Legacy Definition and Meaning
“What is legacy?” I remember thinking in my early 20s.
I’d just discovered the world of personal development and was questioning my purpose in life after arriving at a place of feeling deeply lost. I was doing work that didn’t feel aligned, in relationships that weren’t fulfilling, and generally out of sorts about who I was here to be.
The truth is that many people find themselves in a similar crisis at some point. For me, it was a quarter-life crisis; for others, it’s a midlife crisis.
Either way, we start to ask similar questions:
🤔 “Is this all there is?”
🤔 “What am I doing with my life?”
🤔 “Why am I here on this rock spinning in space?”
🤔 “What’s my purpose in life?”
🤔 “What is legacy?”
The concept of legacy holds weight, but we don’t always know what it means. Here, you’ll not only find the answer to “What is legacy?” but you’ll get seven steps to uncover yours and start living on purpose, setting you up to be remembered for what matters most after you’re gone.
The Definition of Legacy
When asking what is legacy, most people are asking one of two things: “What does it mean?” or “How do I understand the deeper, lasting impact a person (like me!) leaves behind after they’re gone?”
The dictionary defines legacy in two ways:
(noun) an amount of money or property left to someone in a will: “My grandmother died and unexpectedly left me a small legacy.”
(noun) the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc., that occurred in the past or a person’s life: “He left us a rich legacy of buildings that are both innovative architectural creations and genuine works of art.”
For our context in this guide, we’re talking about the second legacy definition and looking deeper at what it means, why you might want to leave a legacy, what types of legacies we can leave, and the steps for leaving a legacy that ensure you’re not forgotten once you’re gone.
What is the Meaning of Legacy?
Our legacy is how we’re remembered after we’re gone, but our egos tend to muck up what that means. Most humans feel legacy only matters if others remember our name or hold our specific creations and contributions in high regard. And, sure. That’s pretty cool.
But there’s tremendous freedom and power in seeing our legacy as the ripple effects we create in the world, the ones that live on long after we’re gone, echoing through time with no attachment to our names. This ripple is created by living our full expression (also known as our purpose in life) because being who we’re here to be and doing the work we feel called to do is a contribution in and of itself. Now, “work” isn’t always what we interpret it as either, and it doesn’t necessarily mean the work we do to pay our bills—it’s our contribution to the world.
In living your fullest expression, you’ll impact and inspire others, shaping future generations for centuries to come and adding beauty to the world in ways you may never fully see, understand, or be recognized for. Who you’re being is a gift, a contribution to the world around you.
When asking what is legacy, the real question becomes, how do you want to be remembered after you’re gone?
And when I ask this, I don’t only mean what people might say about you or the specific contributions you leave behind, I mean:
What will be better about the world simply because you existed as your truest self? How do you want your memory and impact to live on in the cells, traditions, and culture of people generations beyond you? What ripple effect do you want to be the cause of, and what would make you happy to know others carried forward?
We’re not just talking about your family lineage because not all of us want or will have children. But your existence still affects the people around you, even strangers in the supermarket that you never notice or interact with directly!
This is our most important legacy.
And full expression is our most important work.
Because when we’re living our true purpose in life, we’re giving to the world in the ways we’ve always been uniquely wired to give. While it’s satisfying to our egos to think about being remembered by name, we won’t be here to see that anyway.
But knowing that we positively impacted others in a way that ripples forward? That matters immensely because not only did we effect change and transformation, but we’ll live on in ways of being, beliefs, conversations, and actions that exponentially spread.
How Do You Define Your Legacy?
One of the hardest parts about living a life you’re proud of is knowing what that even means for you. It’s also a question of whether or not you’re working towards something you would be proud to leave as your legacy, not just wh at others would consider worthy or important.
We often think about legacy as if it’s something to come, something that becomes relevant only after we’re gone.
And while there’s truth to that idea, we’re writing our legacy every day that we’re alive. We’re deciding what will be said about us when we’re gone and what we’ll be able to say we’re most proud of on our deathbed before we go. We’re deciding how our lives will or will not inspire others. How we’ll be remembered and what impact we’ll have had during our short time here, living this life at this time with these people around us.
This one life we have is short and often hard. It’s full of laughter, love, and tears. People come and go, and sometimes they leave with such force that we’re left in pieces. Sometimes, they stay, and we learn what it’s like to have people who were meant to walk beside us. This life is challenging and beautiful, filled with amazing opportunities disguised as obstacles.
As Hannah Brencher writes: “Today I try my hardest to live a life that might proclaim something loudly after I am gone.”
What will your life proclaim?
What is legacy to you?
Why Leave a Legacy?
When asking what is legacy, we’re often also asking why worry about leaving one at all?
Asking these questions gets us into the existential territory of being human. Why are we here? Does it have any meaning or matter at all? What happens once we’re gone? Why should we concern ourselves with a legacy that lives beyond us, or what ours might be?
These are great questions to ask because it means your eyes are open. You’re not simply going through the motions and doing what you think you should be doing. You’re thinking about the purpose of everything—why you exist on this planet at this time as the person you are.
When you start asking what is legacy and why leave one, you’re ready to uncover your purpose and callings and begin contributing to the world in the way that only you can.
Unfortunately, we don’t know the meaning of life or why we’re here, and we likely never will. But we are here—right now, as this person, at this time.
We’re also surrounded by other beautiful souls struggling through this human, earthly experience. There are animals, oceans, forests, and so many incredible people and things on this planet. Our purpose in life is to contribute to this world as best we can while we’re here, making a difference and influencing the world positively and productively.
But legacy is about more than leaving something behind; it’s an act of love and a way of saying, “I was here, and I care about the people and things that will be here beyond me.”
For some, it’s enough to know that living our fullest expression and contributing to the people and world around us is living our legacy. That our memory will imprint into the lives of others and carry forward however it’s meant to, without worrying about creating something specific.
For others, we need more (and let me be clear here that “needing more” is not inherently “better” than being good with existing and trusting it has an impact). We have conversations to share, art, music, and writing to express, as well as creations that want to be brought to life. We deeply desire to impact the world around us in a specific way—one that’s tangible.
Regardless of which camp you fall into, it remains true that legacy isn’t about being remembered by name or for your specific creations! It’s still about how our life and work ripple forward through coming generations, global changes, and evolutions.
The difference is in how the seed of our purpose (who we’re here to be) wants to express itself (the work we’re here to do).
For some, it’s about living an aligned life that brings us joy and fulfillment, focusing on relationships, and having memorable experiences. For others, it’s about creation, entrepreneurship, and building. Both are meaningful. Both are living your legacy.
So, the answer to why leave a legacy is that—regardless of what your purpose and legacy are—it’s about the ripple effect of our choices, the impact we have on others, and the inspiration, resources, or expansion we provide for those who come after us.
A legacy doesn’t have to be universally admired; it just has to be authentic to you. It’s about passing on the wisdom, courage, and lessons we’ve gathered along the way, offering a guiding light to those who may one day walk a similar path. That might look like your great-grandchild becoming a revolutionary teacher who alters the education system because you were a loving parent to their mother throughout her life. Or it could look like you taking the first big step toward a cure for cancer by publishing your life’s research, and three generations of scientists later, they can finally crack the code based on one paragraph in your paper.
