Self Improvement

I very much admire Benjamin Franklin and his program for self-improvement as documented in his Autobiography. I was thinking about my own self-improvement, and it seems like a daunting but worthwhile task. The biggest problem is having the self-discipline necessary to do the things necessary. But another problem is knowing what your weaknesses are in the first place.

A tentative list:
1. I am contemptuous of many people, often for small traits, when they differ from me. Being contemptuous is both unkind and (usually) unjustified: it would fall under the category of Pride according to the medieval sin list. I am ashamed to admit how contemptuous I frequently feel.
2. I am impatient. I hate waiting, and it makes me grumpy. Then I become rude and surly, and do things I regret. This is inconsiderate and unpleasant to everyone around me. This would be Anger or Wrath.
3. My self-discipline is poor. I frequently shirk tasks that are unpleasant, even when I should do them, don't follow through on my resolutions, and make excuses for myself all the time ("Today I was tired/hungry/sick/it was the weekend etc."). This is basically Sloth.

I am also greedy, but I am not as concerned about this, as it's limited more to minor things (like not liking to share dessert) and is under better control. I am occasionally envious, but I think my excessive contempt for others has ironically largely prevented this problem. I don't think Lust or Gluttony are major problems for me at this point. Of course I could be wrong about all of this: it's so hard to perceive your own flaws.

Things to do for the next week:
1. Self-discipline. I will commit to working on this by 1. going to bed by midnight at the very latest every night and 2. by getting exercise (gym or bike ride) six nights out of the next seven.
2. Impatience: 1. I will leave 10 min. ahead of time to give myself more leeway and 2. will always bring a book with me wherever I go. Hopefully this will avoid triggering my impatience and worry, and keep me more sweet-tempered.
3. Contempt. 1. When I begin to think contemptuous thoughts about others, I will try to direct my thoughts in another path (so I don't go around thinking how stupid and worthless everyone is all the time) and 2. I will make conversation with people I don't like for 5 min./day, to try to understand them better and hopefully develop more charity and empathy.

The last seems by far the most daunting. This is a signal it's the most important. I will try to be brave (since talking to people is very scary for me).