As I Began To Love Myself

by Charlie Chaplin

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
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.

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 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.

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 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.

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!