Ultimately, leaving a legacy is about creating a sense of continuity—a connection between past, present, and future. It’s a way of weaving our personal story into the larger narrative of humanity, ensuring that our journey adds to the richness and diversity of life’s tapestry.
Whether through the relationships we’ve nurtured, the work we’ve done, or the values we’ve upheld, a legacy is a testament to the fact that our lives mattered, that we made an imprint on the world, and that our spirit continues to inspire and uplift others long after we’re gone.
Why Is Legacy Important in Life?
Answering “What is legacy?” is important because it gives meaning to our lives.
Even if we don’t ultimately understand why we’re here as humans or what the true meaning of life is, choosing to live our legacy every day makes our time here meaningful to us and others because the only thing we do know for sure is that we’re here—right now. We have this one precious life that’s a short blip in time, even if it’s long and healthy.
So what can we do with our life that’s important and purposeful?
What can we create, live, and be in a way that affects positive change after we’re gone? What can we focus on that will make the world better for the people we love (including every generation that follows us)?
As humans, we need a sense of purpose in life to feel fulfilled and happy. We’re wired for evolution and contribution, and when we don’t feel like we’re impacting the world to some degree, life begins to feel meaningless. When life begins to feel pointless, that’s when we start to experience depression, anxiety, and hopelessness—a recipe for stagnation, even death. Legacy is important because it centers purpose, but it also pulls us out of any sleepwalking we might be doing, forcing us to face our mortality and think about death.
Death can be a terrifying thing to think about, which is why many don’t.
It’s the ultimate unknown.
But the more we face our mortality, the better (and sooner) we can live our legacy and purpose in life. Whether we’re young or old, death is always lurking. If we’re blessed to live a full life, it will still feel like it’s ending too early, which means the sooner we start doing our purpose work, living a fully aligned life that’s fulfilling to us, and creating what we’re here to create, the more we’re able to live our legacy and feel content with what we’ve achieved.
Here are two exercises to help you deepen into this:
The “Death Bed” Exercise
This is an easier exercise because it’s about looking down the road to when you’re at the end of a long and healthy life.
The short version is: imagine that you’re on your deathbed, surrounded by the people you love. You’re talking about and celebrating a well-lived life in which you showed up fully expressed, created what you were here to create, and feel content that you’re leaving a legacy you can be proud of.
The people you love (be that family, friends, a partner, colleagues, mentors, or mentees) are talking about your biggest and best accomplishments, and you feel your heart swell because it’s everything you hoped it would be. What are the top 10 things you hope to hear reflected and celebrated when you’re at the end of your life? List them with as much detail as possible, then highlight the top three that tug at your heartstrings the most. These three things will help give you insight into how to focus on yourself and your life right now to ensure your legacy feels deeply aligned.
The “One Year Left to Live” Exercise
This exercise can be a bit more challenging and even triggering for some, so please be mindful of your nervous system and get support if you need it. The short version is: imagine that you found out you only have a year left to live. The reason doesn’t matter, but it is important to feel the weight of that sort of deadline. If you learned today that you only had 365 more to go, what would you think, and how would you feel?
There will be a certain level of grief with all its friends in tow (particularly shock, anger, sadness, and denial), but we want to focus on what would feel incomplete.
Would you feel frustrated that you never took the time to write your book or launch your nonprofit? Would you be furious that you prioritized your job over your partner and starting a family? Would you wish you’d spent more time traveling or making art? What will you worry people will say about you that wouldn’t be aligned with the legacy you want? What comes up will reveal everything you would regret leaving unstarted and incomplete.
Focusing on how short even a long and healthy life can be and the fact that we really don’t know when we’re going to die helps us discover what’s most meaningful for us. We still have to take care of our lives in this world and the systems that run it, but we can start to pour ourselves into the things that make our lives feel purposeful and important.
Why Do You Want to Leave a Legacy?
If you’re reading this guide and asking, “What is legacy?”, then you care about contributing in some way. There’s something meaningful and important to you, or you’ve been feeling lost and are starting to think about what’s worth organizing yourself around for the remainder of your life. You may not know exactly what your purpose or legacy is, but you can still answer this question: Why do you want to leave a legacy? Why is legacy even on your mind? And what are you willing to do to understand better what it means to you and how to craft it?
What Types of Legacies Can We Leave Behind?
Leaving a legacy is about more than just what we leave behind; it’s about our impact on the world and the people in it. Legacies can take many forms, each unique to the individual and the life they’ve led. In this section, we’ll explore the different types of legacies we can leave behind that may help you hone in more on your legacy.
The Different Types of Legacies
Personal Legacy: This is the imprint we leave on the people closest to us—family, friends, and loved ones. It’s about the values we instill, the love we give, and the memories we create. This legacy is often seen in the traditions we pass down, the stories we share, and the way we influence the lives of those around us.
Professional Legacy: This relates to the impact we make in our careers or businesses. It can be the work we’ve done, the people we’ve mentored, or the innovations and ideas we’ve contributed to our field. A professional legacy is often seen in the companies we build, the teams we lead, and the knowledge we pass on to the next generation of voices in our industry.
Philanthropic Legacy: This is the legacy of giving back. It can be through financial contributions, volunteer work, or advocacy for causes we’re passionate about. A philanthropic legacy is often seen in the foundations we establish, the charities we support, and the positive changes we help bring about in society. Whatever causes, foundations, or charities we support, their work in the world becomes as much our legacy as theirs because our contributions are woven into what they create.
Cultural Legacy: This type of legacy is about contributing to the arts, traditions, and cultural practices that define our communities. It could be through music, literature, art, or even the preservation of cultural heritage. A cultural legacy enriches the world and preserves the essence of who we are for future generations. In addition to tangible contributions, our way of being and the healing of generational traumas also contribute to cultural legacies. Individual traumas influence family systems and local communities, eventually influencing the larger culture of our people. When we stop it with us, we positively influence culture.
Intellectual Legacy: This involves the knowledge and ideas we leave behind, whether through teaching, writing, research, or invention. An intellectual legacy can be found in books, academic papers, patents, or any medium that spreads knowledge and advances human understanding. It can also be in the thoughts, ideas, and messages that carry forward from our conversations with the people around us into conversations with others.
Environmental Legacy: This is the impact we have on the planet. It can be the conservation efforts we support, the sustainable practices we implement, or the initiatives we lead (or volunteer for) to protect the environment. An environmental legacy is about leaving the world a better place for future generations. As a wise Indigenous proverb says, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our grandchildren.”
Social Legacy: This is about our broader impact on society and its systems. It can be through social justice efforts, community building, or initiatives that promote equality, peace, and well-being. A social legacy is seen in the movements we support, the communities we uplift, and the societal changes we advocate for.
