12 Powerful Life Lessons

48 Comments

Photo: Lucia Holm

“Follow your dreams and transform your life“
~ Paulo Coelho

By Think Simple Now contributor Vic Stachura.

As my wife and I were planning our last vacation, one of the first things we did was get out a map and plan our route. Whether it was online maps or old fashioned paper maps - they all helped guide us to our destination. As I was looking at the maps spread across our dining room table, I thought, “wouldn’t it be great if there was a map of life” that could guide you along your life’s journey?

A personal motivation map giving you those life lessons that one typically learns way too late in life. Does such a “map of life” exist? It was then that I stumbled upon a tattered copy of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho in the bottom of my closet.

Paulo Coelho in his wildly popular book (65 million copies sold in 67 languages) tells the story of a shepherd boy and his quest to live his dream. Along the way, the boy meets an alchemist who has the power to inspire personal transformation. This Alchemist gives the boy a number of life’s lessons - lessons that are as fresh and applicable today as they were hundreds of years ago. The lessons by themselves are interesting, but it’s only when they are applied, that the power of personal transformation can be unleashed.

So what can Paulo teach us about life and pursing dreams in the face of obstaclesthat caused 65 million people to buy his book?

1. It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.

I believe this to be true and have experienced this with my own family. When I think of the times where we laughed the most or had the most fun - it was when we were doing the simplest things. Swimming in a pool, combing a beach for shells, playing a board game, or sharing a delicious meal - all simple things making up the best times we’ve had as a family.

Question: What were some of the happiest memories from your past? What were you doing?

2. Support your children in pursuit of their dreams.

In the beginning of the story the shepherd boy (named Santiago) tells his father he wants to travel and see the world. The father explains he wants his son to stay in the village and become a priest. But Santiago persists - being a priest is not his dream. What does his father do? He gives Santiago the small amount of money he had been saving for the boy and wished him well.

How many of us had parents who have - in not-so-subtle-ways - influenced us to take careers that were not in-line with our dreams? Be honest now, did you pick your current career because you’re passionate about the work or were you trying to make your parents proud? How do you feel about your career now?

As a parent, it’s difficult to accept when your child wants to take a path other than the one you had hoped and planned for them. But, it’s ok. Like my wife keeps telling me “give them roots and give them wings”. Give them a solid foundation of love, but give them the freedom to follow their dreams.

Question: What were some of your dreams as a child?

3. There is nothing to hold you back, except yourself.

There is only one question to ask yourself here: “What would you do if you were not afraid?” Think about it.

4. There is only one way to learn, and that is through action.

Trying to learn without doing is like trying to lose weight by watching someone else exercise. It’s just not going to work. We are all fundamentally hands-on learners.

Question: What would you like to learn? What next action step can you take?

5. Trust your gut (or Learn to recognize omens, and follow them.)

Many times our subconscious has already made a decision before we’ve caught up and made the same decision. Sometimes we don’t make the same decision and then ‘something does not feel right’ or there is a persistent naggingthat bothers us. Malcolm Gladwell wrote extensively about this phenomenon in his book titled Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking. Trust your gut - it may be more accurate than you think.

6. Follow your dreams.

There are many of us who dream our dreams without ever actually realizing any of them. For whatever reason we get locked in a “dream state” and never take action. We analyze too much and our dreams turn into giant mountains in our imagination that seem impossible to climb. As a result, we never learned that foreign language we’ve always wanted to learn, or traveled, or started that business, or written that book. Just think of the many bestsellers that would have been, but were never written.

The time is now, to awake from dreamland, to live the life we want and to achieve the extraordinary potential within us all.

Question: What are some dreams you’d like to realize now? Write them down on a piece of paper and make sure the success of their attainment is measurable.

7. Know what you want.

Set goals and make a plan to achieve them. It’s like the saying, “a goal that is never written down is nothing but a New Year’s resolution” - and we all know what happens to New Year’s resolutions.

8. Make a decision and dive in with massive action.

The river of life will take you to places that you have never imagined. Once you make a decision, take action. You’ll be surprised to find where it will lead.

9. Move on - always look forward.

It’s ok to look back once and a while, but don’t live in the past. You can visit “pity city” for a short time, but after a while you have to leave it all behind and walk on.

10. You will encounter obstacles and take detours while realizing your dreams.

As you strive to achieve your dreams, you can count on there being some setbacks and disappointments. Don’t get discouraged, the road to your dreams may not be an easy one. Think of these challenges as tests of persistence and courage that life throws at you during your quest. They were necessary and were meant to help you grow as a person.

Learn to adjust the sails of your life to unpredictable winds, while keeping your focus clear on your destination.

