In 1986, I went for the first and only time on the pilgrimage known as the Way to Santiago, an experience I described in my first book. We had just finished walking up a small hill, a village appeared on the horizon, and it was then that my guide, whom I shall call Petrus (although that was not his name), said to me:
- We must never stop dreaming. Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body. Many times in our lives we see our dreams shattered and our desires frustrated, but we have to continue dreaming. If we don’t, our soul dies
‘The Good Fight is the one we Fight because our heart asks it of us.The Good Fight is the one that’s fought in the name of our dreams. When we are young our dreams first explode inside us with all of their force, we are very courageous, but we haven’t yet learned how to Fight. With great effort, we learn how to Fight, but by then we no longer have the courage to go into combat. So we turn against ourselves and do battle within. We become our own worst enemy. We say that our dreams were childish, or too difficult to realize, or the result or our not having known enough about life. We kill our dreams because we are afraid to Fight the Good Fight.
“The first symptom of the process of killing our dreams is lack of time. The busiest people I have known in my life always have time enough to do everything. Those who do nothing are always tired and pay no attention to the little amount of work they are required to do. They complain constantly that the day is too short. The Truth is, they are afraid to Fight the Good Fight
“The second symptom of the death of our dreams lies in our certainties. Because we don’t want to see life as a grand adventure, we begin to think of ourselves as wise and fair and correct in asking so little of life. We look beyond the walls of our day-to-day existence, and we hear the sound of lances breaking, we smell the dust and the sweat, and we see the great defeats and the fire in the eyes of the warriors. But we never see the delight, the immense delight in the hearts of those engaged in the battle. For them, neither victory nor defeat is important; what’s important is only that they are Fighting the Good Fight.
“And, finally, the third symptom of the passing of our dreams is peace. Life becomes a Sunday afternoon; we ask for nothing grand, and we cease to demand anything more than we are willing to give. In that state we think of ourselves as being mature; we put aside the fantasies of our youth, and we seek personal and professional achievement. We are surprised when people our age say that they still want this or that out of life. But really, deep in our hearts, we know that what has happened is that we have renounced the battle for our dreams-we have refused to Fight the Good Fight.
“When we renounce our dreams and find peace, we go through a period of tranquility. But the dead dreams begin to rot within us and to infect our entire being. We become cruel to those around us, and then we begin to direct this cruelty against ourselves.
“What we sought to avoid in combat-disappointment and defeat-came upon us because of our cowardice. And one day, the dead, spoiled dreams make it difficult to breath, and we actually seek death. It’s death that frees us from out certainties, from our work, and from that terrible peace of Sunday afternoons.”
in “The Pilgrimage”(1987)
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Dear Paulo
I like the way you have expressed the inability or unwillingness or hesitation that strays mans path away from his dreams. I am into the Good Fight phase right now and am loving it despite the bottlenecks I am facing.
Thanks for the quick read.
Regards
Miss Alkab Shaikh
thanks for that – very appropriate -
Love
Just the thing I needed to read! even though i read it before. but right now i needed this reminder. THANK YOU SO MUCH :)
Can I say that I almost cry, reading this?But not because it`s sad to read this, but because I need it so much…I need it to hear sooo much those words, so I can go on and say to the world “Hey, World, I`m not crazy, I`m just living my dream and not dreaming my life” !!!
Thank you soooo much!
1] “We must never stop dreaming. Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body (…)”
2] “(…) For them, neither victory nor defeat is important; what’s important is only that they are Fighting the Good Fight.”
[For Me] Victory -> Fulfillment of My Dreams
That’s why [for me], IT IS important to feel the presence of Nike – Winged Goddess of Victory; sister of Cratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and Zelus (Zeal). She [Nike] helps me: a] to feel her three brothers within me; b] to see flames of fire in my eyes and c] to keep this fire burning in my heart. And STRANGE or not, but Fire smells like Victory.