Artistic Legacy: This legacy includes our creative expressions, such as visual arts, music, writing, dance, or any other form of artistic endeavours. An artistic legacy captures the essence of human experience and emotion, inspiring others and leaving behind a body of work that continues to resonate and influence future generations. Artists often profoundly impact culture and society, especially in times of turmoil, with their work living on long after they’re gone. What’s beautiful about artistic legacies is that our creations influence artists for generations, meaning our legacy as artists lives on in all those future works.
Monetary Legacy: This refers to the financial resources we leave behind, such as wealth, property, or investments passed on to future generations or through endowments, scholarships, and other financial contributions that support causes, institutions, or individuals. A monetary legacy provides security, opportunity, and the means to continue positively impacting the world. If your monetary legacy supports a community or individual, your legacy lives on in what they can do, thanks to your investment.
Each of these legacies reflects a different aspect of our lives, and many of us will leave behind more than one (or some combination of them). Ultimately, the legacy we leave reflects how we’ve lived, what we’ve valued, and the difference we’ve made in the world.
Helping a Loved One Leave a Legacy
When it comes to answering what is legacy, sometimes it’s about supporting someone we love in creating a legacy of their own, especially as they reach the end of their lives (or even after they’re gone, especially when their death happens suddenly and unexpectedly).
Helping a loved one leave a legacy is a deeply meaningful way to honor their life and ensure that their values, contributions, and essence continue to have an impact even after they’re gone.
This process is important because it preserves their memory and allows them to shape the future in a way that aligns with their beliefs and passions. By helping them leave a legacy, you create a lasting tribute that reflects who they were and what they stood for.
Legacy Projects While the Person Is Still Alive
When helping a loved one leave a legacy, start by having an open and honest conversation with them about what matters most to their heart. An easy way to get this started is to simply ask them what you’ve been asking yourself: “What is legacy to you?” Understanding what it means to them, their values, dreams, and the causes they care about will help you identify the best way to support them in creating a lasting impact. For some, this might mean documenting their life stories, values, and lessons learned in a memoir or through recorded conversations. For others, it might involve setting up a scholarship fund, supporting a charity, or creating something tangible that will be left behind, reminding generations of their memory and contributions.
Another way to help your loved one leave a legacy is by encouraging and supporting them in mentoring others. This allows their knowledge and experiences to be passed down, influencing and guiding future generations. Mentorship can be formal or informal, but the key is to ensure that their wisdom continues to resonate long after they can no longer share it directly.
Helping a loved one leave a legacy is a beautiful act of love and connection. It allows us to honor their contributions, recognize their influence on our lives, and ensure their story doesn’t end with them. This process can bring comfort and peace to them and us, as it provides a sense of continuity and purpose beyond the immediate present.
All of this can also deeply influence our own sense of purpose and legacy, especially when we’re helping a parent, grandparent, mentor, or community elder.
By engaging in this process, we’re reminded of the most important values to us, and we often find ourselves reflecting on how we want to be remembered. It can inspire us to live more intentionally, to focus on what truly matters, and to ensure that our own lives are aligned with the legacy we wish to leave behind, gleaning wisdom from the person we’re supporting (which is another opportunity for their legacy to live on in a generational way).
This experience can also strengthen our relationships and connection to something greater than ourselves. It encourages us to think about the long-term impact of our actions and decisions, not just for ourselves but for those we care about and the world at large. By helping a loved one leave a legacy, we are, in a way, contributing to the continuity of goodness, wisdom, and love in the world—ensuring that these qualities continue to shape the future.
Honoring a Legacy After a Loved One is Gone
Honoring a person’s legacy after they’re gone, especially when they didn’t leave any specific plans, is about capturing the essence of who they were and finding ways to ensure that their values, contributions, and spirit continue to resonate in the world. It’s a process of reflection, creativity, and, most importantly, love.
Here are some ideas of how to do this for different people, depending on their unique personalities and the impact they had on those around them:
- What is legacy for the family matriarch or patriarch? If your loved one was the glue that held the family together, you can honor their legacy by continuing the traditions they cherished. Perhaps they hosted annual holiday gatherings, always made a special recipe, or had a unique way of bringing everyone together. Continuing these traditions keeps their presence alive in the family. You could also create a family history book or scrapbook, compiling photos, stories, and memories shared by everyone who knew them. This honors their role in the family and preserves their influence for future generations. You may also consider writing a book about their life! This can come from a collection of stories that other family members share, including photos and mementos. Even if this is published only for family, it captures their legacy.
- What is legacy for the quiet, compassionate soul? If they were someone who quietly made a difference in the lives of others—always helping neighbors, volunteering at local shelters, or offering a listening ear—you can honor their legacy by continuing their acts of kindness. Organizing a day of service in their memory, where friends and family come together to volunteer or support causes they cared about, is a powerful way to keep their spirit of generosity alive. Additionally, creating a small fund or scholarship in their name to help others in need can be a lasting tribute to their compassionate nature.
- What is legacy for the creative, artist, or music lover? If your loved one expressed themselves through art, music, or other creative outlets, you can honor their legacy by ensuring their work continues to be appreciated. You could organize an exhibition of their artwork, a concert of their favorite music, or even a community art project inspired by their creativity. If they were passionate about nurturing creativity in others, consider setting up an art or music scholarship in their name or donating their art supplies to local schools or community centers. Publishing a coffee table book of art or their writing and poems, producing and releasing a memorial album of their music, or making a documentary with their photos and videos are also beautiful ways to keep their memory and work alive.
- What is legacy for the passionate educator or mentor? If your person was dedicated to teaching, mentoring, or guiding others, you might honor their legacy by continuing to spread the knowledge and wisdom they imparted. This could involve starting a scholarship for students in their field, organizing workshops or lectures in their honor, or compiling a book of essays, lectures, or stories that capture their teachings. Sharing their lessons on social media or in a blog can also help ensure their influence continues to inspire and educate others.
- What is legacy for the community builder or activist? If they were deeply involved in their community or passionate about social causes, you can honor their legacy by continuing their work. This might involve taking up leadership in the organizations they supported, organizing community events in their memory, or advocating for the causes they cared about. Creating a memorial fund to support ongoing efforts in their community or cause can ensure their impact continues growing even after they’re gone.
- What is legacy for the nature lover or environmentalist? If your loved one found joy and purpose in nature, you might honor their legacy by contributing to environmental conservation efforts. Planting a tree or creating a garden in their memory is a beautiful way to keep their love for nature alive. You could also organize community clean-ups, support wildlife preservation efforts, or donate to environmental charities in their name. Creating a nature trail or dedicating a bench in a park they loved can serve as a lasting tribute that encourages others to appreciate and protect the natural world.
Most importantly, keep their memory alive!
This isn’t just about continuing to speak about, remember, or share them and their life; it’s also about keeping their spirit alive in yours however it makes sense. Everyone we’re in a relationship with influences us in some way, whether it’s how we speak, the jokes we tell, the activities we enjoy, or the knowledge we carry. Living your fullest expression, purpose, and legacy carries forward the legacies of everyone else who ever meaningfully touched your life.
