent attack on the oasis, and as a result of his premonition, was told that he could lose his life if the premonition didn't turn out to be true. When he heard this, however, he wasn't too worried. He was not worried about dying, mainly because he knew that he had done the best he could do â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so he had no regrets. If he had been dragging his feet or been holding himself back, he would have had regrets, and then he very likely would have been filled with terror about the potential death sentence. But he didn't, as he knew that he had done all he could do, and so he was at peace. Knowing in your heart that you've done the best you could do can give you an immense amount of peace, and strength. Even to the point of facing death with calm dignity rather than panic.

64. Courage is an essential quality: This is what the alchemist pointed out to the boy. He actually claimed courage to be the 'most essential' quality for understanding the Language of the World. Without courage, there isn't really much we can do. Without courage, there's no way to achieve the truly important things in life. Without courage, there's no way to achieve big goals or fulfil one's life purpose. Living life fully requires courage.

65. An open mind can be a life saver: When the boy had the premonition about the impending attack, the people in the oasis could've disbelieved or disregarded him. There was no concrete proof to what he told them, and it was highly unlikely to happen based on past experience. But they did factor in the premonition and took precautions based on that. Those precautions ultimately helped them save themselves later. They could've laughed off the boy's premonition, but they kept an open mind and prepared accordingly. Keeping an open mind ended up saving their lives. Being narrow-minded doesn't help improve one's life, being openminded does - often to a huge degree. It's good to keep an open mind.

66. It's not what enters men's mouths that's evil, it's what comes out of their mouths that is: This is one of my favourite quotes from the book, and makes a really important point about the potential destructive force of our verbal communications. What we say matters, a lot. With our speech we can mend hearts, in the same way we can break them. What we say can bring happiness and joy to people's lives, but can also do the opposite. This is why it is incredibly important to be mindful of what you say to others, because being callous about what you say to others can cause them misery, misery that you yourself will experience. You might not experience it right away, but you will experience it at some point or another, because what goes around, comes around. It is easy to be kind with your words - so choose easy, and choose well, and be mindful of what comes out of your mouth.

67. Not all treasures have material value: In fact, often the most valuable treasures have no material value, like how Fatima was an invaluable treasure for Santiago. He had treasures already, but none of them compared in value to her. The most important things in life often are the intangible and immaterial. Material wealth isn't everything.

68. Wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure: That's what the alchemist told the boy the day his premonition came true and his life got spared. People often chase after happiness, thinking about it in terms of achievements and material possessions. But if your heart isn't in it, no matter how much you achieve or have, you will not be happy. True treasure is happiness, and it is more a thing of the heart than a tangible thing. So if you really want to be happy, you need to listen to your heart.

69. Often in life we have to make painful choices: The quest the boy was on, the one that was leading him to the Pyramids, meant being away from the girl he loved. It was a painful choice, one he struggled to make. But it was also an essential one as without continuing on his journey he never would've had a chance at fulfilling his quest, of finding what he had been looking for. Often, to achieve something big and/or important requires sacrifices. And only those who are willing and capable of making those sacrifices are the ones who make it to the end.

70. Not pursuing your quest leads to regrets: When the boy was contemplating about not following through with his quest and staying behind to be with Fatima, the alchemist foretold his future, a future that ended with him regretting not following through. The only way to not end up in your death bed with regrets, wondering "what if", is to pursue your quest to the very end, and see things through. You can't let your fears stop you from seeing things through, that is, not unless you want to live a life of regrets.

71. Love doesn't need a reason: When one person loves another person, there doesn't have to be a reason for it, and often there isn't. Like what Fatima told the boy, "no reason is needed for loving".

72. Don't think about what you've left behind: This is what the alchemist told the boy when they started their journey. He told the boy that as he was sad about leaving Fatima behind, and being sad was only going to make his journey harder. Often the best way to move forward is to focus on the journey ahead, instead of focusing on what's been left behind. Otherwise it makes the journey harder and reduces the chances of success.

73. Eyes are not our only tools of observation: This was what the boy was reminded of while he embarked on his journey across the desert, and observed the signs of the war, but not just with his eyes. The other senses we have are just as useful for observing things, as are our instincts. Relying on just our eyes holds us back from truly noticing things.

74. Action is the best way to learn: This is one of the lessons the alchemist imparted to the boy during their journey together, and the response to the boy's surprise at not being taught anything during their journey. Action is indeed the best way to really learn anything, if not the only way (as the alchemist said).

75. It's important not to let your inner fears hold you back: Inner fear is what the boy noticed during his journey, and he told the alchemist about it. Thanks to his self-awareness, he spotted that fear, and didn't let that control him. Yes, pursuit of a big dream can be (and often is) risky, but letting our inner fears hold us back means we would never achieve all that we are capable of, or reach the end of our grand journeys. To stand a chance at achieving our dreams, we need to be able to understand our inner fears, and override them, for courage is absolutely essential for grand journeys (big goals).

