Daily Times

The Alchemist is one of the worldly translated and bestselling books by lyricist and novelist Paulo Coelho.

No doubt, Paulo has jotted down many life-changing books, but this is worldly most legible novel. This book is based on the philosophy that confides us to never lose hope during the journey of achieving dreams and ambitions in life.

Whatever circumstance you have, whatever you suffer always hope for betterment. Focus on the good and good is what you are having, good is your present. When we start to focus on the good, good gets better.

In this book, Paulo Coelho has narrated a story of a boy named Santiago who is a shepherd and embarks on a journey for the sake of the culmination of his dream. This journey teaches him many lessons of life and he meets many personalities who inspire him to continue his journey towards his treasure.

He faces so many difficulties and troubles that cannot permit him to proceed his journey but one thing that always exhorts him to continue his journey is hope. The firm belief in his dream assists him to achieve his goal.

Despite an adventurous and audacious journey, at last, he finds the treasure once he dreamt of.

In this book, Paulo Coelho has narrated a story of a boy named Santiago who is a shepherd and embarks on a journey for the sake of the culmination of his dream. This journey teaches him many lessons of life and he meets many personalities who inspire him to continue his journey towards his treasure

Surely this book is a complete package of motivation and inspiration to spend your life for achieving your dream. Everyone has dreams but how to achieve them, you will learn that art by reading this book.

Here are the top lessons which I have learnt from this book.

1. Take Action: There is only one way to learn. It’s through action.

Try to work on your goals and dreams. What we do, we just make plans in our mind that yes it’s my dream and I have to achieve it by this and that way but we don’t take actions and we don’t put our efforts in it. By putting full efforts we may reach our destiny.

2. Never ever doubt your abilities: You are what you believed to be. So, always believe in yourself. Believe that you can do everything you are the best and always be the best version of yourself. During the journey on achieving our dreams, when it becomes a bit difficult for us to reach our destination we start doubting our selves. When your path is full of difficulties and troubles, for sure continue it, the universe is just testing you if you deserve the treasure or not, you should learn a lesson from these difficulties that the darkest hour of the night come just before the dawn. And remember one thing you will not accomplish anything without putting efforts on it. So believe that you can, you can achieve want you to want.

3. Do not be afraid:

Fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.

Do not stress yourself worrying about your future and regretting about your past just focus on the present, for sure your present actions will create your future. So, the most important

thing is your present. Don’t fear of failure because failure is an opportunity in disguise. When you fail to accept your defeat and try for one time more if you fail for 10 times 11th time is an opportunity to stand and start once again.

4. Take control of what you can: 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. We are the owner of our own lives. We are in control of our own existences. Blaming your fate is a great lie to yourself. Don’t blame your fate about your bad circumstance and troubles. You have control of your life. Take control of what you can.

5. Focus on your goal: “When you want something heartily the whole universe conspires to help you to achieve it.” Stay focused on your dream say no to things that are not needed or that or unnecessary. Spend your time and energy on the people and things that motivate you towards your dream and help you to achieve it.

6. Listen to your heart: You will never be able to escape your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say.

Remember wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure so always follow your heart it will never lead you astray. Your heart holds all treasure.

7. Break the monotony: Monotony stimulates the creative mind. When each day is as next, it make life miserable and colourless. Therefore try to add more colours in your life. Enjoy the adventurous journey of life. And consider your every great action a big challenge.

Consecutively, the theme of The Alchemist is to pursue your dreams by following your heart and hope is the factor that helps you to achieve your goal. It teaches us when you want something whole heartedly; the whole universe conspires to help you to achieve it.

The writer is a blogger and a student at Iqra University, Karachi