As I Began to Love Myself
1 As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is "AUTHENTICITY".
2 As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody as I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today I call it "RESPECT".
3 As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow. Today I call it "MATURITY".
4 As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment. So I could be calm. Today I call it "SELF-CONFIDENCE".
5 As I began to love myself I quit steeling my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm. Today I call it "SIMPLICITY".
6 As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health - food, people, things, situations, and everything the drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism. Today I know it is "LOVE OF ONESELF".
7 As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time. Today I discovered that is "MODESTY".
8 As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where EVERYTHING is happening. Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it. "FULFILLMENT".
9 As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But As I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally. Today I call this connection "WISDOM OF THE HEART".
10 We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born. Today I know THAT IS "LIFE"!
~ Charlie Chaplin
-
Poem: AS I BEGAN TO LOVE MYSELF - Charlie Chaplin am 16. April 1959 [Originaltext]
-
My personal note: This Chaplin poem touched my soul a lot. Everything that I have reflected a lot in the last weeks. As many of you know, I am 50 years old and in October I will be 51, and I see the importance of loving myself, of freeing myself from everything that weighs me down and only pulls me down. I believe that the internal maturity and the years, flooded me with the intense desire to surround myself only with things and people that fill my heart with joy and motivate me to move on. Of course, in the same way, I also want to bring the same motivation and constructive feelings to all the people I contact daily. A big hug to everyone!
Comments