Thank you so much for this message. I actually had some rather unpleasant dreams last night and woke up somewhat sad. And then, in an instant, I realized that I have the power to change my impression of those dreams and to take them only as a sign of what I am currently manifesting by default. I was quite happy afterward because I simply changed my focus and am returning to the path of following my true dreams. And then I came upon your link and found this lovely passage; thank you so much for being who you are and for sharing your words with the world! You are truly a gift to us all. :) I have a very deep sense of appreciation for you and your works.
Thank you~~ ^.^
Thank you, Paulo Coelho, for making me realize that the ‘peaceful, boring, Sunday afternoon’ has NEVER been MY DREAM!!
Thank you for being there and making us, your readers, DREAM and Fight the good fight.
YOU ARE THE WINNER, but you are never alone!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Amazing writing, really inspiring, I always dreamed about becoming a writer, but never did anything coz I was worried about career and other things. When I go through this article, I realize where I made mistakes. I had the same problems, not time to write, worried about what to write and how..Glad that I started blogging last year after one year I have a website, even though i haven’t become what I wanted i did get some pointers. I know I am improving, and I am happy about it. My life is so different today. Thanks Paulo..for writing this..
When I first read this book, this part really struck me. The descriptions of the symptoms are all around me. It was a good thing I read and learned this at a young age. Really inspiring. :)
Mac
Philippines
As always, Your writings tend to come to me at the right time. I always read something out of it that is supposed to make me think (deeper) about something, contemplate or act in some way, either to stay strong to my beliefs/feelings or to change the ones that are working against me.
I don’t want to spill my own blood and kill myself.
But I’d be ready to give blood at the blood-giving medical center.
Happy new year again!
Liina
I thank you from the bottom of my heart..This was quite well timed.
Very well written! This is very true as I know a member of my family has ruined her relationships, because of an obsession that never came true, to be a superstar! – very sad, but true!
Only her death will cure her heart – as it is rotting – she is blaming all around her for her coward inside – and made it a nightmare for everyone envolved. It is one to follow your dreams another to have that talent!
Inspite of it all – I see the sun!
Thank you!
Happy New Year! Sorry to hear about Brazil!
Love Caroline
The good fight is the fight that is never surrendered and always renewed- regardless of the shortcomings, defeats and disappointments.
Thanks elaine for the Langston Hughes. The Dream Deferred is a powerful poem.
@hannibal666
http://twitter.com/hannibal666
chase your dreams, and some day the dream are caught, and a reality.
It is very simple, but true!
Search and you shall find, so the bible, nd if you search enough, so you shall find.
If you drream enough, allyour dreams shall be fullfilled if you continue chasing!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems European made movies more often have Sad Endings and Hollywood productions have Happy Endings. Most recently I watched Revolutionary Road, which correspond to this topic of renouncing our dreams.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Road
A couple, living the Nuclear family dream, mother, father and two kids in a pretty house in a suburb, anywhere really, decide to quit the day job, sell everything they own, and move to Paris. The only one supporting this idea, is a disturbed man with mental problems. Everybody else believe the endeavor is way too risky. The couple notice how they start to live again, looking forward to making their dream come through.
A motto for this new decade might be as suggested in your text, to see; ‘life as a grand adventure’. To feel alive we should choose the Revolutionary Road often! HAPPY NEW YEAR…AND HAPPY NEW DECADE everyone!!!
Nice to see you back Heart! Happy New Year! Viva la Revolution! :)
So nice to see you back again! This movie touched me too.
Love ya,
Lainee
Thank you for reminding it, I have read that time ago, but must stay aware and never forget…Dreams are the threads that links us to the core of the Universe.
Love
Alexandra
(modestly a big dreamer…)
Hi Paulo,
You have written awesome truth of our life. I am sure that this line “The Good Fight”, will give me a right direction in my life and I live my dreams truly.
In 1979 the song “Logical” was popular. It was written because the boy had dreams, life was a miracle, beautiful, magical. Then the boy was sent to school for 10 years to learn how to be practical, dependable, logical. They tried to kill his dreams, happily the boy became a man who realised his dreams. Sure this is a musical hit by Supertramp but the lyrics came from the heart and are still true. Never let anyone train you not to have dreams.
