Zen College Life

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Now there are a million different things that made Benjamin Franklin better than you. Some may cite his signature on the Declaration of Independence. Others may recall his face on the $100.00 bill. Still others will remind you of his crazy kite and key electricity experiment. But these aren’t what made him better than you. No, these are a result of the key characteristics that made Benjamin Franklin better than you.

So what is it? What was the key difference between Benjamin and you that makes him so great and you so not? Benjamin Franklin led a purpose driven life. You may have purpose, and it may even drive you at times, but chances are you are not yet leading a purpose driven life. I know I’m not. Let me explain…

At age 20 Franklin instituted for himself 13 very specific key values, which he would go on to master in order to become the man that he did become. What he did by mastering these values is to decide to live a proactive life, rather than reacting to circumstance like you and I so often do. Benjamin Franklin knew exactly who and what he wanted to be, and he set out each day to move closer to that person.

Here are the famous 13 key values that Benjamin Franklin used as a guide to become his idea of a great man:

1. “TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.”

2. “SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”

3. “ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”

4. “RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.”

5. “FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.”

6. “INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.”

7. “SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.”

8. “JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”

9. “MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.”

10. “CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.”

11. “TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”

12. “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.”

13. “HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”

After reading this and understanding just what it takes to master these, it’s no wonder Franklin was the man he was. Now I am not suggesting necessarily that you copy Franklin’s ideas. If they don’t motivate you, if you don’t believe in them, then you will not persevere in achieving perfection in them. What I do suggest however is that you decide for yourself what matters in this life, who you want to become, and what it is that you want to stand for.

I’ll go first.

Speech - I resolve to speak ill of no man, speak no vanity, speak negativity to anyone, or engage in useless idle speech

Honesty - I shall live my life honestly and justly, and do no harm or injustice to others.

Education - I shall seek knowledge, for knowledge and action together are the key to success

Moderation - I shall choose moderation, in all aspects of life, and shall remove myself from any extremities

Humility - I shall remain humble, and attribute any and all of my successes to God’s mercy and bounty.

Purpose - I shall choose to live with purpose, and remove idle, unnecessary or unimportant actions from my time

Perseverance - I shall choose to complete any task that I choose to start, no matter how fruitless or uneventful it may seem, less it is not in my best interest.

Spirituality - I shall live a life that is pleasing to Almighty God, so that he will grant me his mercy and allow me to do good work for mankind.

Tranquility - I shall be calm, cool, and collective while refraining from excessive or uncontrollable emotion, be it anger, sadness, or other.

there are more, but this is what I came up with just now. What do you think? What am I missing? What drives your life? Leave a comment and let us hear it.

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