Temperance first, as it tends to procure that coolness and clearness of head, which is so necessary where constant vigilance was to be kept up, and guard maintained against the unremitting attraction of ancient habits, and the force of perpetual temptations. Read Next.
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Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. Instead, I gave myself specific tasks to complete each week. For me, these were more measurable and helped me take a step closer to that virtue. I volunteered for a charity, stopped procrastinating over a project, meditated, wrote poetry, wrote letters to friends, read interesting books, tried new ways to save money and started new workout routines.
And I tracked my progress in a notebook. I first wrote down the definitions for my own 13 virtues, kept a list of ideas for weekly goals for each virtue and then made entries stating my goal and my self-assessment at the end.
I kept this up over five marble notebooks for a decade. I also reassessed my list every year or two, swapping out virtues over time. Two were lifted from Franklin's list. The weekly tasks were often fun. One week, for Friendliness, I'd call a friend every day. Another week, I'd attempt going vegan for Morality. Erudition sent me looking up every word I came across and didn't know. Sometimes, I just learned something -- or something about myself -- and other times, 13 Virtues became a reason to do something enjoyable or interesting, especially in categories such as Creativity or Erudition.
Other weeks weren't as enjoyable, but they all felt like self-improvement. Because 13 weeks is a predictable schedule, I could plan ahead and incorporate vacations and holidays. Self-improvement experiments can be gratifying even while they're self-improving. Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has famously given himself interesting annual goals such as meeting a new person every day, learning Mandarin, writing thank-you notes and reading a book every fortnight.
The 'know thyself' weight loss resolution. The road to perfection can take many routes and is worth the journey, even if you never arrive at the destination. Although I've taken a break from 13 Virtues, there are some experiments and projects I still do today that were forged in its fire. I started writing letters to myself in the future during a week of Introspection and kept it up ever since. I've drawn the spines of every book I've read for more than 20 years , which started as a single sketch during a week of Creativity.
Franklin developed his list of 13 virtues based on the moral virtues he had come across in his readings. In addition, he wrote down a few words about each of the virtues in order to clarify the meaning he gave to each one. The first virtue selected by Franklin was not to overindulge in food or drink. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
By adopting this virtue Franklin wished, first, to gain knowledge, which he noted one acquires by using the ears instead of the tongue. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. By achieving order Franklin expected to be able to have more time for the pursuit of his studies and other projects. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i. In his autobiography Franklin explains that he owes the acquisition of his fortune to frugality and industry. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
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