June 22, 2025 • 14 mins
Our journaling series continues with an exploration of how to identify and pursue your "personal legend," inspired by Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist.
• Three-minute brain dump exercise to clear your mind
• Reflecting on faith, cutting cords, and trusting your path
• Identifying dreams that feel "stupidly big" yet call to you
• Visualizing in detail what life would look like living your dream
• Recognizing what stands in your way (usually ourselves)
• Taking one concrete step today toward your personal legend
• Reconnecting with childhood dreams that may reveal your true calling
• Looking for signs—like moments of peace and unexpected joy—that confirm you're on the right path
Journal prompts:
- What is a dream that feels so stupidly big that it scares you?
- If I were living that life right now, how would you be moving, talking, or acting?
- If I were living that dream right now, what would it feel like or look like? What colors might you see, what music would you hear, or what things might you see?
- What is one action you could take today to start moving toward your dream?
- What is standing in your way?
Book: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
Stay cute, stay kind, stay loud and keep dancing, even when everyone is watching.
Follow me on Instagram @goasksawyer
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, happy Sunday, welcome back to Go Ask
Sawyer.
My name is Jamie, your host ofGo Ask Sawyer, and this is our
journaling series that we are in.
Just a nice way to be able tohave some sort of guide as
you're writing, dumping yourbrain out.
For people who have beenjournaling for a long time, this
(00:23):
could be a great new directionfor people who have never
journal time.
This could be a great newdirection for people who have
never journaled.
This might be a great placejust to start.
For those of us that are inthose stuck moments in life,
this could be a maybe just anexcuse, like Sundays, I journal.
So here's what I need from youto get started A journal and
(00:43):
something to write with or yournotes app, however you feel like
writing.
Today, I'm going to ask you toset your timer for three minutes
and I'm going to have you presspause and you're just going to
dump out your brain.
You are going to write whateveryou want for three minutes
without stopping, so the goal isto hopefully try to not even
(01:05):
pick up your pen or pencil offthe table or, sorry, off the
paper.
So to get us started, set thattimer for three minutes, take a
deep breath and press pause here.
Welcome back.
I hope that was good.
I hope that was nice.
Maybe you learned something newabout yourself.
Maybe you just needed a momentof clarity to let it all go.
(01:29):
So last week we talked aboutfaith what kind of like walking
in faith looks like, kind ofthat walking into a dark room
and having faith in yourselfthat you will find the light
switch before you fall.
We talked about cutting cordswith places, people, events,
things that just no longer serveus, and we just talked about
(01:51):
not giving a fuck anymore.
That episode, even for me, feltlike a huge release and I
started thinking a lot aboutplaces in my life where I have
cut the cord and places in mylife where I still need to.
Places in my life where I havecut the cord and places in my
life where I still need to.
Places in my life where I needto have more faith in myself, in
God, in the universe, andreally understanding that, as
(02:16):
much as we all hate theeverything happens for a reason
saying I absolutely hate that, Iget it and I love it, but I
also just hate it, especiallywhen it comes to things that are
just like heartbreaking right,like the loss of someone through
death, through moving away,through unfair circumstances,
even like people that lose theirjobs unexpectedly or homes
(02:37):
unexpectedly become homeless.
Everything going on in ourpolitical world right now.
That just seems so crazy.
Like how do we have faith thatthis is all supposed to happen
and beautiful or great thingswill come from it?
So where in our life do we needto have kind of more of that
blind faith faith in ourselves?
(02:57):
And it led me to I'm Readingthe Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
Currently.
It is my third read.
I had seen a lady on TikToktalking about how she reads this
book every year in January andI found my copy.
Well, actually I found twocopies that I had and I realized
my original one.
(03:18):
I had already read it twice andso when I started leafing back
through it, I realized I hadannotated in it and I was like,
oh my gosh, this is so coolbecause it's like little love
notes to yourself.
Like when you go back and readsomething you've already read
and you've made notes in it,you're like, oh dang, you're so
smart, I would have picked thattoo.
And you're like wait a minute,I already did, but I digress.
