Next Level Soul Podcast Episode 25
What do you reach for when times are hard? In this short episode, Alex Ferrari reads Desiderata, a 1927 poem by Max Ehrmann that hangs on the set of the Next Level Soul podcast, and shares why it keeps him grounded when life does not go the way he planned.
Key Takeaways
- Alex says Desiderata has affected his life for years and hangs on the wall of the Next Level Soul podcast set.
- He says it reminds him what is important in this life and what to do when times are tough.
- He says it was written in 1927 by American writer Max Ehrmann and was found in an old church in Baltimore.
- The reading moves through peace, honest speech, humility, gentleness with yourself, and trust that life is unfolding as it should.
- Alex says he listens whenever he feels down or conflicted, and it puts him in the right mindset to continue his journey.
- His closing words: trust the journey, it is there to teach you.
- Desiderata is a prose poem by Max Ehrmann, registered for copyright in 1927. The title is Latin for “things desired.”
- The 1692 date often attached to it comes from copies handed out at Old St. Paul’s Church in Baltimore, not from the poem’s true age.
What Is Desiderata?
Desiderata is a prose poem by American writer Max Ehrmann, registered for copyright in 1927. The title is Latin for “things desired.” In a few short passages it offers guidance on living with peace, honesty, humility and trust, and it has been printed on cards, posters and records for close to a hundred years.
Most people come to it for one of three reasons: to hear the words, to understand what they mean, or to learn where the poem came from. This page covers all three. Alex’s reading is in the episode above. The sections below give you the history, the meaning and a simple way to bring it into your day.
Why This Poem
Most episodes of Next Level Soul bring you a guest. This one is different. Alex opens by telling listeners that he read a poem years ago that has really affected his life. It hangs on the wall of the set where the podcast is recorded, and he says it is there to remind him what is important in this life and what to do when times are tough.
Alex does not present the poem as a lesson he has mastered. He presents it as a companion he returns to, which is why he wants to share a reading of it with you. Because the poem’s own text is not reproduced on this page, we describe its ideas in our own words below. To hear the poem itself, press play and listen to Alex’s reading.
Where It Came From
Alex tells listeners that Desiderata was written in 1927 by the American writer Max Ehrmann. He adds that it was found in an old church in Baltimore, and that the poem has resonated with the world ever since.
He does not go deeper into its history in this episode. What he stresses is how far it has traveled. Then he simply reads it, with no commentary in the middle, and lets the words do the work.
Who Was Max Ehrmann?
Max Ehrmann was a writer and attorney from Terre Haute, Indiana, from a family of German immigrants. He studied at DePauw University and Harvard, worked as a lawyer and in his brothers’ factory, and later gave his life to writing. He was never part of the poetry establishment of his day. He wrote quietly, often on spiritual themes, and sold some of his work as prints and cards.
He wrote Desiderata in the 1920s and registered it for copyright in 1927. He married Bertha Pratt King in June 1945 and died three months later. His widow carried his work forward, and the poem appeared in The Poems of Max Ehrmann in 1948. In 2010, a bronze statue of him was unveiled in Terre Haute.
Was Desiderata Really Found in an Old Church in Baltimore?
This is the story many people have heard, and Alex mentions it in the episode. The poem is often said to have been found in Old St. Paul’s Church in Baltimore and dated 1692. The documented history is a little different, and just as interesting.
Ehrmann wrote the poem in 1927. Around the middle of the twentieth century, a rector of Old St. Paul’s handed out copies to his congregation. Those copies left off Ehrmann’s name and mentioned the year the church was founded, 1692. Readers took that date to be the age of the poem, and the legend of a lost seventeenth-century text was born. The Poetry Foundation and Wikipedia both trace the confusion to those copies.
The mix-up spread further after Adlai Stevenson, the former presidential candidate and United Nations ambassador, died in 1965. A copy of the poem was reported near his bedside, and early coverage credited the church, which helped the legend travel.
None of this takes anything from the poem. It reached a great many readers because it spoke to them, and it is a good reminder to check a source before you pass a story along.
How Desiderata Became Famous: A Timeline
From a quiet desk in Indiana to the Billboard charts, the road was long. Here are the moments that carried the poem into everyday life.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1927 | Ehrmann registers the poem for U.S. copyright. |
| 1933 | The full poem is printed in the Michigan Tradesman and sent out as a Christmas card. |
| 1945 | Ehrmann dies, three months after his marriage to Bertha Pratt King. |
| 1948 | His widow publishes the poem in The Poems of Max Ehrmann. |
| 1965 | Adlai Stevenson dies, and a copy of the poem found near his bedside adds to its fame. |
| 1971 | Les Crane’s spoken-word recording reaches no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. |
| 2010 | A bronze statue of Ehrmann is unveiled in Terre Haute, Indiana. |
| 2023 | Works registered for copyright in 1927 enter the U.S. public domain. |
If you love timeless life advice, you may also enjoy the story behind another famous piece of guidance, Wear Sunscreen.
