keys to living sucesflu

Keys To Successful Living

Part 1

Everyone wants to be successful in life, but where are the keys to success? Do we have to go out and search for those keys, or do we have those potentials within ourselves? When we begin to examine life, we can see that it is divided into two aspects—life within and life without; internal life and external life – and we can see that these aspects are of equal importance. Even if we have renounced the world, gone far away from civilization, and live in the wilderness doing nothing but meditation, we cannot ignore external life. We still have to see what we eat, do our ablutions, and perform our practices on time. So life in the external world is as important as life in the internal world.

Even one who has renounced the world has to understand the word “relationship” properly, because life itself is actually relationship. The body is related to breath, and the breath is related to mind. The body, breath, senses, and mind all function together as a unit. So life virtually means relationship, and thus the art of living and being requires an understanding of one’s relationship to the external world and the relationship within oneself.

All human beings have inner potentials, but many people are not aware of those potentials and do not know how to use them to have a successful life. Those who are not happy internally can never be happy externally; those who are not happy within themselves can never make others happy. Those who do not love themselves can never love others.        

13 vitues

 Benjamin franklin  

 

Franklin tracked his progress on charts he created. The first letter of each day was listed on the top and the first letter of each virtue was indicated down the left side. He would add a dot if he felt he fell short of meeting that virtue on a given day. Benjamin franklin carried these charts with him as a reminder of his personal plan of conduct.

The following 13 virtues continue to be relevant today. Next to each virtue is franklin’s definition.

1.       Temperance “eat not to dullness”

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 its time.”

4.       Resolution “resolve to perform what you thought. 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. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.’

10.   Cleanliness “tolerate no uncleanness in your body, clothes or habitation.”

11.   Chastity “I would never do anything that would disrespect my wife.”

12.   Tranquility “be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”

13.   Humility like “Socrates.”

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