(03:39):
So today I actually wanted toread.
I wanted to focus on us you, me,my five listeners Thank you,
guys for showing up on Sundaysor Wednesdays or Thursdays or
whenever you listen to this butI really wanted to focus on our
personal legend right In thealchemist and the alchemist.
(04:00):
The whole story is about ourpersonal legend, like staying on
the path we're supposed to beon, and every time we get
distracted from where we'resupposed to be, it's just taking
us longer to get to that finalplace, that final goal, that
what we were meant for.
But so often we get that jobthat we thought would be great
or we meet that person thatwe're like this is the love of
(04:21):
my life, but we're not supposedto like be with them yet or meet
them yet along the way.
So I really want you to thinkabout and maybe you could even
press pause at the end of thesequestions just to jot them down.
Write them down.
Number one what is a dream thatfeels so stupidly big that it
scares the bejesus out of me?
What is a dream that feels sostupidly big that it scares the
(04:43):
bejesus out of me?
What is a dream that feels sostupidly big it scares the
bejesus out of me If I wereliving that life right now?
How would I be moving, talkingdifferently If I were living
that dream right now?
How would I be moving ortalking differently If I were
living that dream right now?
How would I be moving ortalking differently If I were
(05:03):
living that dream right now?
What would that feel like Like?
Sit with that one for a secondIn your journal, write down.
If I were living this crazy,ginormous dream right now, in
this moment, what would I befeeling?
Would it be a sense of joy?
Would it be a sense of stress?
Would it be a sense of this isinsane?
(05:23):
Would you look out your windowand see mountains instead of a
yard?
Would you look out your windowand see three kids playing in
the yard and realize you don'thave to go to work tomorrow?
Would you look to your left andsee your wife or husband making
dinner and know that you'regoing to go for a walk later and
(05:45):
this dream that you have iscoming to a reality?
And then the last question Iwant you to ask yourself is well
, let's do two.
One what would it take, what isone thing you could do today to
start moving towards your dream?
Okay, so example I have thisinsane dream that I am a famous
(06:07):
podcaster and I write fictionand nonfiction books and I get
to go around the world and be aspeaker at different conventions
or corporations and I leadretreats to help men and women
learn how to fully love andembrace themselves.
Like I've written this wholething out, I feel like I am
(06:30):
meant for this, and so I havejust started showing up as if
this is already happening.
So I again podcasting everyweek, creating series, trying to
do lives at Sunrise at LakeMichigan.
I'm just starting to move, likeit already is, and things are
happening like little things Nowthat I can look back like
(06:53):
little things are happening.
But what is one thing you coulddo today that you could start
moving in the way of your crazybig dream is already a reality.
And then I want you to writedown what are whatever one to
four things that are standing inyour way, and usually my first
thing that's standing in my wayis me.
That is almost always the firstthing that is standing in my
(07:16):
way Me, self-doubt.
Who do?
I think I am Okay, we can getrid of that.
What else is standing in yourway?
Write those things down, allright, so I'm going to read.
I'm on pages 23 to just the topof 26.
I'm also an English teacher asmy side job, so I do a lot of
(07:41):
read alouds.
But our main character is onthis journey to see the pyramids
and he is meeting the King ofSalem, and this is the message
he gets that I feel like is veryconnected to this crazy big
dream, or as he calls it, thepersonal legend.
Okay, so the old man says I amthe king of Salem.
Why would a king be talkingwith a shepherd?
The boy asked awed andembarrassed, for several reasons
(08:04):
.
But let's say that the mostimportant is that you have
succeeded in discovering yourpersonal legend.
The boy didn't know what aperson's personal legend was.
It's what you have alwayswanted to accomplish.
Everyone, when they are young,knows what their personal legend
is At some point in their lives.
Everything is clear andeverything is possible.
(08:25):
They are not afraid to dreamand to yearn for everything they
would like to see happen tothem in their lives.
But as time passes, amysterious force begins to
convince them that it will beimpossible for them to realize
their personal legend.
None of what the old man wassaying made much sense to the
boy, but he wanted to know whatthe mysterious force was.
