In a world obsessed with self-improvement, the words of Paulo Coelho serve as a gentle reminder that sometimes, the journey of life isn’t about becoming something new, but rather about shedding the layers that are not truly us. His poignant words resonate with a truth that many of us feel but struggle to articulate: “Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about un-becoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.”
The simplicity of Coelho’s message belies its depth. It suggests a process of unlearning—the art of stripping away the shoulds, the coulds, and the external expectations that have adhered to our identity over time. It’s a subtle shift in perspective, but one that empowers us to reclaim the essence of who we are.
Coelho’s philosophy doesn’t ask us to add more to our already full plates. Instead, it invites us to look inward and ask, “What is not serving me? What can I let go of?” This is not an easy task. It is not a solution but an ongoing process—a journey without a final destination, where the reward is found in the steps we take toward our authentic selves, not in the arrival.
His words serve as a beacon for those lost in the cacophony of societal norms and self-help rhetoric that demand constant change. In an inspiring contradiction, Coelho’s counsel doesn’t drive us towards transformation but steers us back to our origin. It’s about remembering who we were before the world told us who to be.
As we move through our daily lives, let us hold onto this powerful concept. Let us give ourselves the permission to un-become, to peel back the layers, and to be unapologetically who we were always meant to be.
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