11. Don’t fear the unknown.

As long as you’re resourceful and have a few skills, you’ll be able to provide for yourself (and your family). Have confidence in yourselfat all times.

12. Learn to understand the universal language - the language without words.

There is so much more said from a person than just words alone. You can read the expression on someone’s face, sense their body language, or hear the tone in their voice - these thingsare all part of the unspoken language. The more conscious we become at noticing them, the better we become at interpreting them.

Question: What are some subtle unspoken gestures from the language of love?

The Alchemist is a deeply moving, yet simple fable about a shepherd boy living his dreams. Now that Paulo Coelho has taught us his lessons, can we, like an alchemist, change our lives from one of dreaming about our dreams to one of living our dreams? It’s up to us to take action…today!

What are some of your dreams? What are some dreams you’ve achieved, and how did you achieve them? Share your stories and thoughts with us in the comment section. See you there!

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on StumbleUpon or bookmark it on del.icio.us. I appreciate your support. :)

Other Articles You May Enjoy::

• How to Be Outstanding
• Dream to Reality: How I Quit My Day Job
• How to Make Profound and Lasting Change
• Life on Purpose: 15 Questions to Discover Your Personal Mission

External Resources:

• Book: The Alchemist
• How to Doggedly Pursue Your Dreams in the Face of Naysayers

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48 Responses (47 Comments, 1 Trackbacks ):

Comments

1. Alex Shalman

   Oct 29 08, 5:39 pm PDT

   1

   I love the Alchemist. I read and write about many personal development books. The Alchemist is different because it’s a fun read for any layman, while still getting it’s message across about how to lead a better life.

   I like your point number 3. Besides ourselves, there are no real boundaries.

2. Bamboo Forest

   Oct 29 08, 6:24 pm PDT

   2

   This was an enjoyable article with many good reminders.

   “What would you do if you were not afraid?”

   The above sentiment is very true. We must be aware of our fears and realize that often they hold no water. Just do it as Nike says. Life is short.

   The part about moving on, I totally agree with that one. The past can sometimes grip us to no end. But, we can let go if we choose.

3. Simple Sapien

   Oct 29 08, 7:08 pm PDT

   3

   What an excellent summary of some of life’s most important lessons. I have read The Alchemist… it is one of my favorites. It is right up there with Ishmael for me. I encourage you all to check it out!

   I need to trust my gut more. I usually go with my logic and it ends up blowing up in my face down the road. We are animals… we must trust our instincts.

   Of the twelve, the one that I struggle with the most is the “Know what you want” lesson. This is easier said than done. I have so many passions and so many paths I could take in life. Committing to one is so scary and difficult. What if I get tired of it? What if I get burnt out on it? What if I end up hitting a roadblock with and can’t get past a certain skill level? All these things frighten me.

   This was a great article. It has inspired me to write a similar post on my blog. Thanks! I dig the picture at the top too. It’s rad.

   - Jack Rugile
   Simple Sapien

4. Janitha Karunaratne

   Oct 29 08, 7:27 pm PDT

   4

   Very good article. At first it seems like everything written is plain points, but just like the author points out, it’s the really simple things that are extraordinary and most people forget that, even my self at times.

   I think I know what to put above my door now.

   Great site, keep up the awesome work.

5. Shamelle -TheEnhanceLife

   Oct 29 08, 7:31 pm PDT

   5

   #8 - being decisive is one of the biggest challengers in life!

   #11- Don’t fear the unknown… very true..
   “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually fear that you will make one.” ~ Ellen Hubbard

   Great life nuggets.

6. Daniel Richard

   Oct 29 08, 8:20 pm PDT

   6

   Sounds like a very inspirational book with a lovely storyline! However, its this post that I’m gonna rave about here.

   I was about to point out a few points and say how I’m going to move myself in the remaining two months of this year based on the few points that I liked, but after reading it through again I find that everything is linked and will only serve to help us grow and live our dreams. :)

   Surely a great list of 12 powerful life lessons!

   Thanks Tina!

7. Vincent

   Oct 29 08, 9:44 pm PDT

   7

   On the point don’t fear the unknown, I believe that fear is a feeling that can inhibits our action. Taking a step out of our comfort zone is such an important step but if we stop because of fear, I think we are missing out a lot of better things in our life.

   Cheers
   Vincent
   Personal Development Blogger

8. Chris (from Lifestyle Project)

   Oct 30 08, 1:07 am PDT

   8

   #6 - Follow your dreams. Living with regret for not taking the actions required to achieve your dreams is something I fear. You are right, your really have to go for it.

   Great list.