Physical vs. Digital Legacy
Both physical and digital forms offer unique advantages and challenges when considering how to leave a legacy. Each has its place, and understanding the pros and cons of both can help ensure that your legacy (or the legacy of someone you love) endures.
Let’s break down each one:
Physical legacies, like letters, photographs, and heirlooms, offer a tangible connection to the past. There’s something deeply personal about holding a handwritten note or a cherished family artifact, as these items evoke powerful emotions and memories. They provide a direct link to the person or moment they represent, creating a sense of continuity that can span generations.
However, physical legacies are vulnerable. They can be damaged by fire, water, or time, requiring proper storage to avoid deterioration. Space can also be a concern, as these items need to be stored somewhere safe, which might be costly or difficult to manage. Moreover, physical legacies are limited in accessibility—they can only be appreciated by those who can physically interact with them, restricting their reach to a small circle.
Digital legacies offer incredible accessibility and shareability. Photos, videos, and written content can be easily distributed to loved ones across the globe, ensuring that the legacy reaches a wider audience. Digital content can also be easily preserved and replicated—files can be backed up and stored in multiple locations, reducing the risk of total loss. Additionally, digital legacies are easily searchable, making locating specific memories or information within a vast collection simple. Storage for digital legacies is more cost-effective and less space-consuming, allowing large archives to be maintained relatively easily.
That said, digital legacies are not without their pitfalls. They’re dependent on technology, which is constantly evolving. As formats and storage media change, there’s a risk that older digital content could become obsolete or inaccessible if not properly maintained. There’s also the threat of technological failures—if servers go down, passwords are forgotten, or platforms are discontinued, access to these legacies could be compromised. Security is another concern, as digital content can be vulnerable to hacking, data breaches, or accidental deletion.
Understanding the pros and cons of physical vs. digital legacies, it’s wise to safeguard both. Digitizing physical items creates a backup that can be more easily preserved and shared. This is especially important for protecting against loss due to unforeseen circumstances, like natural disasters or theft. On the flip side, printing or saving digital content in a physical format ensures the legacy endures even if technology fails.
By balancing the strengths of these legacies and taking proactive steps to protect them, we can create a more enduring and accessible legacy that continues to inspire and resonate with future generations.
Now That We’ve Answered “What Is Legacy?” Let’s Talk About How to Leave a Legacy
With a full understanding of what legacy means to you and how it can manifest itself, we can dig into the fun work of thinking about how to leave ours, whether it’s tangible or intangible.
Here Are 7 Steps for Living Your Legacy
1. Get clear on your purpose in life.
Each of us has a unique purpose in life: showing up, being you, and contributing to the world in the way that only you can, at whatever scope and scale feels suitable. Your purpose is about contribution, and your true purpose is using your unique, idiosyncratic gifts in a way that supports your life and the common good.
Purpose is inherently intertwined with legacy. You can’t think about one without considering the other, even if you’re unsure what they mean.
The reality is, every day we’re alive, we’re writing our legacy—how we’ll be remembered after we’re gone, whether that’s a tangible thing we leave behind or how we impact and affect the people and world around us. If we haven’t done the work to uncover our purpose and live in alignment with it, that legacy may not be what we want it to be.
If you’re here to write a book and tell a specific story, but you’ve spent all your time writing copy for other people’s books, articles, and websites, that’s your legacy. Your brilliance and ideas are infused into the works of others, which is beautiful.
But is that solely what you want your legacy to be?
If you’re here to be a parent and raise a family of well-loved, healthily integrated, and purposeful children (whether biological, adopted, or otherwise), but you haven’t made time even to date or look into the adoption process because you’re too busy educating kids at your school and dealing with homework, parent-teacher conferences, and school functions, that’s your legacy. You’re influencing children in different ways, which is incredible work.
But is that solely what you want your legacy to be?
Even when we’re off course in life with regards to our purpose, nothing is lost. We’re still contributing to the world and likely doing so in a somewhat aligned way. Still, it’s also far too easy to spend our entire lives doing things other people want or need us to do, trying to pay the bills, or thinking that “someday” we’ll get around to what we feel called to do.
Someday isn’t real, and it never comes unless we decide to make someday today.
Look, we understand that there are real, tangible obstacles to doing what you feel called to do (especially systemic and social justice issues that make it unsafe for many to live their fullest expression and things like capitalism that make it a struggle to do their work in the world). This isn’t a “rah-rah, just pull yourself up by your bootstraps and hustle harder” conversation. It’s a conversation about moving towards your purpose and who you’re here to be at whatever pace is sustainable for you.
Yes, life can be short, but it can also be long. Legacy and purpose can require many years and life seasons to reveal themselves fully, and that’s okay. Clarifying your purpose is about aligning with the truth of who you are and who you’re here to be.
The clearer you get on this, the more easeful (not necessarily easy) it becomes to start prioritizing your callings and living your true legacy.
2. Understand your values and how they tie into your legacy.
If you don’t know your values, you’ll always be at the mercy of everyone else’s. You’ll always feel wobbly around what’s right and true for you, and you won’t be able to take a firm stance on anything, let alone the things that allow you to live your legacy.
Our values are more than abstract concepts; they’re the core beliefs that drive our behavior and choices. When we align our actions with our values, our legacy becomes a natural extension of who we are. This alignment ensures that your legacy isn’t just a series of achievements or days lived, but a coherent story of how your values shaped your life.
Values also provide a sense of purpose and direction.
They help us focus on what truly matters, even when faced with challenges or distractions. When our legacy is built on our values, it becomes a reflection of our most authentic selves rather than a collection of external accolades or accomplishments. This connection to our values gives our legacy meaning and continuity, making it a powerful testament to the principles we held dear.
If you’re unsure of your values, here are some journal prompts to help uncover them:
Think about moments in your life that were particularly meaningful or impactful. These might be times when you felt proud, fulfilled, or even challenged positively. Ask yourself what underlying values were at play during these experiences.
Consider the people you admire most, whether they’re historical figures, mentors, or personal acquaintances. Reflect on the qualities and principles they embody that you respect and aspire to emulate. Their values can provide clues to your own.
Reflect on your emotional responses to various situations or issues (either recently or in the past). Strong reactions, whether positive or negative, often indicate underlying values. For instance, feeling strongly about environmental issues might reveal a value related to sustainability or stewardship.
Make a list of beliefs and principles that resonate with you. Think about what you stand for and believe is important in life. This list can include broad concepts (like justice or creativity) and specific issues (like equality or innovation). Identify the values most central to your identity from this list. These are the principles that guide your decisions and actions consistently. Rank them based on their significance to you, and focus on the ones that truly define who you are. You can also ask trusted friends, family, or mentors which values sound most like you. This feedback can help refine and clarify your understanding of your core values.
Once you have a clear sense of your core values, it can help to write a statement articulating them and place it somewhere you’ll see it daily. That way, as you dig further into the “what is legacy” question, you can be reminded of what’s important to you. This can serve as a personal guide for decision-making and help ensure that your actions align with the legacy you want to leave, even if you’re not clear what that legacy is yet.
