Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" is an incredible book. I can't recommend it enough to anyone who's looking for a good read. The style and story are not only captivating, but this book is also very quotable; some lines just speak to you regardless of who or where you are in the world. Here are some quotes I picked out that speak volumes to one's life purpose and journey toward that purpose.

1. "We have to be prepared for change...and he was grateful for the [jacket's] weight and warmth. The jacket had a purpose, and so did the boy."

Change is inevitable; ironically, change is the only constant in life. Everything and everyone has a purpose, even if they don't realize it or try to hinder others from realizing it.

2. "If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own."

This is painfully true. Sometimes we're so consumed with how we think others should live their lives that we forget to focus on our own. For the most part, it seems that we like identifying faults in others, sometimes in order to make ourselves feel better. The thing is, we aren't the standard for someone else's life. Every individual is unique and deserves to live their own life as only they can.

3. "It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie."

Powerful and true. Granted, life gets out of hand sometimes, and we can't really control what happens to us. However, we can control how to respond to our situations and decide how to live even when life gets tough.

4. "...when each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises."

A painful truth. Although it's easy to grow accustomed to life when things are steady and safe, we can miss out on the beauty that each individual day brings. We shouldn't be so quick to become complacent; there's something beautiful in every day if we keep our eyes open.

5. "There was nothing to hold [the boy] back except himself."

Another great reminder: sometimes we're our greatest enemy and the greatest obstacle to achieving our dreams.

6. "...there was a language in the world that everyone understood...It was the language of enthusiasm, of things accomplished with love and purpose, and as part of a search for something believed in and desired."

Definitely true. No matter where you go in the world, people are praised for achieving their goals and making their dreams reality. Passion, drive, determination -- all are universally renowned.

7. "When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision."

There's a saying that goes, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." We can't always see the path in front of us, though. On the road to achieve one's dreams, one can never fully predict what will happen or where they'll go.

8. "The closer one gets to realizing his Personal Legend, the more that Personal Legend becomes his true reason for being...."

In this book, Personal Legends are a person's dreams, what they're meant to do in life. When they discover and pursue their Personal Legends, they become their destiny. The same is true in real life.

9. "'Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.'"

Whatever you hold most dear in your heart is what you'll treasure the most.

10. "'You must understand that love never keeps a man from pursuing his Personal Legend.'"

This saying goes for anyone. In the book, the main character, Santiago, almost stops pursuing his Personal Legend because he fell in love with a desert woman named Fatima. The alchemist then tells him the above quote. No matter how much you may love someone, you should still pursue your dreams. If it's true love, they'll help you, not hinder you.

11. "'Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.'"

Another painful truth (and something I need to be reminded of). The mind is powerful, and sometimes our imaginations can develop so strongly that we break away from reality. If we're scared of something, we can imagine a thousand different ways our fear can be realized without even knowing what will happen to begin with (my fellow overthinkers can back me up on this one). Fear can paralyze you and cause you to fail simply because you haven't tried. Don't let fear hold you back (way easier said than done, I know). Life's worth living, and living involves risk-taking at times. Sometimes, it's easier to live with "Why did I do that?" instead of "Why didn't I do that?"

There are so many other great quotes found in this book. If you haven't read it, go do it now. You won't regret it.