9. Maria | Never the Same River Twice

   Oct 30 08, 4:35 am PDT

   9

   For me, the most powerful lesson of The Alchemist is that life doesn’t happen in straight lines. Sure, the shepherd eventually achieves his dream, but he had to take many detours along the way.

   It’s only upon looking back that we can see that each step - no matter how far off the straight path - helped him get where he needed to go.

10. Tom

    Oct 30 08, 4:56 am PDT

    10

    There are 3 things I’ve observed about this list.
    1. It is repetitive.
    2. It says the same few things over and over, slightly differently.
    3. It repeats itself.

11. Alison Wiley

    Oct 30 08, 6:32 am PDT

    11

    Ahh. I read The Alchemist right as we entered the new millennium, and it helped me commit to my dreams and to steadily act on them. One of the outcomes has been what I call the Diamond-Cut Life (which I explain at http://www.diamondcutlife.org/)

12. Sheri

    Oct 30 08, 6:45 am PDT

    12

    Love the simplicity of the post and the book references complete the thoughts while luring you to keep the flow moving forward -
    Namaste
    everlastingdesigns.net

13. Onesnap

    Oct 30 08, 6:45 am PDT

    13

    Earlier this week I opened a fortune cookie that gave me the best advice. It said:

    Welcome
    change.

    That is something I’ve had trouble with in recent months…but I was brave enough to leave my job and start a new one. I agree with the life lessons you have posted here…but I would say my little fortune cookie lesson this week would make a good #13. :)

14. Vica

    Oct 30 08, 7:23 am PDT

    14

    Can you please correct the author’s name? It’s Paulo COelho. Thank you and cheers from Brazil.

15. Vica

    Oct 30 08, 7:24 am PDT

    15

    By the way, I don’t know if you written about this before, but I’d like to read something about “how to know what you want”, because that’s one of my main troubles: I never know what I want.

16. Aw Guo

    Oct 30 08, 7:48 am PDT

    16

    Amazing lessons. :)

17. Leigh Harris

    Oct 30 08, 9:30 am PDT

    17

    I can never hear these life lessons enough! Because I listened to my inner voice and started to move forward, I am writing a book. It is my passion, though obstacles get in my way.

    Your post reminds me to keep going - to learn and take another step forward!

    Thank you, Leigh

18. Marc and Angel Hack Life

    Oct 30 08, 9:38 am PDT

    18

    Number 7 rules all. You must know what you want!

    Great list Tina. Stumbled. ;-)

19. Rachel

    Oct 30 08, 10:13 am PDT

    19

    This is a great post! I haven’t read The Alchemist yet, but I have to say that it has just made its way to the top of my list. Recently, I’ve been struggling with minimizing the consumerism and desire for things in my life, and I feel like this list sort of encapsulates all of the “stuff” that I feel should be really important to me, but more often than not falls by the wayside. That said, the very first thing on the list is the one that is the biggest challenge for me. Go figure!

20. vikram parmar

    Oct 30 08, 12:16 pm PDT

    20

    gotta buy this book asap

    thanx for sharing

    take care

21. Evelyn Lim

    Oct 30 08, 4:56 pm PDT

    21

    I’ve not read the book but must say that it sounds very interesting, according to your review. At tip#2, I stopped and reflected for a moment. Oh yes….I am going to support the dreams of my children. One of my daughters has already expressed her wish to do art as a career. By her intricate drawings and the time she spend drawing every day, I know it is not a mere wish. There is desire and passion. And I hope to support that!!

22. banji - LessonInLife

    Oct 30 08, 5:17 pm PDT

    22

    I just can’t resist reading about lesson in life :) Thanks Tina for the excellent highlight

    Personally, fear of the unknown is one of the many things that can hold me back. I once afraid to make the leap into a decision, even though it is a good idea. I’m not saying there is no more fear, I just think that it is better controlled now.

23. giyen

    Oct 30 08, 6:07 pm PDT

    23

    8. Make a decision and dive in with massive action.

    Lots of us make decisions about how we want to live our lives, but it’s in the execution where it makes the difference.

    great article and i am so happy that i read it today. just what i needed to hear. Thanks!

24. Stephen

    Oct 30 08, 7:24 pm PDT

    24

    Fantastic post. It’s always great to be reminded about how the simple things in life are the most extraordinary and how it is possible for us to all live our dreams.

    Thanks!

25. Robert A. Henru

    Oct 31 08, 1:43 am PDT

    25

    I love the book The Alchemist. I got one powerful quote from the book, “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself” That really encourages me to follow my dream. Here is one article I’d like to share, about our dream and our heart…

    Your heart, your fight, your dream

26. Rosabel

    Oct 31 08, 3:49 am PDT

    26

    I like the phrase “Give them a solid foundation of love, but give them freedom to follow their dream” - the most important element in parenting. Love this post!