3. Figure out what’s really important to you.
The legacy we leave will center around the people, causes, work, or experiences that matter most to us, so we need to understand what those are in order to leave an aligned legacy.
- Remember the different types of legacies we outlined above?
- Remember how you may leave some combination of them?
- Remember how the question of “What is legacy?” is one only we can answer for ourselves?
When we’re figuring out what’s important to us related to our legacy, it’s about what and who we want to positively affect and influence through our life and work, be it a cause, group of people, the environment, industry, or community, or the social structures and systems of the world.
“Keep a log of those moments, those insights and tears, and you will find a story being told by your intuitive spirit.” –Dr. John Demartini
I love these words because he’s right. But I would also add, “Keep a log of those moments that piss you off and send you into a passionate rant.”
Why? Because along with the moments that make us cry or cause our souls to stir, what makes us angry shows us what we truly care about. Anger is an emotion many people have as a no-go zone, meaning they’re unwilling or unable to let themselves feel it. Certain individuals are especially not “allowed” to be angry because of stereotypes and systemic issues that make it unsafe for them (primarily marginalized communities and people of color).
But there’s so much wisdom in our anger.
Our rage and fury are often deeply divine, pointing to injustices, violations, harm, and suffering that our souls can’t bear and our hearts are unwilling to tolerate. If you want to know what kind of legacy you want to leave (or that you want to center your legacy projects around), you must be willing to look at, feel, and transmute your anger. That means you can’t stuff it down, bypass it, or try to intellectualize what might make you angry—you must feel it fully.
Even better is if you have a safe container with a friend, partner, therapist, coach, or mentor who can hold space for your anger and allow you to not only feel it but express it. Let yourself get worked up (ensuring that you tend to your nervous system so you’re not hurting yourself), and give yourself permission to let that anger flow. Let it come out, even if it’s messy and you feel like you’re not making any sense or just ranting!
In all my years of working with clients, I’ve seen that we’re clearest about what we care about when we passionately express our divine rage.
So, let yourself go there and see what comes up. And once it does, ask yourself (or have your safe person ask you) why, over and over to agitate it even more. At the bottom of everything we’re angry about is a core theme tied to our purpose and legacy.
4. Determine how you want to be remembered after you’re gone.
Beyond what’s important to us and how we want to positively affect and influence through our life and work, it’s also about how we want to be remembered after we’re gone.
Put another way, is our legacy tangible or intangible?
Neither is better or worse; they’re just different forms our legacies can take. Additionally, sometimes it’s one, and other times it’s both. Our existence in this life and this time means we all leave an intangible legacy. The work we do (purpose work or the job we have to pay our bills), our relationships and interactions (direct or indirect), and our lives all have a ripple effect on the world around us—positively or negatively.
Your legacy may be instilling integrity into those around you, helping address environmental issues, and adding joy to the world simply because you lived the life you’re here to live. You always did what you said you would do, and your word was your bond; you recycled and taught your kids to be considerate of animals and ecosystems; or you were always joking with friends, family, coworkers, and strangers alike. The ways these interactions influenced and affected others (along with the people around them and beyond) is your legacy.
Your legacy might also be instilling anger and reactivity in those around you because you never healed your trauma. It could be causing harm to marginalized people because you didn’t realize your privilege and all the places it shows up. Or it could be leaving the earth a little worse for wear because you thought throwing your trash on the road would be easier than taking it down to the dump. Whatever the reasons for these choices, this is your legacy.
We’re living our legacy every day that we’re alive, and how we show up matters greatly.
This is why it’s important to understand our values and how we want to be remembered, then look honestly at ourselves, our behaviors, our work, and our actions to see if we’re in alignment with these.
Even if that intangible legacy isn’t pretty initially, that’s okay!
Don’t beat yourself up.
This is just insight and information that shows you what you need to do differently to live the legacy you want to leave behind every day.
Beyond the inherent intangible legacy you’re automatically leaving by being alive, is there a tangible legacy you want to leave?
It’s okay if the answer is no!
Some people are here to be and do, and others are here to create. Neither is better or worse because it’s all meaningful. But when answering what is legacy and how do I want to leave mine, it’s important to know if you want to leave something tangible behind and what that might be.
If you’re unsure what those tangible legacies are, head back to the Death Bed and One Year to Live exercises and see what comes up. Let these be the basis for where you start defining and living your legacy and building out the projects that are important to you.
5. Put a plan in place to start living or building your legacy projects.
Once you’re clear on your purpose, values, what you care about, and how you want to be remembered after you’re gone, it’s time to get into the fun part of building your legacy project!
First, get clear on your vision—whatever it is today.
You don’t have to have the full vision to get started; having a sense of what you want to create is enough. Think about the impact you want to have and the change you want to be a part of in the world, letting your vision be broad and aspirational, serving as the North Star for your project.
Consider the following to start:
- Who will benefit from this project?
- What long-term impact do I want to achieve?
- How does this fit into the broader picture of my life and legacy?
- What format or medium feels right for this project?
- What type of legacy will this project leave?
Second, define your initial goals for your legacy project.
Break down your vision into specific, actionable goals that will help you start moving forward (knowing full well these might change as you get into motion). For example, if your legacy project is to establish a scholarship fund, your goals might include raising a certain amount of money within a specific timeframe, partnering with schools or organizations to identify recipients, and developing criteria for selecting scholarship winners.
The best way to come up with your steps is to set a starting goal and reverse-engineer what needs to happen, like so:
Third, consider the resources you have available and what else you may need.
Don’t let this overwhelm or stop you! It’s simply an audit of what you have and the people and things you might need to find. Even if you need a lot more money than you have, that’s okay because now you know! Now you have a goal to work toward financially, a number you can take to banks or family for a potential loan, and a financial plan broken down that allows you to seek out more cost-effective alternatives where possible.
Consider things like:
- What financial resources do I need?
- What skills or expertise do I need to develop, acquire, or hire?
- Who can I collaborate with or seek advice from?
- What tools or technology will I need?
- How much time will I need each day, week, or month?
- How will I make this time or find these resources?
Fourth, create your detailed starter plan.
This plan should outline the steps you need to take to achieve your initial goal, but it doesn’t have to be super detailed. If it can include the following, great! You have clarity, and that’s wonderful. If it can’t include all the following because you’re still trying to figure it out, that’s okay. Pick one thing to focus on at a time and allow the vision to unfold even more as you move forward.
Your start plan may include:
- What’s your timeline (including any milestones and deadlines)?
- What’s a budget that accounts for all expenses?
- What are all the tasks involved and who will be responsible for each one?
- What are your contingency plans for potential challenges or setbacks?
- What check-ins do you need along the way (to stay in motion or adjust as needed)?
On a basic level, you need a vision and a first step, which might be setting time aside in your schedule to work through all the steps here!
6. Keep your legacy at the top of your mind every day.
Keeping your legacy and legacy projects in mind daily will help you make decisions and choices that further align you with them. When you know what’s important to you, and it’s in your face in a way that inspires and motivates you, you’re more likely to move it forward.
