The Alchemist and The Problem with Goals
Emily and I have been talking about the Alchemist recently and coincidentally I happened upon a review I’d written of it, back when I first read it. I think my thoughts then bear repeating. Especially in light of a thought-provoking post by Chris at Martial Development.
The book is a quick read, with some wisdom. However, what I just couldn’t get over is the emphasis of following your destiny and your heart’s desire (or whatever you want to call it) but then it’s disconnect to the ending of the book and the message that we’re left with. The boy finds his “heart’s desire” and the story is over.
What kind of message is that? We strive and strive and search and work for our heart’s desire/destiny and then we find it or “get there” — then what? It seems to me one would have to die. What an empty answer to the meaning/striving of life. I hate that the book is goal oriented, that seems so false. It’s like “living happily ever after” in fairy tales. Can no one think of what would be next? Nietzsche says it well, “In the end one loves one’s desire and not what is desired.”
The book is indirectly saying it is the desire that we love, the attachment, so we should embrace it. This doesn’t provide any relief from the suffering of life, of the everyday. This is a goal focused book. A book that embraces the western (or Christian) belief that we need to be against the world, not embracing it. The idea that relief comes with the goal, in heaven-at some later time, not now.
Chris’ post about the danger of goals expounds upon some themes in my review. As he points out:
We are told that goal setting is an irreproachable pursuit. People who set goals are focused, intelligent, passionate and successful; people who do not are ignorant, lazy, fearful and ineffective. Such accounts represent the wishful thinking of goal addicts.
We should expect people who achieve their goals to consider themselves successful. They are successful by their own measure—as are many others who fail to set any goals whatsoever. This is a case of subjective bias; if we want the objective truth, we should ask someone without a horse in the success race.
Forget about personal development speakers, coaches and other businessmen. As Lieh-tzu said, One who sets out on a great enterprise does not concern himself with trifles; one who achieves great successes does not achieve small ones. Mankind’s greatest masters left us a different path to personal empowerment: abandon your goals.
The Alchemist left me disappointed and frustrated because it doesn’t show how to survive the everyday and it is so goal focused. Chris provided me with a discussion that helps explain some of my feelings. Now the question becomes, how to enjoy the journey.
Answer’s fairly simple: once you’ve attained one goal, set another.
Better yet: set an impossible goal, one that can be approached but not actually achieved.
I’m not saying it would lead to happiness, but it does resolve the issue in a turtles-all-the-way-down kind of way.
You really hit the nail on the head when you said “The idea that relief comes with the goal, in heaven-at some later time, not now.”
I’ve found that by re-defining my idea of “goals” or “success” has really made a world of difference in my life.
I used to think that success or accomplishing goals meant achieving some end-point. That is at least the traditional definition of goals and success.
However, now, I allow goals and success to be malleable ideas. Maybe a goal is to find my “passion” in life. Or maybe my goal is to enjoy the process by which I am being passionate about life.
The latter provides the flexiblity for goals to be present-oriented instead of future-oriented.
Yep, it`s all about the journey
Gonna throw in a stellar reference here. Michael Chricton`s Eater`s of the Dead. The book follows Ibn Fadlan on his fictional travel with these Vikings to save their homes from some unknown enemy. The book is written as Fadlan`s personal account.
I`m not going to tell you how it ends but I will say that there is closure and goals are reached. What I liked about the ending was that last line goes something like this.
And then it happened…
From here there`s an editor`s note saying the remainder of the Ibn Fadlan account has been lost.
So, anyway, it`s all about the journey and looking to the next goal.
Great comments.
Matt: I like the idea of redefining goals as something that isn’t possible to achieve, that keeps us from making the achievement of the goal our only aim, like a horse with blinders on
Chris: The point about how redefining goals to be present oriented rather than future oriented is exactly what I am saying. It could be interesting to combine Matt’s approach, if the goal is unreachable there is a certain redirection of energy to the current moment/task at present.
Aaroni: I’ll definitely check out the book. It is all about the journey.
I also agree with the post at Martial Development.
I am curious about why you think Christians are “against the world, not embracing it.” I’m a Christian, and I find your idea very backwards. I believe you mean Christians who have a perverted view of Christianity, not all Christians.