It is the possibility of having a dream Meaning Factcheck Usage

Table of Contents

• Meaning
• Explanation
• Origin & Factcheck
• Context
• Usage Examples
• Common Questions

Meaning

The core message here is that the potential for success is what fuels our passion, not the success itself. It’s the “what if” that gets us out of bed in the morning.

Explanation

Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times, in business and in life. The moment you remove the possibility—the moment a path becomes a dead end—the energy just drains away. It’s the anticipation, the journey, the struggle that’s actually interesting. Think about it. A movie where the hero is guaranteed to win from the start? Boring. It’s the risk of failure that makes the victory sweet. This quote is about embracing that entire process, the beautiful, frustrating, and utterly compelling process of pursuing something that might happen.

Origin & Factcheck

This line comes straight from Paulo Coelho’s massively popular 1988 novel, The Alchemist. It’s a book originally written in Portuguese (‘O Alquimista’) in Brazil. You sometimes see it floating around unattributed, but it’s 100% Coelho.

Context

In the book, this is the wisdom given to the shepherd boy, Santiago, early in his journey. He’s contemplating whether to abandon his safe, familiar life to go chase a literal treasure he saw in a dream. The quote is the argument for why he should go—because a life spent wondering “what if?” is a life half-lived.

Usage Examples

This isn’t just lofty philosophy; it’s a practical mindset. You can use it when:

• Motivating a team: “Look, I don’t know if this new product will be a home run, but the possibility that it could change our industry is what makes coming to work exciting, right?”
• Advising a hesitant friend: “Apply for the job. Even if you don’t get it, the simple act of trying, of having that door potentially open, makes you feel more alive than safely staying where you are.”
• Personal reflection: Ask yourself: “What dream am I currently pursuing that makes my day-to-day life more interesting, simply by existing as a goal?”

Common Questions

Question: Does this mean the achievement doesn’t matter?

Answer: Not at all. The achievement is the destination, but the quote emphasizes that the road to that destination is where most of life is actually lived and experienced.

Question: What if my dream feels impossible?

Answer: The beauty is, it doesn’t have to feel 100% achievable. It just has to feel possible. That tiny, 1% chance is the spark. Nurture that spark, not the overwhelming odds.

Question: Is this just about big, life-changing dreams?

Answer: Great question. No, it scales down beautifully. It could be the possibility of finishing a 5k run, learning a song on the guitar, or mastering a new recipe. Any dream that adds a layer of anticipation and purpose to your routine counts.