There are many ways to do this, but some of our favorites include:
Post-its. Simple, easy, and effective! Take post-its, write a word or phrase that reminds you what it means to live your legacy on each, and stick them around the house. You can put them in your car, at your desk, and on your bathroom mirror, wherever you’re sure to see them and be reminded of what’s important.
Vision board. These boards are a powerful visual reminder of your legacy vision, keeping your goals, values, and aspirations front and center in your daily life. By surrounding yourself with images, quotes, and symbols that represent the impact you want to leave behind, a vision board helps you stay focused on what truly matters and helps you anchor into the energy of living it.
It’s a daily source of inspiration and motivation, guiding your decisions and actions in alignment with your long-term vision. Each time you glance at your vision board, you’re reminded of the bigger picture, helping you navigate challenges and stay committed to the legacy you’re building.
Daily reflection. This might look like journaling in the morning or meditating quietly in nature, but the purpose is the same: reflect on your legacy intentions and projects with deep reverence and focus, anchoring into the vision of what you want to create and leave behind. This might also look like daily check-ins to reflect on your progress, answering questions such as:
Did my actions move me closer to my long-term goals today? How did I embody my values in my interactions and decisions? What can I improve tomorrow to better align with my legacy? Regular reflection keeps your legacy front and center, helping you stay on track and make necessary adjustments.
Legacy-focused community. Surrounding ourselves with like-minded people who are also asking and answering, “What is legacy?”, purpose-driven mentors, and others working to build their legacy projects helps us stay focused and feel supported. Regular conversations and interactions with these people can provide encouragement, accountability, and fresh perspectives, keeping your legacy at the forefront.
Incorporate legacy into routine activities. Look for ways to incorporate your legacy into everyday activities. For example, if your legacy involves education, you might mentor someone at work or volunteer in your community. If it’s about creativity, you might dedicate daily time to a personal project. Weaving your legacy into your routine makes it a natural part of your life rather than an afterthought.
Share your legacy vision with others. Talking about your legacy with others can help reinforce your commitment to it. Share your vision with trusted friends, family, or colleagues who can provide support, feedback, and accountability, or dig into the “what is legacy” question together, sharing insights and ideas. Trusted is a key phrase here, as you don’t want to share your legacy vision or projects with people who will make you doubt yourself, treat your ideas like they’re stupid, or try to influence your goals selfishly.
By integrating these practices into your daily life, you can keep your legacy top of mind and ensure that each day, you’re taking steps toward building the impact you want to leave behind. Your legacy becomes not just an end goal but a guiding force in how you live your days.
7. Don’t be afraid to let your legacy projects evolve as you do.
Legacy projects are a version of our purpose expression, and how our purpose expresses itself changes based on how life shapes us and the times we live in. That means we’re always evolving as time goes on, and that evolution should also extend to our legacy projects.
Many of the conversations we have in our company are an evolution of the work I’ve been doing since 2010. This body of work has evolved as I evolved, changing in form, language, ideas, and focal points. It’s gotten richer, wider, and deeper, and there have been many iterations of the signature processes we use to help our clients and program members.
What you set your sights on for your legacy project today may evolve into something completely unexpected as years pass and you live more life. There might be some global shifts that haven’t happened yet that will completely alter you and your legacy project’s trajectory in a way you could never see coming, but that will allow it to have an even more meaningful impact than it could have without those experiences.
The best thing you can do is allow this evolution to happen!
This requires patience, surrender, and an open mind. You might spend the next couple of years creating an album, writing a book, or building a company, only to find yourself pivoting massively after encountering certain experiences or relationships. This can be frustrating and confusing after you’ve poured your heart and soul into something.
I get it because I tossed 20,000 words of my memoir (written over four years) to make it the book it is now. It was 100% worth it.
That book is a legacy project that I’m proud to have out in the world. It’s touched the lives of so many sweet souls healing after challenging chapters and big life transitions, making the most difficult season of my life meaningful in ways that will ripple forward beyond what I can comprehend. I also couldn’t have written the final draft without going through the process of writing those first 20,000 words that got cut.
Nothing is lost or wasted—ever.
Creating your legacy and launching meaningful legacy projects is a process. Give yourself permission to grow and evolve your legacy projects right alongside you.
5 Tools to Help You Leave a Legacy
When asking, “What is legacy?” it can help to have a toolbox that supports answering this question for yourself and your life.
Here are five tools we recommend!
1. Repatterning work and understanding your subconscious winning strategy.
It’s hard to live our legacy when we’re held back by our subconscious winning strategies because they effectively shape the way we experience the world, what we listen or watch for in every situation, how we’re most likely to act in response, and what we seek to feel or avoid so we can be sure we’re “winning” at the game of life to some acceptable degree.
You’re never fully in control of your life if you haven’t addressed this. You think you’re making conscious choices, but you’re actually being run by your subconscious mind, which is rooted entirely in past experiences (along with core wounds, traumas, and fears).
This means that your answer to the “what is legacy to me” question will be skewed.
It will be based on systemic conditioning, fear of losing safety, security, success, love, or belonging, or on what your subconscious believes is possible. We have to understand our winning strategy so we can start stepping outside of it and moving freely.
Our winning strategy is made up of four parts:
- What we “listen” for.
- The actions we most commonly take.
- The feelings we work to produce to know we’ve “won.”
- And the emotions we avoid (our core wounding).
I find it easiest to work backward from the core wound. When you know what you’re most afraid of feeling (being unlovable, for example), then you can fairly quickly pinpoint what you work to feel instead (chosen, irreplaceable, special, or unique). And once you know what you work to feel, you can become more aware of the types of actions you can take to produce those feelings (such as always being what other people want or need, overworking, coming up with the best ideas, etc.). Finally, once you know the most common ways you act to produce those “winning” feelings, what you “listen for” becomes more apparent.
Now, what we listen for isn’t always listening in conversation. It can be feeling the energy of a situation, trying to read or anticipate the other person, etc. But essentially, we’re always listening for how to act to produce certain feelings of success and avoid feeling our core wounds. This is our winning strategy, and it’s baked into everything we do! So, to get a true answer to the question of “What is legacy to me?” you must be free from this programming.
2. Processing work and somatic healing.
Repatterning our subconscious leads to greater freedom and leverage to figure out our purpose in life and the legacy we want to leave behind. However, past traumas, unresolved grief, and unprocessed emotions can still easily derail us. That’s because these experiences and feelings get stored in our cells when we avoid, bypass, stuff, or refuse to feel them.
So, even if you repattern your subconscious and step out of your winning strategy, your body and nervous system can still be reactive, go into freeze, or get easily triggered.
Process work and somatic healing focus on clearing traumas, grief, stored memories, and stuck emotions on a cellular level. We’re not only rewiring our minds, thought processes, patterns, ways of being, and beliefs about what’s possible; we’re pulling these old issues out by the root.