(08:45):
The merchant's daughter wouldbe impressed when he told her
that it's a force that appearsto be negative but actually
shows you how to realize yourpersonal legend.
It prepares your spirit andyour will, because there is one
great truth on this planetWhoever you are or whatever it
is that you do, when you reallywant something it's because that
desire originated in the soulof the universe.
(09:08):
It's your mission on earth,even when all you want to do is
travel or marry the daughter ofa textile merchant yes or even
search for treasure, or marrythe daughter of a textile
merchant yes, or even search fortreasure.
The soul of the world isnourished by people's happiness
and also by unhappiness, envyand jealousy.
To realize one's personallegend is a person's only real
(09:30):
obligation.
All things are one, and whenyou want something, all the
universe conspires in helpingyou to achieve it.
They were both silent for a time, observing the plaza and the
townspeople.
It was the old man who spokefirst.
Why do you tend to a flock ofsheep?
Because I like to travel.
Old man pointed to a bakerstanding in his shop window at
(09:51):
one corner of the plaza when hewas a child.
That man wanted to travel too,but he decided first to buy his
bakery and put some money aside.
When he's an old man, he'sgoing to spend a month in Africa
.
He never realized that peopleare capable at any time in their
lives of doing what they dreamof.
He should have decided tobecome a shepherd, the boy said.
(10:12):
Well, he thought about that.
The old man said but bakers aremore important people than
shepherds.
Bakers have homes whileshepherds sleep out in the open.
Parents would rather see theirchildren marry bakers than
shepherds.
The boy felt a pang in hisheart thinking about the
merchant's daughter.
There was surely a baker in hertown.
The old man continued in thelong run, what people think
(10:35):
about shepherds and bakersbecomes more important for them
than their own personal legends.
The old man leafed through thebook and fell to reading a page
he came to.
The boy waited and theninterrupted the old man, just as
he himself had been interrupted.
Why are you telling me all this?
Because you're trying torealize your personal legend and
(10:57):
you are at the point whereyou're about to give it all up.
And that's when you alwaysappear on the scene.
The boy asks Not always in thisway, but I always appear in one
form or another.
Sometimes I appear in the formof a solution or a good idea.
At other times, at a crucialmoment, I make it easier for
things to happen.
There are other things I do too, but most of the time people
(11:20):
don't realize I've done them.
What is your personal legend?
What is something?
And the reason I love thesespecific pages is because I
think it reminds us that when wewere kids, we had and I have
stopped reading the book, just Ididn't say that.
I'm so sorry when we were kids,we had these ginormous dreams.
(11:41):
We had these wants.
Right, like it's funny, I'm ateacher.
But when I was little, like inkindergarten, I used to set up a
school room in my house and Ihanded out worksheets to my
friends.
I wanted to be a teacher.
That's like the thing I wantedto do.
I also wanted to be a writer.
I used to write these stories,a lot of stories about the
(12:02):
Philippine Islands.
I was very obsessed with thePhilippine Islands.
My friends and I used to put ondance shows for our family, and
then, somewhere along the way,you kind of lose sight of those
dreams.
I really believe that when weare kids, we know what we're
supposed to do.
And then the reality of beingadult, and adult, the reality of
(12:24):
like we got to make money.
As I'm saying this, there isthe most beautiful yellow
butterfly flying by my window.
I don't know if it's a sign Ibelieve in all signs but what is
your personal legend?
Okay, I want you to go back tothose questions that you I asked
you to ask yourself.
What is that crazy huge dream?
If you were living it and youwere looking outside your window
(12:47):
, maybe, what would you see?
How would you be feeling if youwere living that huge dream?
Like, get so specific.
I've been really trying to getspecific with different things
in my life.
Like so specific so that whenthat feeling comes, when I'm
feeling that like immense peaceor that crazy joy that just
(13:10):
wraps around me and I smilewithout even trying, I feel like
those are my signs.
I'm like, yep, I'm on the rightpath.
What is standing in your wayand we all know number one is
probably yourself.
It's always me.
Okay, it's me.