Peace, Silence and Speaking Your Truth
The reading begins with an invitation to move through a noisy, hurried world with calm, and to remember that there is peace to be found in silence. The poem then turns to how we treat people. It encourages getting along with everyone, as far as possible, without giving yourself away.
It asks you to speak your truth in a quiet, clear voice, and to listen to others, even people who seem dull or uninformed, because each of them has a story. It also warns that loud, aggressive people can be a strain on the spirit. The picture is of someone who stays steady, honest and open without being pulled into the noise.
Comparison, Achievement and Humble Work
Next comes a caution about measuring yourself against other people. The poem says that comparison can make you vain or bitter, since there will always be people who seem greater or lesser than you.
In place of comparison, it suggests enjoying what you have achieved along with what you plan to do. It also honors ordinary work. Stay interested in your own path, however modest it looks, because the poem calls it a real possession in a world where fortunes keep changing. For anyone who has ever felt behind, this part of the reading is a gentle reset.
Caution, Goodness and Honest Love
The poem is realistic about the world. It advises care in your business affairs, because the world has its share of trickery. But it does not want that caution to harden into blindness. Many people reach for high ideals, it says, and heroism can be found everywhere.
From there it turns to the heart. Be yourself. Do not pretend to feel affection you do not feel, and do not grow cynical about love. Even when life feels dry and disappointing, the poem says love keeps returning, as dependable as grass.
Growing Older, Inner Strength and Gentleness
The middle of the reading speaks to the passing years. It suggests accepting the wisdom that comes with age and letting go of the things of youth gracefully, without a fight.
It also encourages building strength of spirit, something you can lean on if misfortune arrives suddenly. At the same time, it asks you not to torment yourself with dark imaginings. The poem says many fears are born of tiredness and loneliness. Past a healthy discipline, its advice is to be gentle with yourself. That is the poem’s perspective, offered as encouragement and not as medical advice.
You Belong Here
The closing lines are the most tender. The poem describes you as a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars, and says you have a right to be here. Whether or not it feels clear to you, it says, the universe is unfolding as it should.
It invites you to be at peace with God, however you understand that, and to keep peace with your own soul through all the noise and confusion of life. Even with its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it calls this a beautiful world. The final note is simple: be cheerful, and strive to be happy.
Desiderata Meaning: What the Poem Asks of You
The title means “things desired,” and the poem reads like a short list of what a settled life might want: peace, honesty, kindness toward yourself and trust. It does not ask you to become someone new. It invites you to be more fully who you already are. Here is the poem’s guidance in our own words, with one way to try each idea today.
| Idea | What it points to | Try this today |
|---|---|---|
| Peace in the noise | Staying centered when the room, the news or your own mind is loud. | Take five quiet minutes before you look at a screen. |
| Honest, quiet speech | Saying what is true, calmly, and listening to others even when the topic is not your favorite. | In one conversation, listen all the way to the end. |
| Letting go of comparison | Measuring yourself against others leaves you proud one day and bitter the next. | Notice the next time you compare, and simply name it. |
| Humble, steady work | Taking real pleasure in your own path, however modest it looks. | Finish one small thing that matters to you. |
| Caution with goodness | Being careful in the world without losing sight of the good in it. | Do one honest kindness without announcing it. |
| Honest love | Being yourself in love, and not turning cynical about it. | Say one true, warm thing to someone you love. |
| Graceful years, inner strength | Accepting what the years teach and building a spirit that does not crumble under imagined fears. | Write down one worry and ask whether it is real or just tired. |
| You belong here | You are part of the same universe as the trees and the stars, and life is unfolding as it should. | Step outside for three minutes and look up. |
A Simple Way to Use Desiderata Each Day
You do not need a ritual. Start small, and let it become yours.
- Listen to Alex’s reading once, in the morning or at night.
- Choose one idea from the table and carry it with you for the day.
- Before bed, ask yourself one question: where did I feel this today?
If you want more ways to settle your mind, try our meditation guide and the power of gratitude. If you are in a harder season, our piece on the dark night of the soul may help.
Where Can You Read the Full Poem?
According to Wikipedia, Desiderata is in the public domain in the United States, so the complete text is easy to find. We do not reprint it on this page, because Alex’s spoken reading is the heart of this episode. For the text and the history, start with Wikipedia’s page on Desiderata and the Poetry Foundation’s “In Search of Desiderata.” Read it slowly once, then press play and listen again.
Coming Back to It
After the reading, Alex says he hopes the poem has lifted your spirits today. He invites you to return to this episode anytime you need a little pick me up to get through the day.