Everyone has trauma! Sometimes, it’s “big T” events that shatter our sense of self and safety, and other times, it’s “little T” experiences, like having the most loving parents in the world who still managed to not understand our personality and needs in crucial ways. The big and little are simply categorizations of a similar effect on the body and nervous system.
Even if you’re certain you don’t have trauma, you likely do. That doesn’t mean that you have to seek it out before you can answer, “What is legacy for me?” It means that when you self-sabotage despite reprogramming, go into freeze mode over simple tasks, and have big emotional reactions that are disproportionate to what’s happening, it can be helpful to get support.
Many people who talk about goal setting and other achievement-oriented conversations (including finding your purpose in life and creating your legacy) can lean into the “mind over matter” idea at times when it’s actually irrelevant.
There’s no “mind over matter” when it comes to trauma or unprocessed emotions! It’s matter over mind because your animal body, with its incredible nervous system, is easily triggered into believing the past trauma is happening now.
Triggering old traumas (whether “big T” or “little T”) blurs the lines between time, and that requires certain work to heal from. Work that’s more than intellectual and gets into the cells, nervous system, and physical being to create more space and leverage.
3. Work with a trusted mentor who can support and guide your legacy journey.
Mentorship helps us collapse time because we’re not spinning our wheels trying to learn everything ourselves, nor are we getting hung up in our subconscious winning strategy, fears, or past traumas, because there’s someone there to help guide us through.
Can you do it alone?
Absolutely! And, technically… no.
The “technically no” just means that we as humans never truly do anything alone. If you’re learning yourself, you may be reading articles (like this!), books, taking programs, watching YouTube videos, or even just buying supplies from a person or store. We can’t live and exist in this world without other people, so stay receptive to all the ways support shows up.
All that said, it’s up to you to discern if, when, and in what ways you need mentorship—if at all.
If you’re feeling frozen, overwhelmed, spiraling in anxiety or core wound stories, in need of clarity, or simply don’t want to do the work alone, then mentorship can be extremely helpful.
Mentorship is different from coaching because mentors have walked a similar path themselves. They can provide insights that you might not have considered, helping you avoid common pitfalls and make more informed decisions. They can also offer encouragement and support, helping you stay focused on your goals and reminding you of the bigger picture.
The important thing to remember is that no matter how experienced your mentor is, they should support you in discerning what’s most aligned with you and your legacy. No one ever knows better than you, and no one is allowed to tell you what to do or how to do it. They should facilitate a process and hold a container that supports you in taking the best steps.
Trust your intuition when seeking a mentor!
4. Financial and legacy planning tools and service providers.
Working with a financial or legacy planning service provider is essential to ensure your legacy is protected and effectively shared with future generations.
These professionals offer expertise in navigating the complexities of wealth management, estate planning, and the legal structures needed to safeguard your assets and intentions. For instance, a financial planner can help you develop a strategy to grow and preserve your wealth, ensuring the resources you want to pass on are secure. They can also advise on tax-efficient ways to distribute your assets, minimizing potential burdens on your heirs.
On the other hand, an estate planning attorney can guide you through creating a will, setting up trusts, and establishing powers of attorney, which are crucial for ensuring that your wishes are recognized and carried out. If your legacy includes philanthropic goals, such as funding scholarships or supporting charities, a philanthropic advisor can help you structure these contributions to maximize their impact while aligning with your values.
These professionals bring technical knowledge and a holistic understanding of how to weave your personal values and goals into a comprehensive legacy plan.
By consulting with experts like financial planners, estate attorneys, tax advisors, and philanthropic consultants, you can create a clear plan that ensures your legacy is protected and shared in a way that truly reflects your life’s work and passions. This approach provides peace of mind, knowing that your legacy will continue to make a difference long after you’re gone.
5. Content creation tools for legacy projects.
Regardless of the focus of your legacy project, you’ll want to use a certain medium, house it in a certain way, and share a certain story. This requires the right tools, though those tools are different for each type of project.
Some of the following suggestions are affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission for sending your business there. This doesn’t impact what you pay, and you’re welcome to do a Google search if you’d rather not use our links!
If your project is written, tools that will support you may include:
- Writing Software: Tools like Scrivener help organize and write long-form content, making it easier to structure a memoir or autobiography. You can also use Microsoft Word, Pages (on Apple products), and Google Docs to save money. You may also want to use grammar and style checkers like Grammarly to improve the clarity and readability of your writing.
- Research Tools: Evernote, Notion, Bear, and other note-taking applications are great for gathering and organizing research, notes, and references. You can also use post-its on the wall, notecards in a box, or a whiteboard—whatever works best for you!
- Digital Publishing Platforms: Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or Blurb can be used to publish and distribute the finished book. There are many options that can work for self-distribution as well, but we recommend KDP if you want it to be discoverable.
If your project is video, tools that will support you may include:
- Video Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro are excellent for editing and producing high-quality videos; however, they can be more expensive since they’re designed for professional use. If you have a lower budget or don’t want to learn a whole new skill set, you can look into Canva’s video editing or ScreenFlow.
- Cameras and Recording Equipment: High-quality cameras like Canon or Sony and audio recording devices like Rode microphones ensure professional-grade footage and sound. If professional equipment is too pricey, you can also use your phone camera with a lavalier or phone-specific microphone!
- Scriptwriting Software: Final Draft or Celtx help write and format scripts for documentaries. Again, you can use Microsoft Word, Pages (on Apple products), and Google Docs to save money on other necessary investments!
- Animation and Motion Graphics: After Effects or Blender are useful for creating animations and motion graphics that enhance storytelling. Canva can also be a good tool for simple video animations like intros/outros and transitions.
If your project is a brand, website, or blog, tools that will support you may include:
- Website Builders: WordPress is our recommended platform because it’s more versatile and allows for greater adaptability as you grow and expand. There’s also Wix, Squarespace, and other accessible builders that allow you to create a custom website to showcase your legacy project. That said, we don’t recommend platforms designed for funnels and course creation like Kajabi because they’re not as well structured for discoverability online (think showing up in search results).
- Graphic Design Tools: Canva or Adobe products are essential for creating visuals, infographics, and promotional materials. If you have more experience, bandwidth, and budget to work with Adobe products, they do have more flexibility, but Canva is a great tool if you’re looking for accessible pricing, ease of use, and free templates.
If your project is a podcast or audio-based, tools that will support you may include:
- Audio Editing Software: The most important part of editing audio is ensuring that it’s not distorted and the levels are even (especially between multiple people) and mastered (so that it’s not way louder or quieter than other shows or audios). We use Adobe Audition for this, but you can use free tools like Audacity and GarageBand.
- Podcast Hosting Platforms: We recommend BluBrry for podcast hosting because it allows you to publish your podcast as a blog on a website and distribute episodes to major streaming services like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The most accessible podcasting platform right now is likely Substack because it’s free (they only take a small percentage of paid subscriptions if you choose to have those).