What kind of talk do you haveto have with yourself?
What kind of reprogramming doyou have to tell yourself, maybe
it's you're worthy of it, maybeit's you do know more than you
(13:33):
think you do.
Maybe it's you are smarter andmore talented and more creative
than you could ever believe youwere are.
And then, what is one thing youcould start doing today that
makes you that?
I'm already performing formillions of people, you guys.
So let's make that a reality.
What is your personal legend?
(13:56):
All right, y'all.
Stay cute, stay kind, stay loudand keep dancing, even when
everyone is watching.
Good morning, happy Sunday, welcome back to Go Ask
Sawyer.
My name is Jamie, your host ofGo Ask Sawyer, and this is our
journaling series that we are in.
Just a nice way to be able tohave some sort of guide as
you're writing, dumping yourbrain out.
For people who have beenjournaling for a long time, this
(00:23):
could be a great new directionfor people who have never
journal time.
This could be a great newdirection for people who have
never journaled.
This might be a great placejust to start.
For those of us that are inthose stuck moments in life,
this could be a maybe just anexcuse, like Sundays, I journal.
So here's what I need from youto get started A journal and
(00:43):
something to write with or yournotes app, however you feel like
writing.
Today, I'm going to ask you toset your timer for three minutes
and I'm going to have you presspause and you're just going to
dump out your brain.
You are going to write whateveryou want for three minutes
without stopping, so the goal isto hopefully try to not even
(01:05):
pick up your pen or pencil offthe table or, sorry, off the
paper.
So to get us started, set thattimer for three minutes, take a
deep breath and press pause here.
Welcome back.
I hope that was good.
I hope that was nice.
Maybe you learned something newabout yourself.
Maybe you just needed a momentof clarity to let it all go.
(01:29):
So last week we talked aboutfaith what kind of like walking
in faith looks like, kind ofthat walking into a dark room
and having faith in yourselfthat you will find the light
switch before you fall.
We talked about cutting cordswith places, people, events,
things that just no longer serveus, and we just talked about
(01:51):
not giving a fuck anymore.
That episode, even for me, feltlike a huge release and I
started thinking a lot aboutplaces in my life where I have
cut the cord and places in mylife where I still need to.
Places in my life where I havecut the cord and places in my
life where I still need to.
Places in my life where I needto have more faith in myself, in
God, in the universe, andreally understanding that, as
(02:16):
much as we all hate theeverything happens for a reason
saying I absolutely hate that, Iget it and I love it, but I
also just hate it, especiallywhen it comes to things that are
just like heartbreaking right,like the loss of someone through
death, through moving away,through unfair circumstances,
even like people that lose theirjobs unexpectedly or homes
(02:37):
unexpectedly become homeless.
Everything going on in ourpolitical world right now.
That just seems so crazy.
Like how do we have faith thatthis is all supposed to happen
and beautiful or great thingswill come from it?
So where in our life do we needto have kind of more of that
blind faith faith in ourselves?
(02:57):
And it led me to I'm Readingthe Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
Currently.
It is my third read.
I had seen a lady on TikToktalking about how she reads this
book every year in January andI found my copy.
Well, actually I found twocopies that I had and I realized
my original one.
(03:18):
I had already read it twice andso when I started leafing back
through it, I realized I hadannotated in it and I was like,
oh my gosh, this is so coolbecause it's like little love
notes to yourself.
Like when you go back and readsomething you've already read
and you've made notes in it,you're like, oh dang, you're so
smart, I would have picked thattoo.
And you're like wait a minute,I already did, but I digress.
(03:39):
So today I actually wanted toread.
I wanted to focus on us you, me,my five listeners Thank you,
guys for showing up on Sundaysor Wednesdays or Thursdays or
whenever you listen to this butI really wanted to focus on our
personal legend right In thealchemist and the alchemist.
(04:00):
The whole story is about ourpersonal legend, like staying on
the path we're supposed to beon, and every time we get
distracted from where we'resupposed to be, it's just taking
us longer to get to that finalplace, that final goal, that
what we were meant for.
