Personal Legend: Your Vocation

FELIPE:

Everyone has a vocation, something they want to become, also called personal legend. Some people have bigger and more complex personal legend than others. Some require real hard work and dedication while others just require a little of willpower and time. A personal legend is what each individual aspires to have and become, if someone achieves his or her personal legend they are granted a satisfying life. I like to view at a personal legend as a very personal and important goal, easy or difficult, that makes you think about it every day. A goal that you know it´s going to improve your life enormously. An example of that goal can be something serious as leaving an addiction, or something of less weight but still rewarding like get a talent, improve in that talent or be good at some sport or hobby.

In The Alchemist, a personal legend is what everyone achieves. In order for the universe to reach perfection, all human beings must accomplish their personal goal continuously. In the book, those who achieve their personal legend are granted by the universe treasure, happiness and other favors. In order to obtain your vocation, sacrifices have to be made, like how Santiago gave up his flock to continue in search of his omens. Omens are signals given to you by the universe to help you find and achieve your personal legend. Until now Santiago has only seen positive omens but I do believe that by being signals and hints, they can help someone avoid suffering or other bad scenarios from happening.

There will be a lot of obstacles in your way to achieve your vocation. The most common should be fear. There are a lot of types of fear, from fear to fail, being judged, loose a material object, to death. Most people may have the fear of failing and being rejected, as it’s extremely common in someone trying to pursue their personal legend. In the book, it is encouraged to ignore fear because it is a way of the universe to make you feel confused. Weak people tend to be influenced by fears so much that they end up forgetting or not pursuing their dreams. An example of this is the crystal merchant, who never went to the Mecca because he was afraid his dreams and hopes would come to an end once he gets there.

In The Alchemist dream are symbolic. Santiago´s dream of going to the pyramids is what starts the adventure on the first place. Dreams are embodied by your personal legend.

When I first started reading the book, I became aware that I didn`t have a personal legend. That I was still looking for my personal legend and the deadline is in two years, when I get to university. Later I realized that a personal legend isn´t necessary what you want to work at/do the rest of your life when you grow up, this is just a goal that you know will improve your life greatly.  Personal legend is more than that, is achieving happiness and fulfillment and find my inner self.