- Recording Equipment: For the best sound, we recommend the Shure MV7X microphone, which we use for our shows. We also recommend the Audio-Technica AT2005USB or the Blue Yeti for a lower price tag. Outside of that, you need a quality camera and lighting to ensure quality video if you’re also sharing episodes on YouTube. The Razer Kiyo is a great entry-level camera with a built-in ring light.
- Recording Tools: While Zoom is an easy and accessible tool for many, if your budget allows, we recommend Riverside.fm for audio and video quality and built-in upload backups in case any interviews experience an internet interruption.
If your project is different from those listed here, ask people doing similar work for their recommendations and suggestions! There are plenty of tools available for all projects and technical experience levels. Plus, there are free resources for learning new software, tips, and tricks on YouTube do a quick search.
Legacy Examples to Inspire You While Creating Yours
Despite everything included in this guide, you might still ask yourself, “What is legacy?!” from the frustrated lens of, “What can it look like, and how do I want to craft mine?”
First, I want to share some of our own legacy projects to inspire you with what’s possible.
Books: I’ve published several books (two daily tips books, my memoir, and three short books, each with a specific topic). These are tangible and digitally available works designed with legacy in mind. Books are also a super accessible way to share your work with others and to leave works behind that can positively affect the minds and hearts of people who need them for generations.
Programs: Our current programs have evolved from in-person workshops, speaking, one-on-one coaching, and our personal journeys over the years. They take concepts we’ve been working with for some time and place them together in an organized process supporting hundreds of people globally. They’re one of our favorite legacy projects because they continue to evolve, and they make the work and important conversations actionable for people who need them. We’re also working to turn our signature programs into workbooks for accessibility!
Podcasts: We currently host Tales from the Journey™ and Make it Inevitable™. Each has its focus and intention, and have included some pretty incredible guests over the years. Podcasts are an excellent legacy project, especially if you love to speak or want to include different stories, perspectives, experiences, and insights from other people. They can be easy to produce and will live on long after you’re gone, even if the media files disappear from the internet, because the people who listened to your episodes will be carrying those messages forward for years in their thinking, beliefs, ways of being, work, and relationships.
Thought Leadership Posts: Our library has been intentionally designed to be a wealth of resources that redefine industry standards, help people find and live their purpose, and support creating and launching different legacy projects (which we call “Channels for Change” in our agency). This guide is one in a collection of thought leadership posts that we’ve been carefully crafting. They’re a culmination of years of content creation, conversations, mentorship, and more, and they allow others to really sit with and dig deep into these concepts.
Video Series: Over the years, I’ve created many teaching series, had a vlog, and created different trainings, workshops, and masterclasses in video form. These live on YouTube, in our programs, and possibly even on the hard drives of members!
Outside of our projects, here are some additional legacy examples:
Foundations: Some great examples of legacy foundations include the Dr. Maya Angelou Foundation, Oprah Winfrey Foundation, and Magic Johnson Foundation, all designed to uplift marginalized communities. Through education, social justice, economic empowerment, and cultural preservation, these organizations continue to make significant contributions that create opportunities for future generations.
Movements: The Civil Rights Movement in the United States, led by figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and John Lewis, is a legacy project that fundamentally changed the country. The movement’s legacy is evident in the progress made toward racial equality, the legal protections established, and the ongoing fight for civil rights and social justice.
Awards: The Nobel Prize is a great reference point of awards as a legacy, as it helps catalyze outstanding achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and culture globally.
Conferences: While many great conferences are happening around the world, TED Talks is a perfect legacy example. They cover various topics, from science and technology to art and social issues, and have inspired millions worldwide.
Social Entrepreneurship: Companies like TOMS Shoes, Pencils of Promise, and Charity: Water are beautiful legacy projects that directly impact the lives of communities in need, allowing for more thriving in their lineages over generations.
Digital Resources: Wikipedia is a great example of this, as are free tools like the Wayback Machine for archiving the internet. Both represent the power of collective effort and open access to information in the digital age.
We hope this demonstrates how a legacy can manifest into projects, visions, and tangible works supporting specific causes and communities. When seeking your own answer and definition to the question of what is legacy to me, remember that it can look however you want it to! There are many legacy examples, but you don’t have to follow any of them.
You’re free to create a legacy that’s 100% your own.
It’s Never Too Late to Create a Legacy
Remember, you’re living your legacy every day that you’re alive, so trust that you’ve already started creating a meaningful and important legacy. Even if your life up until now hasn’t been what you wanted it to be (or you haven’t been who you know in your heart you can be), there’s still good in your legacy. You’ve still positively affected people around you—some that you likely don’t even know were being inspired by you.
Even with the worst things we’ve done, there can be good that comes from those experiences—for ourselves and the others involved—and it’s never too late to turn things around.
No matter your age, today is a great day to begin answering, “What is legacy to me?”
Whether you have decades or days remaining, you still have time to create a legacy project. That might look like careful planning and execution over time or simply sitting with your loved ones and sharing stories from your life (just between you and them, or recorded on audio or video for extended family to hold onto over time).
Don’t be afraid to be messy, simple, or random in your approach to starting a legacy project, either! A half-written poem, an unfinished draft of a book, poorly lit video clips, or a bunch of random audio memos are better than nothing at all! Save the sketches and the scribbles on napkins that have meaning to you because I promise they’ll have meaning in ways you can’t yet imagine. Either by influencing your work as you further develop it or inspiring someone who discovers it after you’re gone.
It’s also never too late to change your tune, shift your way of being, or make reparations for things you’ve done to harm others (consciously or not). Write a letter, send a text, or make the phone call. Donate to a cause that will offset your past actions. Do right by someone else. Practice kindness, compassion, and care. Learn about your effects on the environment and other people. Give back. Show up. Speak your truth.
Whatever your legacy looks like, it’s meaningful.
We hope you’ll pursue it.
So, What Is Legacy to You?
How do you define legacy for yourself, and what steps will you take today to start living yours more intentionally? Does it mean creating a tangible legacy project, or is it more about your way of being in the world and ensuring that you’re living your purpose full out?
The thing about purpose and legacy is that there are no wrong answers (unless you’re working to cause harm to people, the planet, or animals!)
There are many layers to this question, such as:
- What is legacy to you, and will you take the time to find yours?
- What is legacy to you, and will yours be intangible and tangible?
- What is legacy to you, and what type of legacy (or legacies) will it be?
- What is legacy to you, and what support do you need to start living it?
- What is legacy to you, and does it involve a legacy project?
- What is legacy to you, and how do you want to be remembered?
If you’re ready to live your legacy, we’d love to support you.
In fact, we have an entire program specifically designed to help you align, activate your purpose, and begin living your fullest expression, building out your legacy projects in the process.
Actualize is for you if you’re:
- Feeling ready to live in alignment with your true self and purpose by addressing your deeper blocks, healing your core wounds, and repatterning your subconscious.
- Unsure how to activate your purpose (which has been dormant for years) and create a life of contribution and meaningful work.
- Ready to step into a new way of being, learn how to reconfigure the world around you, and build your legacy project.
- Have a legacy project that you’d like to map out, create, and launch in a way that reaches the people you most want to help.