27. Rod Newbound, RN

    Nov 01 08, 7:09 am PDT

    27

    Nicely written. I’ve never read The Alchemist, but will now. Any book that has sold 65 million copies has got to be worth reading.

    In 1975, I had a dream to become a nurse, so I started nursing school and completed a year of prerequisites, plus the first quarter of actual nursing school. Due to lack of confidence in myself, I dropped out.

    In 1994, at the age of 44, I completed school and received my license to practice as a Registered Nurse.

    Since then, my wife and I dreamed of building our own house, and despite multiple roadblocks that almost caused us to stop, we did it in 3 years.

    Do I have new dreams? You bet I do.

28. axel g

    Nov 01 08, 11:46 am PDT

    28

    “There is nothing to hold you back, except yourself.”

    Learning to trust in life is great relief…

    Inspiring post +_+

29. johnlazy

    Nov 01 08, 9:18 pm PDT

    29

    I’ts all about how you want to live your life, just do the things you want.

30. Nicholas Powiull

    Nov 02 08, 6:41 am PST

    30

    These are powerful concepts indeed Tina, thank you :)

    Here are some powerful concepts that I use in life. The lesson I learned, is that these concept can be applied to anything:

    Being Honest - There are two main points in this one:

    * Discovering new truths about who you are and the reality you live, in order to accelerate growth. Gathering new ideas, information, and knowledge about yourself and reality. You are going to grow no matter what experiences you have, but you can consciously/deliberately grow through being open to ideas and seeing if they match your reality through own experience. Be aware of more truths that lead you to what you truly desire.
    * This concept is also about recognizing where you are at in your life right now and being 100% honest about it. No denying what is really happening in your reality. No pretending or make believe. Realizing that there is a problem and admitting to it. Acknowledging what you truly desire.

    Connection - This idea is about connecting with people and things that influence the life you desire. Connecting to the people/things you resonate with most and weakening the connection from people/things that do not reflect the shape or path of the life you prefer.

    Connect with people that match the desires you wish to achieve in life. For example, if your desire is to quit smoking, connect with non-smokers. If your desire is to pull yourself out of debt, connect with people who have already freed themselves from debt. If you desire to live consciously, connect with people who are conscious decision makers. Connect only with what you truly desire.

    Taking Responsibility - This concept is about taking responsibility for your life, rather than playing a victim. You only have the power to create the life you choose, once you start taking action. You will not take action or give yourself the power to create the life you desire (solving a problem) by giving your power away. Take action and move towards what you truly desire.

    I have to thank Steve Pavlina’s book for understanding that almost every problem can be solved through these concepts, which I see as a very value lesson in life.

    Thank you Tina, for your persistence and incredible insights with your fantastic words/ articles. Your presence is inspiring others to empower themselves.

31. dorje

    Nov 02 08, 12:06 pm PST

    31

    Great article, thanks for sharing. I particularly love item #3…There is nothing to hold you back, except yourself.

    There is only one question to ask yourself here: “What would you do if you were not afraid?” Think about it.

    Very powerful - frightening, yet exhilarating!

    I’ve never read the Alchemist, but may need to pick up a copy now. :-)

32. Sophia Pham

    Nov 02 08, 11:23 pm PST

    32

    It’s amazing how simple and commonsense these lessons are, but sadly we just never stop to think about them.

    Thanks for posting.

33. Ian

    Nov 05 08, 10:48 am PST

    33

    Great article! I have not read the Alchemist, but the lessons it shares sound simple and true. I have found a lot of simple and true lessons from a site I recently stumbled upon as well.

    http://www.raisedpath.com/

34. Leigh

    Nov 05 08, 10:51 am PST

    34

    Butch Walker is secretly Paulo Coelho??

35. Liara Covert

    Nov 06 08, 4:36 am PST

    35

    Paulo Coelho’s writing is timeless. This article invites readers to reflect on universal messages and how they can resonater or touch the soul.

36. Jesse Taylor III

    Nov 07 08, 9:13 am PST

    36

    Very inspiring article…

    I am fortunate that at the young age of 24 I have completed one dream and am working on another.

    My 1st dream was to graduate college with a degree in Computer Science and to then get into the video game industry. I have done so and now enjoy a great job at a prominent video game company on the West Coast.

    My 2nd ( and most important! ) dream is to publish a comic book that I have been working on for the past few years.

    I have been lucky enough to have parents who support whatever it is I do as well as an unyielding determination to make my dreams a reality.

