As I began to love myself, Charles Chaplin realized three important things: 1) He found that emotional suffering signals living against his own truth, which he now calls "authenticity." 2) He stopped trying to force his desires on others when the time was not right, respecting their needs as he respects himself. 3) He quit craving a different life and saw that his current circumstances allowed him to grow, which he calls "maturity."

1. AsI Began To Love
Myself
CharlesChaplin
April 16th
, 1959
70th
birthday

2. 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“.

3. AsI began to lovemyself
I understood how much
it can offend somebody
asI try to forcemy desires
on thisperson,
even though I knew
thetimewasnot right
and theperson was
not ready for it,
and even though
thisperson wasme.
Today I call it
“RESPECT“.

4. AsI began to lovemyselfAsI began to lovemyself
I stopped cravingI stopped craving
for adifferent life,for adifferent life,
and I could seethatand I could seethat
everything that surrounded meeverything that surrounded me
wasinviting meto grow.wasinviting meto grow.
Today I call it
“MATURITY“.

5. Today I call it
“SELF-CONFIDENCE“.
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.

6. 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“.

7. As Ibegan to love myself
Ifreed myself of anything
that is no good formy health -
food, people, things,
situations,
and everything
that drew me down
and away from myself.
At first Icalled this attitude a
healthy egoism.
Today I know it is
“LOVE OF ONESELF“.

8. Today I discovered that is
“MODESTY“.
AsI began to lovemyself
I quit trying to alwaysberight,
and ever since
I waswrong lessof thetime.

9. AsI began to lovemyself
I refused to go on
living in thepast
and worry about thefuture.
Now, I only livefor the
moment,
whereEVERYTHING
ishappening.
Today I liveeach
day, day by day,
and I call it
“FULFILLMENT“

10. AsI began to lovemyself
I recognized that
my mind can disturb me
and it can makemesick.
But asI connected it
to my heart,
my mind became
avaluableally.
Today I call thisconnection
“WISDOM OF THE
HEART“.

11. Weno longer need to fear arguments, confrontations
or any kind of problemswith ourselvesor others.
Even starscollide, and out of their crashing
new worldsareborn.
Today I know THAT IS“LIFE“!

12. As I Began To Love Myself
Charles Chaplin
April 16th
, 1959 -70th
birthday