In my post The Opposite Of Fear Is Love I quoted Charlie Chaplin and remembered his beautiful poem. I also remembered a post I wrote about it a few years ago and decided to share it again. Charles Chaplin delivered this speech on his 70th birthday. So much wisdom and experience are lying in these words, reminding us that we can lift the curtain of illusion to find the beauty, love, and all the answers we have been looking for.

“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 in any circumstance, I was in the right place at the right time, and everything happened 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 not 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!”

Reading this gives a feeling of coming home, a feeling so familiar with something we have always known. These words remind us of our own basics and that there is more in life than our daily struggles and all the stress at work or in our relationships. Reading these words shifts the perspective dramatically and comforts with a knowing that everything that happens, happens in perfect order – whenever, wherever. Nothing lasts forever down here. This life is not intended for eternity. It is intended to give eternity a little break and enjoy a period in which we cherish time and space. A period in which we can be who we ever wanted to be. And even if we don’t bring it to the satisfaction or seem to mess it up, it is not forever. Nothing can ever harm us.

Chaplin gave us a step-by-step guideline: AUTHENTICITY – RESPECT – MATURITY – SELF-CONFIDENCE – SIMPLICITY – LOVE OF ONESELF – MODESTY – FULFILLMENT – WISDOM OF THE HEART – LIFE

Being authentic leads to respect and gives you the potential to grow. Your self-confidence will increase and you will give yourself the allowance of living the way that feels good for you. As a result, you are developing a feeling of happiness and appreciation for yourself – a deep love. You don’t bother yourself anymore with always being right since this is only weakening and working against this love you don’t wanna give away anymore. You are looking out for greater things, for a greater context and you won’t stress yourself out with worrying about anything in any future or punish yourself or others for anything in the past. You understand that this would destroy the moment, destroy your health, and the love and happiness you feel. You understand that you only have this moment. And whatever shall be done in this or any other moment you will feel through the wisdom of your heart.

No matter what happened in your life, you are a child of God and have the right to be happy and filled with love. As long as you don’t believe it, you cut yourself off from something that has always been part of you.
Don’t wait too long, start right away. It is never too late to feel who you are and make this life worth living – in making it your life!

In Love and Light