Ben Franklin attributed most of his success and happiness to having attempted to become a virtuous man.
He did it every day, every week, every year.
When Benjamin Franklin was 20 years old, he wrote up a 13-point “plan” for how he would live his life. But unlike others who merely spoke about it, Franklin created a list and documented his progress in his journal. I’m currently listening to It’s filled with interesting details about the enigmatic Franklin and how he lived his life.
Learn to be tranquil and at peace with issues that are clearly out of your control. Our culture may guide us to the opposite, but seeking moderation in all parts of life, keeps things in balance.A person should be well kept. He didn’t just say he would live by these rules and then do his best to do so. Being deliberate in how you spend your time can define the outlook of your life.Don’t gossip, spread rumors, or be deceitful. We need to keep our pride in check and not be over-confident in ourselves or our actions.
Even so, Franklin worked at these virtues throughout his life, but how he did so is just as interesting.He realized that taking on all 13 of these virtues at once was a recipe for disaster. He wouldn’t make any progress and fail repeatedly.Instead, he devised a simple system that would allow him to focus on a single virtue every week over 13 weeks. In fact, it would be easy to name Franklin as the father of many self-improvement ideas we still use today.You don’t need to go any further than some of his most famous maxims to realize the mark he made:Even his daily routine has been celebrated as a good approach for optimal productivity.At the age of just 20, Franklin worked towards creating a set of rules that would allow him to essentially be a better person.The outcome was 13 Virtues that would guide his daily life. Take the time to take care of yourself and your environment.Don’t get upset about the little things, as it does more harm than good. To that effect, Franklin decided on thirteen virtues which he found particularly desirable.
At the right is the actual form that Ben used to track his progress. How often do we try to change our entire routine at a moments notice? This was as much relevant to his mastery of the virtues as the rest of his life. This no doubt was born from his role as a printer, but an essential virtue all the same. Not many people know that Benjamin Franklin was on a path of self development. In my quest to study the journals of successful people, Benjamin Franklin has not only been near the top of my list but also has been most request by many of you who kindly write to me.Franklin has intrigued me due to his self-made success, start starting from humble beginnings and rising to become a successful printer, writer, musician, inventor, and, of course, Founding Father of United States.
I wish’d to live without committing any Fault at any time; I would conquer all that either Natural Inclination, Custom, or Company might lead me into. He said the following in his autobiography:It’s easy to see how Franklin could be regarded as one of the fathers of self-improvement. Franklin believed that temperance allowed the mind and body to work at an optimal level, making the other virtues possible.Franklin learned the importance of listening at his self organized junto (club) meetings.
Maybe Franklin was on to something.The 13 Virtues of Life: Benjamin Franklin’s Guide to Building Character
He found that following the plan increased his happiness so much that he kept it u… Living frugally not only keeps you humble, but it teaches you the value of money.Time is money. More importantly, he realized that practice was the key to progress.By repeating the cycle four times a year on an endless loop, he ensured that he would always be improving and striving for his goal.While Franklin never achieved perfection, he still believed that the effort had changed his life for the better. Being aware of your actions when it comes to sex and the perception that it carries is as important as ever. A friend pointed out Franklin’s weakness when it came to pride. At the beginning of each week, he would bring out a fresh form. I plan to write a LOT of these – I need your help to make them the best resources they can be.Franklin always carried a booklet with these 13 virtues. Since he focused on one virtue per week, he’d complete 4 cycles each year (13 virtues, 52 weeks). It never works.Instead, we need to make small changes, one at a time, until they transform from forced tasks into effortless behaviors.Just as important was his method of tracking his progress.
His ideas, methods, and techniques are used everywhere today.Moreover, his ambition of achieving moral perfection is something that we often overlook in our daily lives. As this is my second Good Life guide, I humbly ask for any and all feedback, advice, thoughts.
Each time he disobeyed a virtue, he’d mark it in his booklet.
The first virtue essentially set the tone for the rest. Be smart and be careful.Last but not least is humility.
He was a printer, publisher, writer, scientist, inventor, and activist to name a few of his many roles.One of the more surprising realizations was just how much importance he placed on the idea of self-improvement. Temperance.