He tells listeners that anytime he is feeling down or conflicted, or something is not going the way he wanted, he listens to this poem. He says it puts him in the right frame of mind and the right mindset to continue his journey. He also asks listeners to subscribe and leave a review for the show. And he leaves you with the words he always uses: trust the journey, it is there to teach you.
Listen to the Episode
- Download the MP3
- More episodes: Next Level Soul Podcast
Sources and Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Desiderata?
Alex describes Desiderata as a poem that has affected his life for years. He says it was written in 1927 by American writer Max Ehrmann and was found in an old church in Baltimore. He adds that it has resonated with the world ever since. In this episode he reads it aloud.
Where does Alex keep the poem?
Alex says the poem hangs on the wall of the set of the Next Level Soul podcast. He explains that it is there to remind him what is important in this life. It also reminds him what to do when times are tough. Keeping it in view is part of how he stays grounded.
Why does Alex return to Desiderata?
Alex says that anytime he feels a little down or conflicted, or something is not going the way he wanted, he listens to the poem. He says it puts him in the right frame of mind and the right mindset to continue his journey. He also invites listeners to come back to the episode whenever they need a pick me up.
What does the poem say about comparing yourself to others?
The poem warns that comparing yourself to others can make you vain or bitter. It says there will always be people who seem greater or lesser than you. Instead, it encourages you to enjoy your achievements and your plans, and to stay interested in your own work, however humble it may be.
What does the poem say about being gentle with yourself?
The poem suggests building strength of spirit while not tormenting yourself with dark imaginings. It says many fears come from tiredness and loneliness. Beyond a healthy discipline, it asks you to be gentle with yourself. This is the poem’s perspective, shared as encouragement and not as medical advice.
What does it mean to be a child of the universe?
The poem describes you as a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. It says you have a right to be here. It adds that whether or not it is clear to you, the universe is unfolding as it should. Alex plays this reading as a reminder of belonging.
What is Alex’s closing message?
Alex ends the episode by saying: trust the journey, it is there to teach you. Before that, he hopes the poem has lifted your spirits today. He also asks listeners to subscribe and leave a review for the show wherever they listen.
Is the text of the poem on this page?
No. This page describes the poem’s ideas in our own words and does not reproduce its text. To hear Desiderata, press play on the episode above and listen to Alex’s reading. You can also read along with the transcript lower on the page, which follows the audio of the episode.
What does Desiderata mean?
Desiderata is Latin for “things desired.” The poem is a short guide to living with peace, honesty, humility and trust, and it reminds the reader that they belong in the world.
Who wrote Desiderata?
Max Ehrmann, a writer and attorney from Terre Haute, Indiana, wrote Desiderata in the 1920s and registered it for copyright in 1927.
Was Desiderata found in a church in 1692?
No. Ehrmann wrote it in 1927. The 1692 date comes from copies handed out at Old St. Paul’s Church in Baltimore, which mentioned the year the church was founded and left off Ehrmann’s name.
Is Desiderata in the public domain?
According to Wikipedia, yes, in the United States. Works registered for copyright in 1927 entered the public domain in 2023.
Who made Desiderata famous in the 1970s?
Posters of the poem were widely sold in the 1960s and 1970s, and Les Crane’s 1971 spoken-word recording reached no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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- Wear Sunscreen: the story behind the famous advice
Follow Along with the Transcript
Alex Ferrari 0:03
Today, we're gonna have a special episode. There's a poem that I read years ago, and it's really affected my life. I have it on the wall of the set of the next level soul podcast and it's there to remind me what is important in this life and what to do when times are tough. The name of the poem is the seed Urata. It was written in 1927 by American writer Max Ehrmann. It was found in an old St. Paul's Church in Baltimore. And the poem has resonated with the world ever since. So sit back and enjoy. 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 the dull and the ignorant. They too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the Spirit. If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter. Or always there will be a greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements, as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble. It is a real possession and the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution and your business affairs for the world is full of trickery. Well let this not blind you to virtue there is many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere Life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love. Or in the face of all aridity and disenchantment. It is as perennial as the grass. take kindly to the Council of the years. Gracefully. Surrender these things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to show you for the 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. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees in 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. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you can see them to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noise of 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. I hope this poem has lifted your spirits today and come back to this reading in this episode. Anytime you need a little pick me up to get you through the day. Anytime I'm feeling a little down or conflicted or something's not going right in my life the way I wanted to. I listened to this poem. And it does put me in the right frame of mind the right mindset to continue my journey. And if you haven't already, please subscribe and leave a review for the show wherever you are listening to it. Thank you so much for listening. And as always, trust the journey. It is there to teach you. I'll speak to you soon.
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