Janine Langdon-Lee
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As I began

/ Body, Mind, Self Love, Soul

Have you ever read something that speaks to your soul and lingers with you for a while?

A couple of years ago, I was flicking through a magazine when the poem below caught my eye! Some of the verses resonated with me and yet some made me feel uncomfortable. Recently rifling through a folder of torn magazine images to use in my art journal, I came across this poem again.  As I re-read it this time around it dawned on me that the reason I felt uncomfortable while reading some verses at the time was that I still had some work to do before I could say hand on heart I love myself. It may have taken me a while to return to the wisdom of my heart and love of myself. I am here now!

You dear reader may already be there, and if you are, I am in awe and say to you my friend you are terrific! If you find yourself flinching or cringing as I did at any of the verses sit with the uncomfortableness of it or maybe journal why you think you had that reaction. You may find the answer is there in black and white

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
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”!

When I originally read this poem the magazine attributed the author as Charlie Chaplin. However, I discovered online that this isn’t the original version of the poem and that Charlie Chaplin didn’t write it. In her blog post Joanne sets the record straight and discovered that this version had been translated by person unknown from a poem called “When I Loved Myself Enough written by Kim & Alison McMillen.

Even though this is not the original poem, I love the meaning behind it. I’d love to know in the comments below what verse stood out for you?  

Filed Under: Body, Mind, Self Love, Soul

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Comments

  1. Joanne Reed says

    November 14, 2019 at 6:27 am

    Thanks a lot Janine for giving me the credit in your article for setting the record straight 😊🙏and for mentioning my article!

    • neen says

      November 14, 2019 at 6:39 am

      Your welcome Joanne. I found it fascinating that the magazine attributed it to Charlie Chaplin.

💕Do you struggle with self-love?  I get it - s 💕Do you struggle with self-love?  I get it - self-love was something I grappled with too. 

I remember when I:
had fallen out of love with my life. 
was disconnected from my body.
found it difficult to move my body.
saw busy as a badge of honour.
Self-soothed my emotions with food.
Couldn’t look at myself in the mirror with love and compassion.

What changed? I began where I was and focussed on one part of my health and wellbeing journey & during the process I fell back in love with myself long before I had reached my destination. 

 🌟My wish for you is that you explore your relationship to improve your health and wellbeing with some of the tips and tools I share in Hungry 4 Change. 

📖I know this book is going to make a huge impact in your life – I know because I’ve experienced it too. 

📝This is why I was so compelled to write Hungry 4 Change because I wanted to help other woman feel back in love with themselves and their lives. 

 
🗓Mark your calendar for 30 July  so you can get your copy! If you have any questions , lets chat in the DMS

#startwhereyouare #imperfectperfectliving #transformation #onestepatatime #embraceyourinnertortoise #changesafoot  #mindset #mindbodysoulemotion #innerselftalk #innercritic #selflove #selfworth #movement #nourishment #showingup # vulnerability #hungry4change #4pillasofselfloveandsuccess  #nourish #move #restore
💕Dear body, I love you! ⁠ ⁠ When was the la 💕Dear body, I love you! ⁠
⁠
When was the last time you said that to your body? Has it been a while? Then perhaps it's time to change that and ⁠start talking to your body and treating it with the same love and compassion that you would show to your best friend. ⁠
⁠
🗨Next time you say something bitchy about or to your body try replacing it with one of these words. ⁠
⁠
👉Save this post as a reminder of some replacement words that you can use next time to drown out your inner mean girl voice the next time she comes to visit.
💕When setbacks happen, we may be quick to judge 💕When setbacks happen, we may be quick to judge or criticise ourselves. Being kinder to ourselves is a more empowering approach.⁠
⁠
How does this work?⁠
⁠
Being kind to yourself gives you that extra bit of courage to try again.⁠
⁠
⏰️Think of the time when you were self-critical about a mistake or a setback. If you were more forgiving in those situations, how would it benefit you?⁠
⁠
📝In future, you can start being kinder to yourself by asking these questions when setbacks crop up:⁠
⁠
- How do I feel about this setback?⁠
- Did my feelings of self-worth drop when this setback happened?⁠
- If yes, why?⁠
- How am I partly responsible for this setback?⁠
- What have I learned?⁠
- What do I NOT have control over with regards to this setback?⁠
- What DO I have control over?⁠
- How can I do better next time?⁠
⁠
These questions are empowering because you grow when you learn from previous setbacks, so when faced with another setback you find yourself more compassionate towards yourself.⁠
⁠
Drop a ❤️ below if this helps you out!⁠
⁠
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When was the last time you let your inner child ou When was the last time you let your inner child out to play?⁠ ⁠As grown ups we can always find excuses not to play – we can talk ourselves out of it or tell ourselves it’s silly. ⁠
⁠
If you’ve been out of the habit of playing, it might feel daunting or overwhelming knowing where to start!⁠ I share a few prompts to help you get started.⁠
⁠
⁠⁠What you find fun and energising may look different to other people & thats okay! Remember this is about defining what play means to you!⁠
⁠
Once you have defined what "Play" means to you;⁠
⁠
 ▶️Create time in your day/week for a play date with yourself or friends.⁠
 ▶️Schedule play into your planner like any other important appointment.⁠
 ▶️Create a Play Box – gather a few play items e.g, play dough, puzzles, or colouring books, kite, bubbles so you have easy access to your play box.⁠
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Play is essential self-care!⁠
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👉⁠How will you make time for Play in your life?⁠
⁠
Eclipse season can feel uncomfortable as we step o Eclipse season can feel uncomfortable as we step out of our comfort zones and release what no longer serves us. The Taurus energy gives us a steady and stable place to begin from during this time.⁠
⁠
An eclipse is a reminder of where our soul came to go in this lifetime in order to find satisfaction, fulfillment & happiness. ⁠
⁠
This Taurus New Moon is an ideal time to:⁠
🐢Slow down & savour the moment.⁠
💆‍♀️Enjoy sensual pleasures.⁠
🏞Connect with mother nature.⁠
⁠
♉️Let me know how you are going to enjoy indulging in this Taurus Moon energy? ⁠
⁠
🧠Your mindset can make the difference between a 🧠Your mindset can make the difference between a path of self-love or self-sabotage, success or failure. A shift in mindset can turn a setback into an opportunity for self-forgiveness and a shift in direction, a lift in motivation.⁠
⁠
🎯⁠Do you have a vision for your life but you’re not sure how to get started?⁠
⁠
Imagine:⁠
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•	Letting go of “it’s too late, my time has passed” thinking.⁠
•	Building a better relationship with your mind and body.⁠
•	Developing a nurturing relationship with yourself.⁠
•	Listening to your intuition & trusting yourself.⁠
•	Finding your own rhythm.⁠
⁠
⁠When you ⁠free yourself from the beliefs that hold you back from falling back in love with the woman you are - you get crystal clear about what you do and don't want in your life and you:⁠
⁠
•	Learn how to show up for yourself first.⁠
•	Let go of the limiting beliefs. ⁠
•	Connect to your inner wisdom.⁠
•	Create a life that you love! ⁠
•	Fall back in love with yourself.⁠
⁠
👉⁠DM me if you would like to explore how changing your mindset through coaching will help you transform your life. ⁠
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