But so often we get that jobthat we thought would be great
or we meet that person thatwe're like this is the love of
(04:21):
my life, but we're not supposedto like be with them yet or meet
them yet along the way.
So I really want you to thinkabout and maybe you could even
press pause at the end of thesequestions just to jot them down.
Write them down.
Number one what is a dream thatfeels so stupidly big that it
scares the bejesus out of me?
What is a dream that feels sostupidly big that it scares the
(04:43):
bejesus out of me?
What is a dream that feels sostupidly big it scares the
bejesus out of me If I wereliving that life right now?
How would I be moving, talkingdifferently If I were living
that dream right now?
How would I be moving ortalking differently If I were
living that dream right now?
How would I be moving ortalking differently If I were
(05:03):
living that dream right now?
What would that feel like Like?
Sit with that one for a secondIn your journal, write down.
If I were living this crazy,ginormous dream right now, in
this moment, what would I befeeling?
Would it be a sense of joy?
Would it be a sense of stress?
Would it be a sense of this isinsane?
(05:23):
Would you look out your windowand see mountains instead of a
yard?
Would you look out your windowand see three kids playing in
the yard and realize you don'thave to go to work tomorrow?
Would you look to your left andsee your wife or husband making
dinner and know that you'regoing to go for a walk later and
(05:45):
this dream that you have iscoming to a reality?
And then the last question Iwant you to ask yourself is well
, let's do two.
One what would it take, what isone thing you could do today to
start moving towards your dream?
Okay, so example I have thisinsane dream that I am a famous
(06:07):
podcaster and I write fictionand nonfiction books and I get
to go around the world and be aspeaker at different conventions
or corporations and I leadretreats to help men and women
learn how to fully love andembrace themselves.
Like I've written this wholething out, I feel like I am
(06:30):
meant for this, and so I havejust started showing up as if
this is already happening.
So I again podcasting everyweek, creating series, trying to
do lives at Sunrise at LakeMichigan.
I'm just starting to move, likeit already is, and things are
happening like little things Nowthat I can look back like
(06:53):
little things are happening.
But what is one thing you coulddo today that you could start
moving in the way of your crazybig dream is already a reality.
And then I want you to writedown what are whatever one to
four things that are standing inyour way, and usually my first
thing that's standing in my wayis me.
That is almost always the firstthing that is standing in my
(07:16):
way Me, self-doubt.
Who do?
I think I am Okay, we can getrid of that.
What else is standing in yourway?
Write those things down, allright, so I'm going to read.
I'm on pages 23 to just the topof 26.
I'm also an English teacher asmy side job, so I do a lot of
(07:41):
read alouds.
But our main character is onthis journey to see the pyramids
and he is meeting the King ofSalem, and this is the message
he gets that I feel like is veryconnected to this crazy big
dream, or as he calls it, thepersonal legend.
Okay, so the old man says I amthe king of Salem.
Why would a king be talkingwith a shepherd?
The boy asked awed andembarrassed, for several reasons
(08:04):
.
But let's say that the mostimportant is that you have
succeeded in discovering yourpersonal legend.
The boy didn't know what aperson's personal legend was.
It's what you have alwayswanted to accomplish.
Everyone, when they are young,knows what their personal legend
is At some point in their lives.
Everything is clear andeverything is possible.
(08:25):
They are not afraid to dreamand to yearn for everything they
would like to see happen tothem in their lives.
But as time passes, amysterious force begins to
convince them that it will beimpossible for them to realize
their personal legend.
None of what the old man wassaying made much sense to the
boy, but he wanted to know whatthe mysterious force was.
(08:45):
The merchant's daughter wouldbe impressed when he told her
that it's a force that appearsto be negative but actually
shows you how to realize yourpersonal legend.
It prepares your spirit andyour will, because there is one
great truth on this planetWhoever you are or whatever it
is that you do, when you reallywant something it's because that
desire originated in the soulof the universe.
(09:08):
It's your mission on earth,even when all you want to do is
travel or marry the daughter ofa textile merchant yes or even
search for treasure, or marrythe daughter of a textile
merchant yes, or even search fortreasure.
