My Personal Legend
According to the novel, The Alchemist written by Paulo Coelho, a personal
legend is defined as one’s destiny or pursuing one’s purpose in life. Determining
one’s purpose in life can become the most difficult part of the journey.
The influences that surround society everyday are the guides that lead someone to
their destiny. The people, places and experiences that are encountered throughout
one’s journey aid to determine personality type, as well as likes and dislikes. The
cultural forces including media and fear will open new pathways, but also close
doors to others. The forces that are most influential to each person will determine
which pathway is the correct one for them. The personality type of someone has an
influence on how they will deal will certain situations, as well as their interests and
their social life. There are many factors that influence how a person will behave,
what they will become and how they will confront the influences that engulf society
everyday. The people who I have encountered throughout my life, the challenges I
have overcome and environment I was raised in have influenced me the most
significantly. These are the major influences that helped me discover my personal
legend.
I have become the person I am today because of how the people I have met
and the places I have seen have. These are all factors that have helped to mold my
personality into what it is today, due to their significant influence. Personality traits
hold a huge influence on my personal journey. My personality traits, and my
personality type are what will help guide me through my personal journey. These
traits either hold me back from or, make me interested in pursuing my personal
legend. Of the 'Big Five' personality traits, the two that I can relate to most are
openness and agreeableness. Openness is an appreciation for art, adventure,
imagination and curiosity. I am very open to new experiences, trying new things and
coming up with unusual ideas. This personality trait holds an advantage for pursuing
my personal legend. This trait opens doors that would be closed off to conventional
people who prefer the plain to the extravagant. The second personality trait from the
list of the 'Big Five' is agreeableness. This trait shows concern for social peace and
harmony. I consider myself to be a very friendly, helpful and willing to compromise
individual. This personality trait could either help me along my personal journey to
my legend or hold me back. This trait could help me because I get along with others
easily and I am optimistic therefore I do not have an issue getting along with others
who may help me along my personal journey. This trait could also hold me back
because disagreeable people are more competitive than agreeable people. This could
serve as a disadvantage for me. Although I am friendly and I enjoy spending time
with my friends as well as new people, I have an introvert personality. This means
that I find more reward in spending some time by myself than with a group of
people. This personality type has closed some pathways but opened others along my
personal journey. This personality type has demonstrated how I work better on my
own, than with a group of people. This has eliminated certain opportunities that may
require an extravert personality type. My personality traits and my personality types
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are influential factors on my personal journey. They have either helped me or held
me back from certain opportunities. Although I may have liked to pursue certain
opportunities, I cannot change who I am.
Taking risks and trying new things is always a component to determining what
one’s personal legend is. “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to
achieve: the fear of failure.” -The Alchemist (p. 141) These risks could be as simple as
listening to a new genre of music, trying something new and, as insignificant as it
may seem to others, purchasing the album “Bring Me Your Love,” by “City and
Colour” made a significant change on my personal journey. I became much more
interested in music because of Dallas Green’s musical talent and purchased a ukulele
on my own, so I could write my own music. I became my own critic because I was
too embarrassed and scared to show anyone else my musical ‘abilities,’ and I proved
the saying that you are your worst critic. When the ‘Open Mic Night’ at my school
was introduced, I immediately rejected the idea of auditioning because of my fear of
performing in front of crowds. In the Alchemist, (Coelho) the crystal merchant fears
that once he has completed the pilgrimage to Mecca that he will have nothing else to
live for. Instead, he lives his life unhappily and controlled by fear. Like the crystal
merchant who Santiago meets along his personal journey, I let fear control that
particular moment of my personal journey. If I had not let fear control my life, could
I have been successful with my audition? Would I have performed well in front of
the crowd? These are questions that will remain unanswered until a great risk is
taken and my fear of performing in front of crowds is overcome. Taking smaller
risks have helped to clear pathways along my personal journey. It’s the greater risks
that will instruct me on which path to take. I have to learn to take risks and take
advantages of opportunities that come my way.
Lastly, the sociological forces that influence one’s personal legend. Support and
encouragement has a huge influence on how someone will pursue their personal
legend. Being born in Oakville to a fortunate family meant that I was already on a
good pathway towards my personal legend. This pathway continued when I was
enrolled into a good school, where I was able to attain proper education. Finally, I
would meet the people who I now call my childhood friends who have helped me
along the pathway to where I am now. Due to my supportive family, my education
and the support I have from my friends, my personal journey is different from that
of Santiago. Throughout his journey, Santiago struggles with money and fears losing
his wealth as a result of going to Tangier. This obstacle restricts him from pursuing
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his purpose until he earned the money that he required to continue. Throughout my
personal journey, my friends and family have been fully supportive of any decision I
have made, or plan to make. Santiago is discouraged along his personal journey
when he meets the Crystal Merchant who has allowed fear to control his life. This
discourages Santiago and he put his personal journey on hold to work for the crystal
merchant.
They say one’s life begins when they step out of their comfort zone. In order for
one to step out of their comfort zone, they must interact with new people, take risks
and they must be encouraged to do so. In order to pursue a personal legend, one’s
comfort zone must be expanded in order for them to view all the possibilities in life.
A personal legend is defined as pursuing one’s purpose in one’s life. The forces that
surround society everyday help lead the way to one’s personal pathway to
discovering their personal legend. The people I have met, the risks I have, or have
not taken and the support of my friends and family are what help me discover my
personal legend. A personal legend could take five minutes to determine, or a
lifetime. I have yet to discover my personal legend, but I know that with the
influences and support surrounding me, I am headed down the right pathway.
Nicole Grainger