I recently led a book club focused on longevity that included the discussion question:
What legacy do you want to leave behind for future generations?
I was curious how the topic of legacy - what we leave behind after we’re gone - would be interpreted by members of our small group. No one enthusiastically leaned into this concept. We all seemed to feel it was mostly a luxury for the rich and famous to obsess over.
Ultimately, we all seemed to agree that it can be an unwelcome concept swaddled in a weighted blanket of unwanted pressure (totally my description 😃).
For the average person in their 20s, 30s, and 40s the focus seems to be on building and maintaining a life for yourself or for you and your family (if you decide to form one) that includes acquiring necessities and successfully navigating the daily ins and outs - setting up a home, making sure there’s enough food and clothing for all concerned, ensuring that everyone is safe, setting aside a little money and time for fun and recreation (when there’s a surplus), and making sure your kids (if you decide to have them) receive a solid education, resources, and the basics to reproduce the same.
What say you? Do you think the majority have enough interest, time, emotional and mental bandwidth, and resources to even consider leaving a legacy?
The concept of legacy is certainly not new, it’s a fundamental aspect of being human, but there seems to be a heightened focus in recent years. I was curious about why.
It seems to be a complex combo of psychological, societal and cultural factors.
Post-pandemic, there’s a heightened awareness of mortality after grappling with life and death in a more up close and personal way. This makes sense.
There also seems to be a deeper search for meaning; living in a time of rapid change, social upheaval, and lack of real stability people seek ways to create meaning and a lasting impact. This makes sense, too.
Generationally, as people move closer to retirement or midlife, they start reflecting on how they’ve influenced family and perhaps society. This also makes sense.
Popular culture and social media have also had a huge influence. We’re bombarded with messages that include questions like “what kind of footprint will you leave?,” “how will you make your mark?,” and “what are you doing to change the world? This totally makes sense.
For many, the obsession with leaving a legacy is motivated by a fear of being forgotten, thus the need to contribute tangibly through various forms of media, buildings, businesses, etc. and intangibly through influence, traditions, and values. And, there’s also the quest for meaning, and the need to be remembered by loved ones over generations.
Focusing on legacy can be healthy.
If you’re motivated to live with purpose, connection, and truly make it about others and not just you, adopting a more balanced approach that is rooted in what you value and your actions in the present, it can absolutely be healthy.
Can focusing on legacy be unhealthy?
Of course. Balance is key, and anything approached in an obsessive and unbalanced way can be unhealthy.
A preoccupation with feeling like you’re not doing enough can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, burnout or even depression.
It can also lead to an unhealthy focus on the future, sacrificing enjoying the present moment in exchange for an uncertain future reward.
And, it can become ego-driven where the pursuit is recognition and fame, and comparing oneself to others instead of making a real and authentic impact.
As a lean-into-the-present-moment kind of BEing, legacy just isn’t on my radar.
I’m curious if I’m not interested in leaving a legacy because I chose not to have children, or if I chose not to have children because I’ve never been interested in leaving a legacy? I made a decision not to have children as early as eight years old, so I wonder.
After much exploration and experimentation, I now opt to focus on the concept of “completion,” which was also discussed and introduced in this book club (I’ll dissect this in a future post).
For me, “completion” is kind of like legacy’s first cousin. I’ve transitioned from building things solely for myself to contributing in ways that benefit others and serve the highest good, but without overestimating my significance or nurturing grandiose thoughts of changing the world.
The majority of people don’t seem to be interested in, passionate about, or have the resources, recognition or power to take on this enormous challenge.
I’ve always gravitated towards a more micro view. One where I lean into the individual, how to create meaning one person at a time, even one small group at a time, making a loving impact on my community, and connecting and caring for nature and the environment close to home.
I’m content with makin ripples - known and unknown - in the pond. I’ll leave the legacy building to the macro leaning, big hitters, with fat pockets, a broader vision, and a desire to create rogue waves in the ocean!
Does thinking about your legacy inspire you, or does it feel like a burden? Why? Share your thoughts about legacy and where you stand —share a comment or message me below!