How Your Blessings Become Curses

The merchant put some new coals in the hookah, and inhaled deeply.

“I’ve had this shop for 30 years. I know good Crystal from bad and everything else they used to know about Crystal. I know it’s dimensions and how it behaves if we serve tea in crystal. The shop is going to expand and I’ll have to change my way of life.”

“Well, isn’t that good?”

“I’m already used to the way things are. Before you came, I was thinking about how much time I had wasted in the same place, while my friends had moved on, and either went bankrupt or did better than they had before. it made me very depressed. Now, I can see that it hasn’t been too bad. The shop is exactly the size I always wanted it to be. I don’t want to change anything, because I don’t know how to deal with change. I am used to the way I am.”

The boy didn’t know what to say.

The old man continued, “You’ve been a real blessing to me. Today, I understand something I didn’t see before: Every blessing ignored, becomes a curse. I don’t want anything else in life. But you are forcing me to look at well and at horizons I have never known. Now that I have seen them, and now that I see how immense my possibilities are, I’m going to feel worse than I did before you arrived. Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish and I don’t want to do so.”

In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho beautifully captures the idea that blessings, when ignored, can turn into curses.

This concept is embodied in the relationship between Santiago, the protagonist, and the crystal merchant, a man who runs a small shop at the top of a hill.

In the above conversation, the crystal merchant realizes that Santiago has been a blessing in his life, revitalizing his shop with new ideas. Yet, despite the improvements, the merchant acknowledges that every blessing ignored becomes a curse. He refuses to act on his newfound wealth and potential, preferring the safety of his familiar life.

You are often presented with opportunities—blessings, if you will—but out of fear, doubt, or complacency, you ignore them.

• You could have been offered a promotion or the chance to take on more responsibility at work but turned it down out of fear of failure or added pressure.
• Or you have great ideas for starting a business but never act on them due to fear of financial risk or lack of confidence.
• Maybe you have the chance to further your education, whether through scholarships, training programs, or online courses. However, you avoid it due to complacency or the effort required.
• Or you have gotten opportunities for meaningful relationships—whether romantic, friendships, or professional networking—you ignored out of fear of vulnerability or rejection.
• Or financial opportunities, like investing in stocks, real estate, or other ventures, you ignored because you feel it's too risky or overwhelming.

Over time, the blessings you neglect transform into regrets or unfulfilled potential, a burden that weighs heavily on your soul.

The crystal merchant’s story teaches us that the comfort of inaction often leads to a life filled with "what-ifs," while embracing blessings with courage allows us to move forward toward fulfillment.

Oh yes, you might fail while pursuing an opportunity but for those in a journey towards success failure is a lesson that is beneficial for the next opportunity.

Are there blessings in your life you're ignoring?

It is time to act, lest they become curses in the form of missed opportunities.

Feeling stuck? Click here to break free.

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Cheers to you finally deciding to grab the many opportunities life presents to you with courage.