Are You Making Your Ancestors Proud?
Embracing Legacy and Living with Purpose
Success is only about achievements within the span of our own lives. This narrow perspective overlooks sacrifices made by previous generations. It also neglects the impact on future ones. True success lies in honoring the hard-earned legacy of those who came before us. And setting up a better path for the ones to come.
Say you come from a long line of well-respected Doctors. Does this mean that you should be a doctor too? Of course not. It means that you should carry that legacy of integrity into whatever you do. Come from very humble folk that worked hard to give you better opportunities? Don't let entitlement get to your head. Despite better opportunities, carry that humility into the way you treat others.
Now, what if you carry a negative legacy? Are you obligated to keep it going? Quite the opposite. Carrying a negative legacy gives you the chance to break it, and build one you can be proud of. What if your parents and grandparents dealt with a lot of health issues? As a result of never taking care of themselves. Be the one that passes on better health habits to your kids, nephews, grandkids and further on.
It's about being a figure who breaks long-lasting burdens and plants seeds for a better future. This allows your children to have more strength, meaning, and virtue.
Take on the challenge of becoming a person your ancestors would admire. And a person that your descendants will thank. For that, take a sheet of paper and divide it into 3 columns:
Understand the past: Reflect on the sacrifices of your ancestors. Write which positive values you inherited from them. Also write down which negative values and patterns you’ve noticed and that you don’t want to carry on.
Transform the Present: Write down ways to apply the positive values passed down to you. Also write down ways you can break the negative values passed down to you.
Secure the Future: Write down a NEW positive value or habit that you could pass down to your descendants. One that could leave a great legacy for them to remember you by.
Success isn't just a fleeting moment but a lasting echo across time.
perfect timing! I was just having this conversation with myself last night. Fantastic writing.