Benjamin Franklin's Formula For Successful Living - Part 1

🙌 Quote of the week

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Benjamin Franklin

Please take one deep breathe through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 4, breathe out through your mouth for 4 and hold for 4. Repeat 3 to 4 times.

Do you feel refreshed?!

I know it has been a long time since I have written my last newsletter (approximately 6 months). I want to apologize to all of you for not publishing earlier although a lot of people kept asking about it for inspiration. But it has been so intense at work lately beyond imagination. Going forward I promise you all I will be on track for weekly publishing from now on.

And by clearing that, Let's begin.

Benjamin Franklin's Formula For Successful Living - Number One

“If our desires are to things of this world” wrote Franklin, “They never to be satisfied”

Pleasure, position, popularity, wealth, and appearance are among those whistles in life which cannot satisfy, and for which many people pay too much.

Happiness is so common a desire that all the world is in pursuit of it; but, since the happiness of man lies in correct action, and correct action flows only from correct opinion, many never fully experience the happiness that could be theirs if they were more careful of their opinions.

To be happy, it is necessary to possess an indifference to the things of this world, to be willing to submit to the will of Providence, and to have a well-grounded expectation of life hereafter.

To be happy, it is necessary to learn how to govern one’s passions and appetites, to be just in one’s dealings with others, to be temperate in one’s pleasures, to support oneself with fortitude in difficulties, and to be prudent in one's affairs.

Because those things external to man have little to do with happiness, Franklin believed that happiness can only be found in a virtuous and self-approving conduct.

And because, in old age the only solid satisfaction is the reflection of a long life spent in meaning well, Franklin believed that, in this life, the only constant and durable source of happiness is in acts of humility, friendship, generosity, and benevolence.

Key takeaways - 3 steps to feel more happiness in your life:

1- Be careful of your opinions and expectations because these will lead to your happiness or else.

2- Be just in dealing with others and temperate in one’s pleasures.

3- Sources of happiness are in acts of humility, friendship, generosity, and benevolence.

But how can we measure progress toward happiness!

We are going to explore it next week.

Thank you for reading till the end.

Please share it with people you care about if you enjoyed it. Have a comment for improvement, send it here. And see you next week.

Till then have a joyful week ahead.

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Books inspired this newsletter

The Art of Virtue by Benjamin Franklin