The soul of the world isnourished by people's happiness
and also by unhappiness, envyand jealousy.
To realize one's personallegend is a person's only real
(09:30):
obligation.
All things are one, and whenyou want something, all the
universe conspires in helpingyou to achieve it.
They were both silent for a time, observing the plaza and the
townspeople.
It was the old man who spokefirst.
Why do you tend to a flock ofsheep?
Because I like to travel.
Old man pointed to a bakerstanding in his shop window at
(09:51):
one corner of the plaza when hewas a child.
That man wanted to travel too,but he decided first to buy his
bakery and put some money aside.
When he's an old man, he'sgoing to spend a month in Africa
.
He never realized that peopleare capable at any time in their
lives of doing what they dreamof.
He should have decided tobecome a shepherd, the boy said.
(10:12):
Well, he thought about that.
The old man said but bakers aremore important people than
shepherds.
Bakers have homes whileshepherds sleep out in the open.
Parents would rather see theirchildren marry bakers than
shepherds.
The boy felt a pang in hisheart thinking about the
merchant's daughter.
There was surely a baker in hertown.
The old man continued in thelong run, what people think
(10:35):
about shepherds and bakersbecomes more important for them
than their own personal legends.
The old man leafed through thebook and fell to reading a page
he came to.
The boy waited and theninterrupted the old man, just as
he himself had been interrupted.
Why are you telling me all this?
Because you're trying torealize your personal legend and
(10:57):
you are at the point whereyou're about to give it all up.
And that's when you alwaysappear on the scene.
The boy asks Not always in thisway, but I always appear in one
form or another.
Sometimes I appear in the formof a solution or a good idea.
At other times, at a crucialmoment, I make it easier for
things to happen.
There are other things I do too, but most of the time people
(11:20):
don't realize I've done them.
What is your personal legend?
What is something?
And the reason I love thesespecific pages is because I
think it reminds us that when wewere kids, we had and I have
stopped reading the book, just Ididn't say that.
I'm so sorry when we were kids,we had these ginormous dreams.
(11:41):
We had these wants.
Right, like it's funny, I'm ateacher.
But when I was little, like inkindergarten, I used to set up a
school room in my house and Ihanded out worksheets to my
friends.
I wanted to be a teacher.
That's like the thing I wantedto do.
I also wanted to be a writer.
I used to write these stories,a lot of stories about the
(12:02):
Philippine Islands.
I was very obsessed with thePhilippine Islands.
My friends and I used to put ondance shows for our family, and
then, somewhere along the way,you kind of lose sight of those
dreams.
I really believe that when weare kids, we know what we're
supposed to do.
And then the reality of beingadult, and adult, the reality of
(12:24):
like we got to make money.
As I'm saying this, there isthe most beautiful yellow
butterfly flying by my window.
I don't know if it's a sign Ibelieve in all signs but what is
your personal legend?
Okay, I want you to go back tothose questions that you I asked
you to ask yourself.
What is that crazy huge dream?
If you were living it and youwere looking outside your window
(12:47):
, maybe, what would you see?
How would you be feeling if youwere living that huge dream?
Like, get so specific.
I've been really trying to getspecific with different things
in my life.
Like so specific so that whenthat feeling comes, when I'm
feeling that like immense peaceor that crazy joy that just
(13:10):
wraps around me and I smilewithout even trying, I feel like
those are my signs.
I'm like, yep, I'm on the rightpath.
What is standing in your wayand we all know number one is
probably yourself.
It's always me.
Okay, it's me.
What kind of talk do you haveto have with yourself?
What kind of reprogramming doyou have to tell yourself, maybe
it's you're worthy of it, maybeit's you do know more than you
(13:33):
think you do.
Maybe it's you are smarter andmore talented and more creative
than you could ever believe youwere are.
And then, what is one thing youcould start doing today that
makes you that?
I'm already performing formillions of people, you guys.
So let's make that a reality.
What is your personal legend?
(13:56):
All right, y'all.
Stay cute, stay kind, stay loudand keep dancing, even when
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