When I began to love myself

When I began to love myself,

I could see that emotional pain and suffering

are only warnings for me to live against my own truth.

Today I know: That’s called BEING AUTHENTIC.

When I began to love myself,

I understood how much it can affect someone,

if I try to impose my wishes on this person,

even though I actually know that the timing is wrong

and this person is not prepared to do so - and this also applies

if that person is myself.

Today I know: That's called RESPECT.

When I began to love myself,

I stopped longing for another life

and could see that everything around me

was an invitation to grow.

Today I know that's called MATURITY.

When I began to love myself,

I have understood that I should always and at every opportunity,

be in the right place at the right time

and that everything that happens is right -

From then on I could be calm.

Today I know: That's called SELF-CONFIDENCE.

When I began to love myself,

I stopped stealing my free time and

I stopped designing grandiose projects for the future.

Today I only do what I enjoy and what gives me pleasure,

what I love and what makes my heart laugh,

in my own way and at my own pace.

Today I know that's called SIMPLICITY.

When I began to love myself,

I freed myself from everything that was not healthy for me,

of food, people, things, situations

and from everything that kept pulling me down, away from myself.

At first I called it “healthy egoism”,

but today I know that is SELF-LOVE.

When I began to love myself,

I stopped always wanting to be right,

so I was less wrong.

Today I realized: that's called MODESTY.

When I began to love myself,

I refused to continue living in the past

and worry about my future.

Now I only live in this moment where EVERYTHING happens,

This is how I live every day and call it FULFILLMENT.

When I began to love myself,

then I realized that my thinking

can make you miserable and sick.

But when I connected it with my heart,

my mind became a valuable ally.

Today I call this connection WISDOM OF THE HEART.

We no longer need to fear arguments,

Fear conflicts and problems with ourselves and others,

because even stars sometimes collide

and new worlds emerge.

Today I know: THIS IS LIFE!

(Charlie Chaplin on his 70th birthday)