Benjamin Franklin S method of habit formation?

 

Benjamin Franklin, inventor, politician, writer, publisher and economist mentions in his autobiography that early in his life he decided to concentrate on reaching moral perfection. He made a list of 13 virtues, giving each one a page. Under each virtue he wrote a summary which gave it full meaning. He then practiced each one for a certain period of time.

To make these qualities a habit, Franklin can take on a method of grading himself in his daily actions. In a journal he draws a row for each virtue and a column for each day of the week. Every time he made a mistake, he made a mark in the appropriate column. Each week he focused his attention on a different quality. Over time, through repetition, he enjoyed the pleasure of “seeing a clear book” one day.

He said he conducted these personal tests year after year. He decided to try every virtue and a quarter of its importance in order to get the job done - one at a time. He began with temperament, which included the tendency to develop every pleasure or undesirable habit, for patience acquires "the coolness and clearance and head that are necessary where constant vigilance must be maintained and unlimited attraction must be protected. Ancient practice."

The other qualities Franklin followed were silence, discipline, resolution, success, art, sincerity, justice, restraint, cleanliness, serenity, purity and humility. For short orders he followed a little scheme to recruit his time every day. Every day from five to seven in the morning he would spend his time physically and personally meditating, saying a short prayer, thinking about the business of the day and the resolution, having breakfast and studying. From eight to twelve he worked in his business. From one to twelve he read or ignored his accounts and became a witch. From two to five he worked in his trade. He spent up to 10 in the evening doing music or any kind of conversion.

This time is also used to put things in their place. The last word before retiring was the test of the day. At 799, he described his health as "temperamental"; The unfortunate achievement of art and success; His country's confidence in sincerity and justice.

Franklin's remarkable achievements in life and politics can be attributed to his perseverance in overcoming personal responsibilities and his desire to be constantly better.

The next time you really want to achieve something, take the time to concentrate on your personal journal. What is your temptation that stands in the way of your glory? What can you do to build the habit of success?