Charlie Chaplin, as I began to love myself

Added by Dalian Roche on June 13, 2018.
Saved under Reflections
Tags: Charlie Chaplin

I never thought that I’d be writing a post based on Charlie Chaplin, but I am. I’ve been very surprised to find that he’s said and written some impressive stuff.

Firstly, I found some text (poem?) that he supposedly wrote on his 70th birthday, although there is some disagreement about this and some people say [this turned out to be so wrong – see the comments at the bottom] that it was actually a translation of text from the book “When I Loved Myself Enough” by Kim & Alison McMillen. I don’t really care what the origin of this text is, I found it very poignant and moving for me.

Here is the complete text.

Charlie Chaplin – as I began to love myself
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”.
As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody if 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”.
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”.
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”.
As I began to love myself I quit stealing 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”.
As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything that drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism. Today I know it is “LOVE OF ONESELF”.
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”.
As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worrying 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”.
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”.
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”!

Almost every word of this text resonates with me. I find it very special and very wise.

Please follow and like us: