In 1726, at the age of 20, Benjamin Franklin devised a list of 13 virtues to live by for as long as possible, in an attempt to “live without committing any fault at any time.” He then focussed on one virtue each week and kept notes on his progress.
TRANQUILLITY Be not disturbed at trifles. or at accidents common or unavoidable.
CHASTITY Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
MODERATION Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
CLEANLINESS Tolerate no uncleanliness in body. clothes, or habitation
SINCERITY Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak. speak accordingly.
JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
FRUGALITY Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing
INDUSTRY. Lose no time, be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
ORDER Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
RESOLUTION Resolve to perform what you ought: perform without fail what you resolve.
TEMPERANCE Eat not to dullness: drink not to elevation.
SILENCE Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself avoid trifling conversation.
HUMILITY Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
How to: Love Yourself
There a thousand ways to say “I Love You’ to our near & dear ones. All of them when re-routed to oneself can help you feel lighter, cherished, appreciated and maybe, heard. Practicing self-love a little more in a world that feels too much.
#1 Celebrate your wins no matter how big or small. Pat yourself on the back and be proud of what you have achieved.
#2 Be patient but persistent. Self-love is ever-evolving. It’s something that needs to be practised daily but can take a lifetime to master. So be kind and support yourself through the hard times.
#3 Find something to be grateful for every day. It’s inevitable that you are going to have your down days. This is fine and very human of you. It’s especially important these days to find at least one thing you are grateful for as it helps to shift your mind and energy around what’s going on.
#4 Learn to say no. Saying no sometimes doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you a smart person.
#5 Forgive yourself. You know that thing you did one time (or maybe a few times) that made you feel bad, embarrassed, ashamed? It’s time to let that go. You can’t change the things you have done in the past but you can control your future. Look at it as a learning experience and believe in your ability to change.
#6 Give up the need for approval from others. “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” – Dita Von Teese
#7 Be realistic. There is no person on this earth that is happy every single moment of every single day. You know why? Because we are all human. We make mistakes, we feel emotions (good and bad) and this is OK. Allow yourself to be human.
#8 Get creative and express yourself in whatever way you like. Painting, writing, sculpting, building, music, whatever takes your fancy, and make sure you leave your inner critic at the door. There are no right ways to be creative.
#9 Find your happy place. Where’s the one place you feel totally at ease, calm, happy, positive, high on life? Go to that place when you are going through hard times, or imagine yourself being there. Think about how it feels, what it smells like, what it looks like.
In 1726, at the age of 20, Benjamin Franklin devised a list of 13 virtues to live by for as long as possible, in an attempt to “live without committing any fault at any time.” He then focussed on one virtue each week and kept notes on his progress.