In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, what is a Personal Legend?

In 's
, Santiago first hears about Personal Legends from the King of Salem,
Melchizedek, who tells him the following: 

"But, as
time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince [people] that it will be impossible for them
to realize their Personal Legend . . . The Soul of the World is nourished by people's happiness.
And also by unhappiness, envy, and jealousy. To realize one's destiny is a
person's only real obligation. All things are one" (21-22).

From the above passage, Melchizedek explains that the universe
wants people to achieve their destinies. A Personal Legend is not just the result found at the
end of one's life, though. It is more than simply reaching a final destination. A Personal
Legend is achieved when a person fulfills the complete measure of his or her creation. This
achievement is different for each person and can only be discovered by interpreting and
following omens that lead one through an educational journey. By going through this journey,
people learn what they need to know in order to fulfill their unique Personal Legends. Only
after people achieve this end can they experience true joy and satisfaction in life. Those who
do not reach this goal are left to wonder what their destinies could have been. They never find
out what they could have accomplished in life. Santiago elaborates on Personal Legends when he
comes closer to achieving his:

"It's true that
everything has its Personal Legend, but one day that Personal Legend will be realized. So each
thing has to transform itself into something better, and to acquire a new Personal Legend, until
someday, the Soul of the World becomes one thing only" (150).

From the passage above, Santiago comes to the understanding that Personal Legends are
realized when a person completely transforms himself or herself into something better than he or
she was before. In alchemy, for example, lead is turned into gold. Lead makes a complete
transformation from its ordinary self into something better. Therefore, Personal Legends help
people to become the best they can be because they achieve their fullest potential.
Furthermore, as stated above, the universe wants everyone to discover his or her own Personal
Legend because the Soul of the World will achieve its destiny in the
process.