It’s funny sometimes how life puts the answers right infront of your eyes!!Today i woke up feeling like i had nothing to dream about any more…and i fell on your link Paulo..it made me realise how important the fight is…even when you feel that your own strenght has defeat you..I am struck and I am thankful for this and i am standing up for my dreams…the warrior in me is waking up again and i made myself this promise …never to stop the fight! Thank you and Happy New year to evry one.
What a timely and relevant one for me. I am in a starting point of a new career, one that I believe will take me closer to myself and dreams. Everyday since I made the move, I got signs of why this is the right one for me, and this article is yet another one in that.
Thank you, Paulo. It’s beautiful. Just like your books.
Cheers,
Bondan
You’ve really made me wanna read that book!
I love your words, the sounds they produce when they’re put together and I love their meanings.
I discovered your website last week and I really fell in love with it: it’s amazing to benefit from your words not only in your books but always here, in your virtual place.
I need to thank you,
Sally
thanks for this valuble notes, i truly believe in what you say, the problem is i dont know what is my dreams> it seems to me i have never any which is sad and strange is there anybody who feels like me???
thanks for reminding me,,, i need that kind of reminder,,, from time to time,,,and u r 100% right,,, we should never give up our dreams,,,
thanks so much and have a wonderful year
Orly
thank you for posting and the wisdom in it.
I used to love “Sunday afternoons”, but not anymore. I’m starting a big journey now, so thank you for this quote. It gives me power, that’ll be helpful during the walk.
All the best for 2010!
Coincidentally, I finished The Pilgrimage just two days ago…a fascinating read.
I am going through a phase of my life where a brief incident has lead me to dream something that is almost impossible if I evaluate the whole situation “realistically”. However, whenever I have thoughts of giving up on my dream and be “realistic”, a voice inside me convince me to believe in miracles and be steadfast in my heart…Infact, this dream of mine is consuming me inside…All day, all night, all I do is think about it…that is all what is left of me…the uncertainty of ever realizing the dream is sometimes quite difficult to handle. However, I have decided in my heart that I will keep this dream alive as long as I could. Because, albeit painful at times, it makes my life purposeful.
What a limiting way to think about life: If I am happy now, I will forget my desires. What Paul Coelho calles being at Peace, or somitimes being Happy, actually means being resigned. Interesting word: To Resign. It suggests leaning backward, folding one’s hands (as in death) and not doing anything.
However, is it possible to feel happy, full of joy, grateful, and still be in touch with one’s desires? Or do we all have to be unhappy until our desires have been fulfilled? I certainly hope not!
My challenge in life is to be happy and to still know what I desire, what my dreams are, what the call of my soul is. I have come here (on earth, in this life) to fulfill a purpose, and to set out do so from a place of happiness and peace is a wonderful feeling. One I would wish upon everyone!
“My challenge in life is to be happy and to still know what my dreams are…I have come here…to fulfil a purpose, and to set out to do so from a place of happiness and peace is a wonderful feeling.”
Thank you, Ellen for your interesting comment. I agree with you. If we are to ‘fight a good fight’ we must have peace within ourselves. True warriors must be clear thinkers with their minds free of discord and clutter and always at the ready to defend their cause.
All warriors need a rest from time to time in order to relax and evaluate their strategies! Maybe on a Sunday afternoon! But does the calm, peaceful Sunday afternoon still exist? I thought it had vanished into the history books long ago! Or perhaps it’s because I have been living in another culture that I have forgotten all about it?!
dreams r really special they r d ones which make you realize that one day you will achieve for what you are here. I believe my dreams will cum true one day and only dis feeling drives me through all d difficult situations I face.
After a very long night at work, I am renewed by you words and the comments of those responding. This reminder of the importance of our dreams and our faithful struggle to see them come to life is a wonderful beginning for the new year. Thank you, your words light a dark path in perhaps many of our lives.
I have read this story and I’m wondering.
