Legacy, Last Will & Testament
Personal Growth Plan Memoirs, Bequests, Gifts, Values to Family
The seventh and final stage of a personal growth plan is legacy, that which is left behind.
The final stage in a Seven Stage Personal Growth Plan is Legacy. During this stage a person builds a legacy to be left behind at death. Vision and purpose are clear and are reflected in daily life. Conscious effort is devoted to legacy development and clarification. During this stage one often prepares a material legacy to be left to family and friends. This is also a time to solidify the non-material legacy, perhaps with memoirs, private letters to loved ones, or published books and articles.
The reader may want to refer to A Seven Stage Personal Growth Plan for descriptions of the six previous stages.
Legacy: More than a Bequest
The dictionary definition of legacy is derived from law: legacy is a gift or bequest of personal property granted through a person's last will and testament. The Legacy stage of personal growth and development may include material bequests, but is much, much more.
It might be said that everyone leaves a legacy at death. The question one might ask is this: "If I die today, for what qualities and contributions will I be remembered?" This is the true legacy: what is left behind after physical presence has passed.
Personal Development Characteristics
This personal growth and development plan describes seven discreet stages: Healing, Foundation, Maturity, Expansion, Values and Strengths, Fulfillment, and Legacy. One must remember, though, that human development is not generally a linear process of growing stage by stage. This linear model tends to hold true when life is viewed from the perspective of time and distance, but growth actually moves erratically back and forth between stages.
Still, it is useful to utilize a linear model for discussion and planning.
Legacy of Public Figures
Examining the legacies of well known people might be helpful. When thinking of Mother Teresa, one would probably associate a legacy of dignity and helpfulness to the less fortunate. Martin Luther King's public legacy is likely civil rights - "I have a dream." Abraham Lincoln is known for humility and honesty, Mahatma Gandhi for peaceful revolution, and Harry S. Truman for decisiveness.
People with a public presence leave a legacy based on their public persona. This may differ greatly from the legacy left to those who know them well, as is sometimes revealed by books and articles from family members: unflattering biographies of Bing Crosby (by son Gary) and Joan Crawford (by daughter Cindy) for example.
Legacy Varies with Relationships
The legacy a person leaves behind may vary based on the roles and relationships in each life. Family members, co-workers, employees, friends, and neighbors may each perceive a different persona.
Keep the Destination in Mind
In any journey, it is helpful to have the destination clearly in mind. The journey of a human lifetime is no different. A discussion of legacy might seem morbid and depressing to some; however, the cycle of life and death is a certainty, so it behooves the young as well as seniors to plan accordingly.
How might a person takes steps to assure that end-of-life can be faced with acceptance and satisfaction, rather than regret, being proud of what is left behind? By living as if each day is a final day and planning a legacy of which one can be proud.
One approach is to visualize the eulogies presented during one's own funeral. A less morbid approach for the person eager to leave a valuable legacy to others might be to reflect on one's values and life purpose. If life is lived based on one's values and purpose, these will be the legacy for all life's relationships.
Related Article: Five Secrets You Must Discover
