As I began

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?