It’s OK, that we need to keep our dreams, but there are several ones we have to leave to being happy in our life. For example, I had dreams before my son was born. I can’t live with those, because it’s waisted time to dream about. Now I have new ones. It’s more important to have dreams that have the chance become true. Or not?
thank you for reminding the most important thing in lazy Sunday afternoon. God bless you, Paulo :)
“When we renounce our dreams and find peace, we go through a period of tranquility. But the dead dreams begin to rot within us and to infect our entire being.”
As there are no negotiable dreams so there are no dead dreams or warm ice-creams. Peace and Tranquility are too beautiful words, to me they don´t fit. The rest I find is great, Love & Peace
Great Notes, dear Paulo…
You gave me the affirmation for my 2010 resolution that I will chase my dreams no matter what. If 2010 pass, then I still have 2011 then on and on.
What matters is the agility to fight a good fight over and over again.
Thank you
Read this… and then forgot….
Thanks a lot for reminding me now!!!
What a time to quit a fight at 20, and maybe i am already doing it… It really makes me scared to think of this!
This is one of my favorite books!!! I like it so much and I like the idea! Never kill dreams always keep fight
Don’t fear only believe! Love is everything
thank you so much for this wonderful piece :)
I have been losing hope all the while my life has been this empty abyss that I am always busy and at times don’t know where I am heading to; I am a senior in college hopefully graduating this fall and after which decide on what to do with the remaining part of my life. It’s as if I am already losing my dreams when I was reading this, I have realized that I have been cooped up at home for the comfort and refuse to fight the good fight as I have been afraid of what is to come that I may not be able to handle what comes in the future if I will decide to pursue medical school or not or to take another course thereafter I graduate to chase the dream from within me to have the life that I wanted from the very beginning. It take a lot of courage and faith to carry on I may lose a lot of things but I may gain knowledge, friendships and relationships along the way for fighting the good fight. Once again thank you for sharing these wonderful words of wisdom and your books are amazing :)
Beautiful… thank you …… so no bad feelings if we still have our dream ……
Oh dear, that is so true. I have had experience of this peace and then the slow death and cruelty. Looking back makes me cross at just how foolish I was..
Fortunately I got the kick up the backside I needed to jump start my life and force me to look at what I was doing or more what I was not doing. 10 yrs down the tubes but now I am optimistically looking ahead and the future while not looking easy at least looks much brighter.
Reading first the Alchemist and then the rest of your books helped me to see just how far I had withdrawn from love and life.
So I give thanks to the wonderful girl who gave me the kick I needed and your books that she introduced me to..
Love,
Michael
ive been wanting to buy your books… but theres no books store here in our province in the phillippines.
Thank You ,I wish more people would live their lives and dreams rather than the dreams of others or worse, not at all.
There is hope, amongst the hopeless. Hope is all some people have and it is not for others to say differently. If you can only pity or shake your head when life is tough then get out of the way, some of us are coming through.
hi paulo thanks a lot i learned this few minutes reading it it inspired me to go through life and follow my dreams in life :)
But what can we do when all the people around you want to kill your dreams ?
Hello dreamgirl! Have you read ‘The Alchemist’? Found a lot of inspiration there. When others have attempted to kill my dreams, I still choose to forge ahead. Feeling thankful for that opposition because it made me more determined, to ‘do what others say you can’t’ (thankyou Paulo, for this quote!). And now, some of the previous nay-sayers are now supporters! That was not expected but very much appreciated.
I hope that you do not give up.
Lots of Love, Jane : ) xo
That is why life is but a dream…without dreams…there is no life.
I love this post…because it is the reason why I do what I do…I still fight and believe…because Sunday afternoons are for funerals or making love…I choose the later.
Thank you very much for posting this. It’s very timely since the new year has just started. It’s always a good thing to read something that would make me analyze my own life. I never realized I was already killing my dreams. I forgot what it’s like to fight the Good Fight. I’ve been conforming to the ways of the world.
This has come at a good time for me. Yesterday, I was discussing with a close friend my dreams and plans for the future. Whilst chatting I also discussed the fact that I often have an aching, a desire in my heart/chest and wondered why I feel such pain when I am accomplishing many of the things I set out to and have plans to achieve the others I have not yet gotten to.
