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Ask HN: How do you identify shortcomings, and improve yourself morally?
Are there any methods day-to-day you use to observe in yourself the worst traits of our species and remedy them?
Could you elaborate more on the methods of both observation and that of remedying the shortcoming you see?
Edit: Accidentally posted twice. Got "dead link" on submission first time, so submitted again. All fixed now.
- uberman 6y agoI rewatch "the good place".
- desertraven 6y agoThanks for the recommendation. How do you identify aspects of yourself that require attention?
- auslegung 6y agoMeditation, even just sitting and doing absolutely nothing for a while. Right now this is the most effective thing for me. Ben Franklin had some system for moral self improvement, I don’t recall the details but you should be able to find them.
- desertraven 6y agoI too have found this, why do you think meditation/sitting has this effect? Also thanks for the direction, does the following sound like what you're referring to: 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 uncleanness in body, clothes, or habitation. 11. Tranquility: 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.
- auslegung 6y agoI think meditation/sitting allows me identify shortcomings and to improve myself because it allows for self-reflection. Yes, those sound right, but Franklin had a system to improve on these things every day, the system is what I meant to direct you to, not just the list of virtues.
- dalmo3 6y agoWrite, in the morning, whatever comes to your mind. No edits, pauses, or thinking. Observe what words come out. Truly observe, attentively, but don't pause for reflection. It will take you somewhere, usually where you hurt the most. If there's a genuine desire to get rid of your own evil, it will arise. Then do nothing. Don't read it back or reflect. It is what it is. Maybe throw it away, maybe save it for posthumous reasons. You could say it's a written form of meditation.
- thirtythree 6y agoSerious question,why bother?
- pure_vida 6y agoThis was something i wrestled with for some time. I found that the first 'unlock' for me was to identify how i was doing. That led me to understand 'why' i was feeling the way i was. Then it was all about managing and trying to limit it. For example, if I wanted to break a bad / destructive habit first I needed to recognize and acknowledge that it wasn't a good thing. Then i would understand exactly why i did it (i.e., root cause). Afterwards, I would not only try to manage/remove the triggers but also break the routine that led me to the bad habits. (as a side note i built an app that helped me solve this but in a professional context - which i intentionally didn't share because your question is broader than professional development shortcomings / improvements :))
- probinso 6y agoRead theory & history. Political, ethical, math, social, philosophy, and power dynamics Find something you can volunteer for that is direct action and has you interact with people
- kleer001 6y agoProbably one of the deepest and most contentious questions possible. So, you'll find lots of answers out there from lots of people from lots of traditions. I've got an easy answer for you: I listen to my conscience. If it says don't do it, I don't do it. Hard to implement. Nearly impossible sometimes. But it's bit me in the butt enough to force me to comply. In addition I try to keep things simple. One of my favourite uncles is a simple man. Not stupid, by far, just not overly complicated. Pretty much wears his heart on his sleeve. I try to be like that. A bit of Occam's Razor lifestyle.