A friend of mine introduced me to the Desiderata poem. She told me that when she was growing up, she moved a lot. But no matter where she made her home, her mom always hung this poem on a wall.
Her mom passed away 30 years ago. The Desiderata by Max Ehrmann will bring her peace and encouragement when she is missing her.
The poem is a beautiful lesson for life! My friend’s favorite line is, “You are a child of the Universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And, whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding as it should.”
What a powerful statement to remind you that we are exactly where we should be. All our lives serve a purpose in this world!
The meaning of the Desiderata Poem
Desiderata means “things that are desired.” It was written by Max Ehrmann “because it counsels those virtues I felt most in need of” and was copyrighted in 1927. I read that he wrote it as a lesson for his daughter. The Desiderata is basically advice about how to live a happy and contented life. I see many ideas I like to write about in this poem.
All the stanzas are beautiful! I thought it would be fun to explain how they are still practiced today and inspire us to make the most of our lives. (The full poem is down below.)
Desiderata Poem
GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Right off the start, he writes about finding peace within. We as individuals have to wade through the noise and busyness of this world. We need to find our own place of silence and calm. He then goes right into being kind to everyone but not losing your own truth to others. As I wrote in “11 Ways to Stop Being a People Pleaser”, we need not give away our thoughts and opinions to others. Speak your truth and be respectful of others’ truths.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
In the second stanza, he mentions not comparing yourself to others. There will always be someone better and lessor than you; the goal is to be happy in your own accomplishments.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Whatever you do for a living, be proud, treasure it, and always do your best. In your business, be sure to hold high moral standards. Follow the laws and serve your customers. Look for other businesses that also hold high moral standards. You can find good people in every business.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
I had to look up some of the words in this stanza and interpret them this way. Be yourself, do not pretend to be someone you aren’t for attention or to please others. Embrace affection and love others as they are as well. The more love you give, the more love will keep coming back to you.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
I love the next few lines! Use the experience of life to learn how to handle the future. When bad things happen, find your strength of spirit. Do not let the fears from your imagination misguide you. Find the self-discipline to be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Then we come to my friend’s favorite verse. As I’ve written several times, the universe is here to guide us and lead us in our purpose. Do not be over-critical of yourself. Just like the trees and stars, we each are unique and fulfilling a need in this world. It may not be clear to us what that is, but it is happening nonetheless.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
He then comes back to being at peace within your soul. Accept the reality of God, or higher power than us humans, whatever that means to you. Do what you love, be cheerful, and strive to be happy.
The world can be mean and hard to navigate, but we need to find beauty in ourselves and others. Isn’t that what we most desire?
Thank you, Michelle, for showing me the Desiderata Poem. Even back in 1927, they were worried about the same things we do today. Can we be the generation that finally figures it out?
How does this poem resonate with you?
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952
If you want your own copy of The Desiderata Poem, there are lots of different designs on Google and on Amazon!
Other posts you might enjoy!
7 Inspirational Poems About Life to Keep You Moving Forward
Trackbacks/Pingbacks