What does our life say about us? We look into what a personal legacy is, the parts of our life that make it up, and why it's worth starting to shape one we’re proud of.
Every so often, in quiet moments of contemplation, we might find ourselves wondering what traces of our identity will be left behind when we die and how we’ll be remembered. Beyond money and all the material stuff we’ve collected over time, our own personal story speaks to our achievements and the impact we’ve had on others during our lives – otherwise known as our personal legacy.
Quite frankly, it can be strange thinking about how others perceive you. Sometimes it’s valuable to accept the limited control we have over those perceptions, while also making the most of the chances we have to lead a good life. When it comes to leaving a personal legacy that we’re proud of, where do we begin?
Success looks and feels different for everyone, so there’s no one size that fits all when it comes to our achievements. Our accomplishments can be any number of professional, personal and educational goals that enrich us as individuals. These achievements serve as living proof of what we’ve overcome and achieved in our own lives, in our own ways.
Your personal achievements might look like:
Going back to school
Raising your own family
Starting a community book club
Taking a risk in a new industry
Leading others in a team
Creating your own business
Travelling the world
Big or small, a personal achievement can have a positive impact on your own well-being and journey in life. This can influence the way you and others see yourself, creating a lasting personal legacy.
It’s become natural to share so much of our lives online as a way to express ourselves and connect with others. Plus, it can also be really fun. As common as social media is, we rarely think about what happens with our digital legacy when we’re no longer around.
Your digital legacy might include:
Emails
Online conversations
Social media profiles
Photos
Gaming profiles
Blogs or websites
It’s safe to say that most of us at some point have shared something that our future selves mightn’t be super impressed by. Whether you want to save yourself from embarrassment (yes, it can still haunt you) or protect your reputation, it’s worth deciding who will control your digital legacy by writing it into your Will.
At the end of the day, your personal legacy is shaped by the people who know you and how you’ve inspired or helped them. We’re not saying you need to change the whole world, but positively impacting your own world can make a big difference in how you’re remembered. Understanding your social responsibility to act kindly and generously can help shape your personal legacy.
You might positively impact others by:
Making charitable donations
Sharing your time, expertise and talent
Volunteering for nonprofit organisations
Cleaning up litter
Donating blood
Spending quality time with people
Writing your Will is one of the simplest ways to positively help others and shape your personal legacy. When you’re not around anymore, your Will can communicate your wishes and help leave a charitable contribution to any organisation you’d like to support.
Give back with Safewill
By partnering with charities around Australia, our services have helped make leaving charitable gifts in your Will easy. Help shape your personal legacy and get started with Safewill today.