“The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.” —The Alchemist

So, what the hell does that mean?

What actually IS the secret to happiness? At least according to a best selling author with over 65 million copies sold in 80 different languages…

The author, Paulo Coelho writes in his allegory The Alchemist, about a story that teaches life balance.

In the story, a young boy is tasked with carrying a spoon with two drops of oil while exploring a magnificent palace.

When he focuses only on the oil, he misses the palace's wonders.

When he focuses only on the palace, he spills the oil.

The moral is that happiness lies in appreciating the world's beauty and opportunities (the marvels) while staying mindful of one's responsibilities and inner purpose (the drops of oil).

So, what are the “marvels of the world?”

The "marvels of the world" represent life's adventures, dreams, and experiences.

Always have a dream.

Chase adventure and experiences.

But...

What about the oil in the spoon?

Well, the "drops of oil" symbolize personal responsibility, values, and purpose.

For this particular story, the author defines happiness as balancing exploration and ambition with staying grounded in what matters most.

So, what are your ambitions, your purpose, your dreams?

In this life, that is short, you must first know what you want to chase.

And what you want to chase is likely to change, as in the story of The Alchemist.

But in chasing you live.

And in chasing, you find purpose.

It should be mentioned here, that ‘chasing’ can, and should be done at any age.

In fact, adventure is the fountain of youth.

This could be taking up a new hobby such as painting, photography, poetry, travel, etc.

Your purpose changes as you age.

Whether you are in your 30s, 40s, 50, 60s, 70, 80s, 90s, or 100 plus, to stay young in heart and mind is to learn something new, seek the unknown, and indulge in your dreams.

But, do not forget your morals, your values, your responsibilities in the interim.

Stay balanced.

And, you will live your best life.

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Every week, I share a summary of key insights from readings on personal growth, self-improvement, and achieving life success, along with multiple links to articles on health, wealth, inspiration, and motivation.

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Cheers, and here’s to living an Ascent Life! 🚀
R. Brandon Long

Below are my favorite links this week designed to inspire you to live healthy, wealthy & wise.

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Jodi is a Certified Change Leader, and has served on the board of Utah Cultural Alliance, the U of U College of Humanities Partnership Board, the U of U Bennion Center’s Student Directed Programs Committee, and the UVU Appomattox Project Advisory Board. She is on the leadership team of The Village Square Utah.

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