Building Legacy – The 1 Thing You Need
This article is about the most important thing you need to build a legacy for yourself and your family.
**Disclaimer; this article is more harsh than previous articles, so if you aren’t here to listen to hard truths, please read one of the many other articles available. **
What is it like to build a legacy?
It’s interesting because as humans we want to be remembered well. For being a good person, for leading from the front and being someone who lived by their values and opinions (which brings some haters along the way).
But the thing about legacy is that it only exists once our soul has left our body. Only then you are known as the ‘dad that always put the kids first’ or the ‘mum that was always kicking goals for herself and the family’.
What is Legacy?
According to the dictionary of google, ‘Legacy’ means; “a gift by will especially of money or other personal property.”
Personally, that definition seems boring and doesn’t explain what it should be in the more modern version.
I much prefer the ‘urban dictionary’ definition; “it’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see”.
Even still, I think I’ll use my personal definition; “How you will be f**king remembered”.
I added the swearing in for dramatic purposes, because quite frankly, it’s a big deal. How we are remembered is a real reflection of the way that you treated your family, friends, strangers and of course yourself.
Legacy Through Time
You see the family names of those from medieval times pop up. The William Wallace’s*, Robin Hood’s** and Gandalf the Grey’s**.
*Lead the Scottish resistance forces during the struggle to free Scotland from Wales (not Mel Gibson, an actual real-life legend).
**Robin Hood was a person but was not called Robin Hood from birth.
***Fictional but still great.
If we refer back to someone of genuine legacy, we can’t look past Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman Emperor. He noted a legacy should be the by-product of a great and well-lived life. He understood he wouldn’t be around for posthumous fame. Nobody will be.
The little things really don’t matter to the extent that you think they do, it’s more the important moments that make the difference. Being a couple minutes late for school is not an issue in comparison to giving your kids a big (and embarrassing) hug and kiss. The thing about legacy that makes the biggest difference is who you are in the moment and how you treat other people.
Important to note if you are someone who likes to ‘play it safe’ by not taking action to not affect your legacy and remain neutral. Taking no action, is an action
If you live in a state of being overweight or obese, if you don’t work on your mental health and continue to suffer in silence, if you choose to let people walk all over you… that is your action! Believe me, you may not think your kids are picking up on it but they absolutely are.
If you continue to make excuses, you will be the person that can’t be relied on. If you treat yourself with no respect, you will be the person that doesn’t act with love. If you don’t allow yourself to enjoy pleasurable and happy moments, you won’t be the happy and enjoyable person.
However, if you take the action to move forward on your health. If you start saying “NO” to the things that won’t benefit you and start saying “YES” to the things that do. You will create that legacy you want.
The One Thing You Need to Build Your Legacy
BE PROACTIVE .
Take this opportunity to start working on your body.
Begin to build mental resiliency using genuine skills, like mindfulness rather than the occasional inspirational quote.
Build connection with your loved ones and with yourself.
These will help you be strong on your values. Go out there and really live your life!
If you want to find out on how to live your life with purpose, read this article on Finding Purpose OR join our email list to gain access to our Happy, Healthy Blueprint for the Busy Family’ be proactive and inspired!
Get to it!
