《当我开始爱自己》是查理·卓别林在70岁生日时写下的一首诗歌，以下是其原文内容：
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 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 “HONESTY”.
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 “PERFECTION”.
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”.
诗歌中，卓别林通过自我反思和觉醒，阐述了爱自己的重要性，以及这一过程所带来的个人成长和转变。他提到，当我们开始爱自己时，会意识到内心的痛苦和情感折磨是违背自我真实感受的警告信号，这是“真实性”的体现；也会懂得尊重他人和自己的需求，不强加自己的欲望于人，这是“尊重”的表现；还会看到身边的一切都是在邀请我们成长，这是“成熟”的标志。此外，诗歌还涉及了自信、诚实、自爱、谦逊、活在当下以及心灵的智慧等多个主题，都是卓别林在爱自己过程中所领悟到的生命真谛。
