Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues for a Healthy Lifestyle
“The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.” — Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was a giant who changed the world.
He was one of the most respected and accomplished men in our nation’s history. He was an author, diplomat, statesman, revolutionary, economist, inventor, and craftsman. His talents not only shaped the birth of a new nation (ours) but also that of the history.
But Franklin’s greatest gift to mankind may in fact germinate not from his talents but his example. Franklin was, after all, a philosopher. He probed into life self and in so doing, at the ripe age of 20, crafted his 13 virtues – a blueprint for balanced, joyous, and remarkable living.
Granted, Franklin’s 13 virtues are aimed at life in totality. But his framework is aptly appropriate (if not essential) to designing a resilient and awesome healthy lifestyle.
If healthy lifestyle greatness is your aim (and I hope it is!), then you’d do well to model yourself after Franklin’s legendary example.
01. Temperance
Despite his status and influence, Franklin pursued a life of peaceful moderation. As he said, “eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.”
A genuine healthy lifestyle embraces the same philosophy. Gluttony of any vice is unnecessary, unwise, and definitely unhealthy. A healthy body, mind, and soul thrives not from indulgence but from self-awareness and moderation.
02. Silence
To Franklin, virtuous silence was a crusade against trifling conversation. Essentially, stop the noise.
Adapted to a healthy lifestyle, virtuous silence is the eradication of “noise” that disorients and distracts you from your healthy lifestyle priorities. Eliminate all the non-value-add commitments, programs, even relationships that don’t promote lifelong health and happiness.
03. Order
“Let all things have their place” is a Franklin motto. This mindset promotes simplicity, control, and efficiency.
The same mindset benefits those included towards a remarkable healthy lifestyle. An unordered and haphazard life of chaos won’t lead to resounding health.
Don’t get confused – this is not to encourage OCD-level mania. But a thoughtful approach to fitness, nutrition, relaxation, and wellness is vital.
04. Resolution
Franklin couldn’t have accomplished all that he did without ardent resolve. Tenacity, persistence, and confidence were nonnegotiable.
Overcoming health challenges and constructing a radiant healthy life requires the same internal strength. Overnight successes don’t happen. Miracle fitness gimmicks and weight-loss drugs don’t work. Only your commitment to a better, healthier life will.
05. Frugality
Franklin’s tutelage here is simple – “waste nothing.”
A healthy lifestyle embrances this virtue in a variety of ways. Most importantly, waste not your time – which is your most precious and nonrenewable asset. Next, waste not your economy on extravagant indulgences. And finally, waste not your self-worth and self-identity trying to conform to the expectations of others.
06. Industry
I’ll let Franklin speak for himself on this one – “Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.”
The healthy lifestyle implications of this belief are endless. One, avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Two,push yourself to new limits. Three, effectiveness without efficiency is a waste of energy.
The main lesson – cut the crap and do what matters.
07. Sincerity
Deceiving others is a crime. Deceiving yourself is a sin. Neither add value. Neither promote goodness. Being true to yourself and others is the only honorable choice.
Sincerity isn’t just honorable but healthy too. Tricking yourself into thinking your healthier than you are won’t help you improve. Insincere fools never change, learn, or evolve into something better.
08. Justice
Do no harm to thyself or others. Live up to your duty.
Franklin certainly epitomized this virtue in spades. He rose to the challenges of his time. He fought for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He made the world a better place.
Your health is your responsibility. It’s your duty. Do it no harm. Rise to the challenge of genuine healthy lifestyle greatness. Fight for healthy lifestyle domination – free from the unhealthy status quo and conventional entrapments.
Make your life a healthier, happier place.
09. Moderation
Virtuous moderation isn’t about sacrifice. It’s about avoiding the extremes.
Some may argue that living fabulously healthy is extreme. I disagree and counter that modern day living is extremely unhealthy. And the consequences are extremely dire.
A healthy lifestyle by it’s very nature fosters balance – physical exertion with relaxation, intense focus with playful abandon, indulging in all manner of wholesome foods.
There’s nothing extreme about living an energetic, tranquil, and fulling life.
10. Cleanliness
Franklin instructs to “tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.” I’ll assume you know that already!
However, cleanliness doesn’t only apply to personal hygiene. It’s a vital part of one’s nutrition and mental health.
Eating “clean” has become cliché. That’s too vague for me. I say eat a balance of wholesome, minimally (or unprocessed) foods. Supplement only when you have a natural deficiency or medical condition.
And scrub yourself of unhealthy thoughts. Self-doubt and disbeliefs are healthy lifestyle cancers. Get rid of them.
11. Chasity
Franklin was talking about chaste in it’s traditional meaning – restraint of venery.
I’ll adapt it to our context.
A healthy lifestyle enjoys simplicity. This isn’t about perfection but purity – freedom from toxic behaviors and beliefs (not to mention foods).
Moreover, modern society is inundated with health misnomers, half-truths, and outright lies. The healthy lifestyle hero (that’s you) rejects these falsehoods and seeks the truth.
12. Tranquility
According to Franklin, “Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”
Designing a healthy lifestyle embraces this stoic mindset. You need to let go of what you cannot control. Focus only on what you can change. Everything else is noise.
It’s important to note here that health perfection is a myth. The healthy lifestyle stoic knows this. Perfection is not the goal; greatness is!
13. Humility
Franklin’s life was adorned with celebrity, status, and power. And yet he remained humble of his own importance. This is in-itself an epic achievement.
Fabulous health is not a status symbol. It’s not license to flaunt your success in the faces of the less healthy. Be proud, damn proud of your healthy lifestyle. Apologize to no one for your achievements or beliefs. But don’t be pompous.
After all, a healthy lifestyle is a life of inclusion. Franklin understood this and lived his life accordingly. In fact, he was so masterful at his humility that when he died approximately 20,000 people attended his funeral(1). An arrogant ass, no matter his fame, would not have attracted the same.
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Franklin may not have been an epic symbol of physical health (he was a bit portly after all). But he did live a full and vibrant life until his death at age 84 – this during an era when the average male life expectancy was 64(2).
What does this tell you?
It tells me that physical health is important but not everything. It tells me that a healthy mind and soul are the true treasures of a healthy lifestyle. And it tells me that Franklin’s 13 virtues may be the long-sought secret formula for a long, happy, and healthy life.
This article was taken from: http://mattgartland.com/blog/benjami-franklin-13-virtues-healthy-lifestyle/
