The real legacy you’re leaving behind
Think about someone who has had a major impact on your life. It might have been a family member; a friend who was there for you in a difficult time; a coach or mentor who helped you to grow.
Even if those people are no longer alive or involved in your life, they are still with you.
Their presence is not a mere memory: their past loving actions are preserved in the person that you have become in this present moment. They left a legacy within you.
You have the power to do the same for other people. Let’s talk about how to do it.
Researchers have defined three different ways to leave a legacy. The first two are the ones that probably come most quickly to mind:
The legacy of your biology — like having and nurturing children
The legacy of your possessions — like bequeathing your heirlooms or assets
But there’s a third way to leave a legacy:
The legacy of your values — what you teach someone about living a good life, navigating challenges, and making a positive difference in the world
In one study, almost every single participant ranked this third type as the most important legacy that they could leave for their loved ones. It’s not stuff that matters most. It’s character: the kindness, integrity, courage, patience, and resilience that someone demonstrated. Your legacy isn’t limited to what you physically pass on; it’s also what you embody as a person.
With this new framing in mind, we can see that a legacy is something we’re creating every day, in the ways that we show up for other people.
It’s easy to get more deliberate about your legacy. Try this:
Decide how you want to be remembered in the future.
Choose one word to describe the value you hope to leave as a legacy, like 'brave' or 'considerate' or 'loving' or 'generous.' Now, with that word clearly in mind, you can decide: how will you embody it today?
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