“When I really loved myself”: ode to self-love by Charles Chaplin

One of Charles Chaplin’s most famous poems, which offers us a fabulous lesson on personal growth, begins like this: “When I began to truly love myself, I understood that in any circumstance, in any person and situation, I was in the right place and in the precise moment. That’s when I can relax. Today I know that this has a name: self-esteem.”

History tells that there was a time when in the world of art, science and culture only two names stood out above the others. It was that of Charles Chaplin and Sigmund Freud. If the first had the most familiar and most admired face, the second had, apparently, the most brilliant mind.

The notoriety of both figures was such that Hollywood spent many years trying to get the father of psychoanalysis involved in some major production. It was in 1925 when the head of MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), Samuel Goldwyn, called Freud to praise his works and publications, defining him as “the greatest specialist in love in the world.” Afterwards, he proposed to collaborate with him, advising him on a new production: “Marcus Antony and Cleopatra”.

He offered him just over $100,000, but Freud said “no.”. Such was the tension of the Austrian psychoanalyst with this type of art that it was believed that he hated cinema and the entire film industry. However, in 1931 Sigmund Freud wrote a letter to a friend revealing his deep admiration for someone he called “genius.” Someone who before his eyes showed the world the most admirable and inspiring transparency of the human being. It was Charles Chaplin.

In that letter Freud superficially analyzed what Chaplin conveyed about himself in all his films: someone from very humble origins, someone who lived a hard childhood and who, despite everything, advances in his maturity with very defined values. Therefore, none of the hardships that he experienced daily mattered, Chaplin always kept that humble heart. Thus, despite the adversities and the walls of a complex and unequal society, he always ended up solving his problems thanks to love..

We do not know if Freud was correct or not in his analysis, but at least that was what he implied in his films and especially in his poems. Authentic lessons of wisdom and personal growth.

Charles Chaplin, the man behind the poem

People say that Charles Chaplin wrote this poem, ““As I began to love myself”, when he was 70 years old. There are those who indicate, however, that it would not be his authorship, but rather a somewhat loose adaptation of a paragraph that appears in the book “When I Loved Myself Enough” by Kim and Alison McMillen. Be that as it may, it must be said that it is not the only text by Chaplin where such a beautiful, exquisite and enriching argument is made about the power and value of our mind.

In fact, there We also have the poem “Live”, where we are reminded, among other things, that the world belongs to those who dare, that living is not just walking through life., but to fight, feel, experience, love with determination. Therefore, it does not really matter if the following poem is an adaptation of an existing one or if it came from the mind and heart of that iconic genius who captivated us with his walks, his mustache and his cane.

Charlot, that ramshackle character, that lonely wanderer, poet and dreamer who was always in search of an idyll or an adventure, had behind him a very lucid mind: that of a man with very clear ideas about what he wanted to convey. And what he offered us in his productions is perfectly integrated into each of the words of this poem. In fact, he said in his memoirs that Each of the attributes that made up his character’s costume had a meaning:

His pants were a challenge to convictions. His hat and his cane were an attempt to appear dignified. His mustache was a trait of small vanity. His boots were the obstacles that appear in people’s paths every day.

In addition, Something that Charles Chaplin always tried through the innocence of his character was to provide us with conscience, was to wake us up to the complex paradoxes of our world. A place where only our human and psychological strengths could confront unreason, inequality, the presence of evil. Something like this is what we undoubtedly saw in “The Great Dictator”, where he invited us to connect much more with ourselves and with other human beings, defending our rights and those of our planet.

When I really loved myself, Charles Chaplin

When I truly loved myself, I understood that in any circumstance I was in the right place at the right time. And then I was able to relax. Today I know that this has a name…self-esteem

When I truly loved myself, I was able to perceive that my anguish and my emotional suffering are nothing more than signs that I am going against my own truths. Today I know that that is… Authenticity.

When I truly loved myself, I stopped wishing my life was different and began to see that everything that happens contributes to my growth. Today I know that this is called… Maturity.

When I truly loved myself, I began to understand why it is offensive to try to force a situation or a person just to achieve what I want, even knowing that it is not the time or that the person (perhaps myself) is not ready. Today I know that the name of that is… I respect.

When I truly loved myself, I began to get rid of everything that was unhealthy: people and situations, everything and anything that pulled me down. At first, my reason called that attitude selfishness. Today I know it’s called… Love towards oneself.

Simplicity.

Modesty.

When I truly loved myself, I stopped reliving the past and worrying about the future. Now, I stay in the present, which is where life happens. Today I live one day at a time. And that’s called… Fullness.

When I truly loved myself, I understood that my mind can torment and disappoint me. But…, when I place her at the service of my heart, she is a valuable ally. And this is… Know how to live!

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