76. The inner voice is unavoidable: The little voice that often pesters us, and speaks of all the bad things that can happen, is part of our inner voice, and can't be avoided. It can't be avoided because it is a part of us. What does help though is becoming aware of it, so that we know why it says the things it says. Also, awareness is the only way to know whether what our inner voice says is good for us or not. At the end of the day, that voice is simply trying to protect us. It is just a bit overzealous sometimes, and overestimates the potential dangers of leaving your comfort zone. But not all dangers are life-threatening, and leaving your comfort zone won't actually kill you (unless you're doing something truly life-threatening - you do need to exercise caution in cases like that). So the best way to deal with your inner voice is to become aware of it.

77. The fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself: Often at the point of starting something people get scared of things, of what might happen, of all the bad things that might befall them if they follow through, so they choose safety and don't do the things that scares them. This is why most people are scared of public speaking, because of a potential risk of performing badly. That probable risk of losing face is so scary to most people that it's the number one fear in the world for people, speaking in public. But here's the thing - more often than not, the worst case scenario that we create in our heads is a lot worse than what actually can or does happen. Often when we do the things we are scared of doing, we find out that the impact isn't nearly as scary as we thought it would be. Here's an example - ask any person who's been through a bungee jump or skydive just how scary the actual experience was, in comparison to what they had thought it would be.

Nearly always you will find that it was not nearly as scary as they thought it would be. Fear is a useful emotion, but not when it holds us back, and more often than not that's all it does.

78. The journey is just as important as the destination: This is a realisation the boy had during his time with the alchemist, and why he had this realisation, "I have discovered things along the way that I never would have seen had I not had the courage to try things that seemed impossible for a shepherd to achieve". Often, in the course of pursuing our dreams, we discover things, including things about ourselves, which we otherwise would have missed. This is yet another reason why our dreams deserve to be pursued, because the journey itself can be worth the effort.

79. Most people are led by fear: Fear is a big and powerful emotion. It definitely has its uses, but not when it takes over our lives, and impacts the majority (or worse, all) of our decisions. Not everything needs to be feared, and not every fear needs to be heeded. Giving in to fear creates more fear, and can ultimately create a vicious cycle of fear that can completely take over a person's life. That has far-reaching consequences, and not positive ones. Like the alchemist told the boy, "most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place". It's the principle of self-fulfilling prophecies at play - seek bad, and you shall receive bad. This tendency is also one of the biggest ways people sabotage themselves.

80. People often struggle to believe things that are not within the confines of their preconceived notions: When the alchemist and the boy were searched by the tribesmen, and the alchemist told them that his belongings included the Elixir of Life and the Philosopher's Stone, they thought he was joking. They thought so because what he told them seemed like a fairy tale to them. Their definition of the world did not include those things as 'real'. But 'real' is a matter of perspective. And when someone limits himself/herself from considering the possibility that something that they don't know or understand could be real, they limit themselves from learning new things, or expanding their horizons. This is why being open-minded is so important, because what we know to be true now, could very well be disproved in the future, in the same way the earth was proved to be round and not flat, and so on.

81. When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed: This is something the alchemist told the boy after their encounter with the tribesmen. This reminded me of Socrates - during his lifetime people didn't really value his thoughts or teachings, and even condemned him to death because of them. But now, his thoughts and teachings are highly valued and appreciated. Only because you have wisdom, does not mean others will appreciate them. And often, unfortunately, they won't. That's okay though, because we each have our own path in life, and everyone learns things in their own time. Wisdom just cannot be forced.

82. No one fails to suffer the consequences of everything under the sun: This is something the alchemist told the boy during their voyage. It's akin to the concept of everything being connected everything, at the end of the day, is connected, whether we realise it or not. It's like the impact of climate change - just because some people don't believe in it, does not mean it won't affect them.

83. It's not often that money saves a person's life: How easy do you think it will be for you to give away all your savings, all the money you had worked really hard for all your life? What if it could save your life - would it be easy then? That's the situation the boy and the alchemist found themselves in, when they were captured by enemy tribesman, and everything the boy had saved and worked so hard for was taken away. It was very difficult for him to come to terms with that, but as the alchemist pointed out, his money had actually served a really useful purpose - it saved his life. Money and wealth is really of no value at the end of the day if one is dead. Whereas if it can save one's life, then it is of value. Especially taking into account the fact that money can't always save a person's life.

84. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too: Growing and improving ourselves isn't just a useful (and important) pursuit for our own sakes, it is beneficial to those around us too. For when we grow and improve, we feel better. That leads us to act better, which spreads more kindness and joy and improves the lives of others (and not just for the people close to us). But it also sets better examples which motivates others to work on growing and improving themselves. By growing and improving ourselves, we don't just benefit us, we benefit others too, and that makes personal growth an even more important goal than most people think. In that sense, if not for you, do it for others, especially those you hold dear. Like the boy realised, "the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse".

85. Promises matter: When the boy found his treasure, one of the first things on his mind was the thought of travelling to Tarifa to pay one-tenth of his treasure to the Gypsy fortune teller, like he had promised. The promise was made a long time ago. The Gypsy woman had no way of knowing what happened, or of collecting even if she did. He could have easily kept the treasure and not given her anything. But he made a promise, so he intended to keep it. Promises matter, so never make them lightly.

FAVOURITE QUOTES

FAVOURITE QUOTES FROM THE ALCHEMIST

Below is a list of my favourite quotes from the book:

1. When you really want something, the universe always conspires in your favour.

2. You must always know what it is you want.

3. Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life, where the histories of all people are connected, and we are able to know everything, because it's all written there.

4. People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want.

5. We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.

6. When you can't go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward.

7. Everyone has his or her way of learning things.

8. Because I don't live in either my past or my future, I'm interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man... Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we're living right now.

9. Eat when it's time to eat. And move along when it's time to move along". Everything in its own time.

10. Now, I'm beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But I'm happy at least that I didn't wait twenty years.

11. 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.

12. God rarely reveals the future. When he does so, it is for only one reason: it's a future that was written so as to be altered.

13. When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realise his dream.

14. It's not what enters men's mouths that's evil, it's what comes out of their mouths that is.

15. Don't think about what you've left behind.

16. People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them.

17. The fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.

18. Unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them - the path to their Personal Legends, and to happiness.

19. Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place.

20. Happiness could be found in a grain of sand from the desert, because a grain of sand is a moment of creation, and the universe has taken millions of years to create it.

21. Every search begins with beginner's luck. And every search ends with the victor's being severely tested.

22. When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed.

23. No one fails to suffer the consequences of everything under the sun.

24. It's not often that money saves a person's life.

25. Usually the threat of death makes people a lot more aware of their lives.

26. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.

27. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.

28. The world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse.

29. When we love, we always strive to become better than we are.

30. Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.

31. 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.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Learning is a key part of growth, and there are things to learn, and sources of insight, in even the most unobvious of sources. Coelho's Alchemist, though, wasn't quite that unobvious a source. There is a lot one can learn from this epic parable, so I would highly recommend reading the book (if you haven't already). When you read it, you will very likely learn things (and glean insights) that I missed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; please do feel free to share them with me.

As for this book, I do hope my notes and insights are of at least some benefit to you.

I wish you all the best.

PAY IT FORWARD

The main reason for writing this book is to help as many people as possible. So it is always good to hear from anyone who has found this useful.

On that note, if you found the information in this book valuable, please consider leaving a review - reviews help the book reach other readers who can benefit from it.

Also, please spread the word - if you know anyone who this book can help, do let them know. The more people it can reach, the more it can help.

Pay it forward!

OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

The Business Launch Code: A Step By Step Guide to Starting Your Own Business

Business Edge: 25 Tools and Strategies to Give Your Business an Edge

Radical Productivity: Master Your Time, Eliminate Procrastination, and Radically Improve Your Productivity

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M Salek is a peak performance and business strategist, managing editor of Life Lab Magazine ( lifelabmagazine.com ), and the founder and CEO of PeakMx ( peakmx.com ) , a peak performance training and consultancy firm dedicated to helping individuals and businesses unlock their potential.

Salek is an avid reader, traveller, and foodie. Driven by his curiosity and passion for learning and helping others, he sits on the board of multiple non-profit organisations, and spends the bulk of his time helping people improve their lives.

To learn more, check out his website where he blogs regularly about growth mindset, peak performance, and life.

Website & blog: mhasalek.com

DISCLAIMER

All the material contained in this book is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The author, his agents, heirs, and assignees do not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities, actual or alleged, resulting from the use of this information. No responsibility can be taken for any results or outcomes resulting from the use of this material.

This book is not “professional advice.” The author encourages the reader to seek advice from a professional where any reasonably prudent person would do so.

While every attempt has been made to provide information that is both accurate and effective, the author and his affiliates cannot assume any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions, including omissions in transmission or reproduction. Any references to people, events, organisations, or business entities are for educational and illustrative purposes only, and no intent to falsely characterise, recommend, disparage, or injure is intended or should be so construed.

Any results stated or implied are consistent with general results, but this means results can and will vary. The author, his agents, and assigns, make no promises or guarantees, stated or implied. Individual results will vary and this work is supplied strictly on an “at your own risk” basis.

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