    I intend to use my story and success to inspire others and help them realize their potential and capacity for doing the things they dream of.

37. rampantheart

    Nov 07 08, 11:10 pm PST

    37

    I would like to answer the question you have put forth, honestly! I have never done this before publicly!

    Well, when i was young, I wanted to become a scientist. It was a childhood dream. Well, Now i am an Electronics and Communication Engineer and i don’t repent one bit what i am doing. Life is amazing. I have a job at hand and i do what i like the most-blogging. What more can i ask for?

    Pardon my pointing this out, but dreaming alone isn’t enough to achieve goals. It’s visualising that matters the most. I always make it a point to program my mind before i want something to happen. People technically call it hypnosis. And in the end process, if i don’t achieve something, i don’t feel all blue. Well, i might feel depressed for an hour or so but not more than pity. I do a lot of self-talk and motivate myself. That way, i feel rejuvenated again. I hate indulging in self-pity.

    I would also like to add another important point here, with your permission. “Never ever pray to God for material needs, ask Him to provide you the mental strength and fortitude to meet anything in life”

    I enjoyed having my say here! Cheers!

38. Caramelmoiselle

    Nov 08 08, 3:39 am PST

    38

    I liked what you said about the importance of action. Sometimes we navel-gaze so much, we forget to actually act.

39. a2sojet (simplecollegelife.wordpress.com)

    Nov 08 08, 6:17 pm PST

    39

    I have loved this book since the age of 10. It is inspirational and always heart-warming, although Paulo Coelho’s ideas have slowly began differing from mine as I grow older, probably because of our religious differences.

    The hardest part of life is knowing what we want from it. I have realized lately that I am in a point in my life when I should be answering this question. The answer seems simple enough: write. Why then, am I so frozen in the fear to fail?

    Everyone should sit down and think about it. If you are not doing what you want now, stop it! Drop it and search for passion. Life is not worth anything without passion.

    Thanks for a great post

40. Nathalie Lussier

    Nov 10 08, 7:51 pm PST

    40

    The Alchemist was a very inspirational book. I read it in high school, and it must have made a strong impression on me because I often think back to it.

    This was a great highlight of the book and brought a smile to my face. :)

41. Vincent

    Nov 13 08, 6:41 am PST

    41

    I have not read the book (Alchemist) yet. Seems like it is a good book that I must pick it up soon.

    Cheers
    Vincent
    Personal Development Blogger

42. Ruth

    Nov 22 08, 7:16 pm PST

    42

    This is one of those books that’s been on my list forever and I just haven’t got around to reading it. I think that it’s just made number one for my trip to the bookstore tomorrow. Right now I’m reading another great book, Living Life as if Thinking Matters by R. L. Wysong. I’m finding it really eye-opening in many ways.

43. Shun Jian | RichGrad.com

    Nov 28 08, 1:29 am PST

    43

    “3. There is nothing to hold you back, except yourself.”

    So true… we have so much potential but many of us are held back by limiting beliefs of what we “can’t achieve”.

44. biz

    Nov 30 08, 3:54 am PST

    44

    Good lessons. I think that it would be good to learn such lessons in early school, in order to form kid’s way of thinkin in time. When we get old it is difficult to change habits.

45. Chris

    Dec 03 08, 11:26 pm PST

    45

    I remember when I read the Alchemist I was in France on a vacation this past summer. I wanted to see what the big deal was because I had heard the book was this amazing transformative story that would change my life.

    I finished the book after two or three nights of reading into the wee hours of the morning (jet lag) and finally when I put it down, I looked at the wall and said: “That’s it?”

    I remember thinking how simple the lessons in the book were. I thought this can’t be the book people are raving about and that sold 65 million copies all over the planet. At the time I didn’t get it. I’m starting to understand it a little better though. The simplicity is the key.

    All the things I think I need, all the things I think I need to accomplish, and whatever else goes on ad nauseum in my head on a daily basis is mostly noise. The simple life is the easier life. Thanks for the article.

46. Maggie

    Dec 22 08, 9:27 am PST

    46

    These are great lessons to learn and to carry with us. I haven’t read The Alchemist yet; it’s on my list for the new year. Rules 3 and 9 are playing a big role in my life right now. It’s time to move on and make some serious life changes, and to allow myself to heal. That’s one thing I’ve learned reading Deborah King’s Truth Heals - that it’s important for me to find my own truth, to stop living the lies that are holding me back.

47. Jen Brister

    Jan 04 09, 12:09 pm PST

    47

    Intuition is a wonderful thing. Sometimes it takes years to figure out how to listen to it properly, but once you do, you open up all kinds of doors.

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