In the insightful biography 'Benjamin Franklin: An American Life,' I discovered Franklin's unique approach to cultivating a virtuous life through meticulous time management and self-improvement. Franklin, who occasionally grappled with managing his time and embodying virtue, devised a practical method to address both. His strategy involved daily scorecards, serving as tangible reminders and trackers of his progress.
The first scorecard focused on his daily schedule, meticulously planned by the hour. This disciplined approach enabled him to efficiently allocate time for various activities, ensuring a balanced blend of work, relaxation, and learning. This practice was pivotal in shaping his successful habits and ability to compartmentalize different life aspects.
Expanding on Franklin's second scorecard centered around his 13 virtues, we can delve deeper into each virtue and their significance in his life. These virtues, crafted from his study of ancient philosophers and their views on ideal character traits, were designed to cover distinct areas of moral and personal development. Franklin believed that the mastery of these virtues would lead to moral perfection and a virtuous life.
- Temperance: This virtue emphasizes moderation in eating and drinking. Franklin saw temperance as fundamental to self-discipline, necessary for the practice of other virtues. It's about controlling primal urges, fostering a sense of balance and restraint.
- Silence: Here, the focus is on speaking only when it benefits others or oneself, avoiding trivial conversations. This virtue underlines the importance of thoughtful and meaningful communication.
- Order: Organizing one's belongings and time efficiently. Franklin valued the structure and believed that every aspect of business and life should have its designated time and place.
- Resolution: This involves resolutely performing what one has planned, and ensuring that these plans are seen through to completion. It's about having a firm determination to fulfill one's commitments.
- Frugality: This virtue is about making expenses only for good causes and avoiding wastefulness. In a time of negative savings rates, this principle is increasingly relevant.
- Industry: Valuing hard work and constantly being engaged in useful activities. Franklin discouraged wasting time and emphasized the importance of productivity.
- Sincerity: Advocating for honesty in thoughts and speech. This virtue involves avoiding deceit and thinking justly.
- Justice: Involves doing no harm to others through injustice or neglecting duties that may benefit them. It emphasizes fairness and fulfilling one's moral obligations.
- Moderation: Avoiding extremes and not holding onto resentment. This virtue teaches the importance of balance and emotional control.
- Cleanliness: This pertains to maintaining cleanliness in body, clothing, and living spaces. It's about respecting oneself and one’s surroundings.
- Tranquility: Encouraging calmness and not being perturbed by minor issues or unavoidable accidents. This virtue is about maintaining a peaceful state of mind.
- Chastity: This involves using sexual energy thoughtfully, prioritizing health, and respecting others' peace and reputation. It's about being mindful of the impacts of one's sexual conduct.
- Humility: Emulating exemplary figures like Jesus and Socrates, this virtue is about modesty and understanding one's place in the larger scheme of things.
Franklin did not attempt to perfect all these virtues at once but focused on one each week, leaving the others to chance. Despite admitting his failures in achieving moral perfection, Franklin believed that the pursuit of these virtues made him a better, happier person. His method involved daily reflection and self-assessment, marking his progress and lapses, which he saw as crucial to his personal development and successInspired by Franklin's method, many have adopted personalized versions with great success. For instance, about a decade ago, I tailored Franklin’s approach to suit my life goals, focusing on areas like marriage, fatherhood, friendship, health, financial stability, and career. Unlike Franklin, who conducted his reflections in the evening, I chose to start each day with this ritual, spending a few minutes each morning to acknowledge the positive steps taken towards these goals the previous day.
This shift from focusing on shortcomings to celebrating progress has yielded numerous benefits. It instills a sense of gratitude each morning, fueling productivity and positivity. It enhances happiness, aligning with research that shows the positive impact of daily journaling on one’s well-being. It keeps me accountable and ensures I'm making consistent strides towards my aspirations. Most importantly, it promotes a balanced life, prompting corrective actions in neglected areas.
I encourage you to try this technique for a month. Begin by listing virtues or goals that resonate with you. Get a journal, and dedicate just five minutes each morning to reflect on your previous day’s progress. Remember, the great figures from history and present, like us, faced their struggles. The best we can do is learn from them and emulate their wisdom. May this practice enrich your journey as it has mine.