I discovered it was my soul talking to me and telling me not to give up, to continue to search for all the things that make me happy and to tick off one by one each desire I have to learn about something new in life. I also realised that to have a peaceful soul must be an even scarier thing. As that for me would mean I have completed the things I set out to do…so what would I then have to dream of, what goals would I have for my life? I know this is not everyone’s way to live, but it is the way I choose to live and every part of me overflows with energy and love so I know I must be on the right path.
Thank you Paulo for showing me the way. Helping me to understand myself and to live the life that my heart and soul wishes for.
Sending much love
Alex
x
This is a nice read. I am killing my dreams, not listening to its cries and this made me a person who doesn’t care about people’s feelings because I don’t care in mine. I just hope that this year would be different from the years I had battling with myself about my dream, about trying to forget my passion. I would try not to have diversion this time–like drinking alcohol and smoking which kills my body, a very essential means of getting to my dreams. Thank you so much Mr. Coelho. This is very timely for this year. For a new start.
Dear Paulo and Readers,
This book, The Alchemist and Veronika Decides To Die are really interesting, and helped me to understand myself and others better.
For me, the worst obstacle worry. These thoughts do not happen often but sometimes I listen too much to pressure, begin to feel badly about being different – not wanting the same things (everything predicable, planned, in neat little packages). And even that is a choice (knowing full well that I am going to hurt a lot!) Thankfully I get back up and realize that even those times help make me feel more determined.
As long as I have a dream, there is no excuse good enough to give up on this joy of living or complain of boredom.
Then, watched a movie the other night. A true story called Pay It Forward. Oh I love doing these things and am still so much like this little boy!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwHcS-XoYbc
Lots of Love, Jane : ) xo
It would be terrible that the death finally freed us from our dream ！this article almost make me tearing,I’ll re think my life !
These phrases changed my life about 8 years ago. I loved climbing alone and listening to the silence of the mountain that was actualy the voice of life. I trusted to your writings especially “The Piligrimage“ that inspired me deeply. Then I trusted to the voice of my heart and for the first time in my life full in love.But we never could make it. She was married with two children and never told me the truth about her life.The relationship ended with tears and sorrow and I got the severe for of asthma because I could`nt stand with this failure. Today I still have athma, and for 6 years I dream about going alone again to the mountain. But 3 years ago I got married to this woman who loves me that way whom I love that married woman. I discover the beuaty of love in her eyes. I can imagine now the greatness of love from the eyes of a true lover, one who fights for her dream like a true worrior, and now my lovely wife helps me thinking again about my lost dreams. Yes we fight together with this asthma thing, and god knows soon we will be at mountain tip listenning to the wispering of the god out there.
Happy new year for every one. Sorry for loses in Brazil by the heavy rains.
Sam
Shiraz Iran
I am so glad you found your true love. That is my dream!
Thanks Paulo,
Good to read and reread this every so often :-)
After reading “The Alchemist” with my students, we read the play “A Raisin In The Sun.” It is interesting going from “the boy’s” success having fulfilled his dream to the Younger family and their circumstances and leads to a beautiful discussion about dreams and those who let them go unfinished. This Langston Hughes poem is a great starting point for the discussion.
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Thank you, Annie
Love ya,
Lainee
Thank you, agreed Annie!!! Better to live ‘a thousand times’ than exist simply to ‘put in time’. Thank you Annie, for making me smile. Hope your day ahead is full of wonder.
Love, Jane : )
Bless the universe and all its conspiring and its bright days dear Annie, especially the ones made blurry with happy tears!
With love, Daniel
Guys!
We’re all in the same boat. I also would have kicked myself if I had said no.
Congratulations , Daniel, on happy and encouraging news. Thanks, Annie for sharing. God will provide, you will see because He knows that paying the price of their dreams is a warrior’s duty. May everyone be blessed with this realization. May everyone act with a touch of madness once in a while.
Lots of love, light, courage, faith, enthusiasm or whatever you may need to follow your dreams.
Adriana
it looks as if a door was open ….
congratulations for such a magic moment :o)
what an opportunity
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