070 | Transcending Legacy
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070 | Transcending Legacy
July 12, 2021
Minute of Transparency: Passing the Baton
Today's Topic: Transcending Legacy
In this episode:
Legacy schmegacy...
Looking backward - Looking forward
Living your legacy today
// 1. LEGACY SCHMEGACY
So what is a legacy anyway?
We already touched on it briefly in the MOT - where I defined it as the good and bad things we've done - and the impact of those things on our kids, and those following us.
Dictionary.com defines legacy as:
A gift of property, especially personal property, as money, by will; a bequest
Anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor
So interestingly enough - your legacy can be physical, or material. You can hand down property, money, and physical things to the next generation.
But that isn't what this episode is about. We're more interested in the second definition - things that are handed down from the past, from an ancestor, predecessor, or in this case parent...
And not physical things like money or property - the intangible things like morals, values, ideals, life strategies, world views etc.
Things that make you a better person in the future - not just a wealthier person in the future.
So how important is legacy?
Well, superficially it seems important. I mean, when I talk about a parent handing down good morals and values to the next generation - that sounds important right?
But the deeper you get into understanding legacy the more important it becomes. You start to realize how legacy is baked into us as humans - that it is at the core of who we are.
I came across a website in my research this week called legacyproject.org: A grass roots research and innovation organization founded in 2000:
And when you arrive at the website, the first thing you see is this statement: "EMPOWERING GENERATIONS to connect the dots and create a bigger 7-Generation story of change for the wellbeing of lives, communities and the planet."
Interesting right?
As I read more about the organization I learned there are two major themes:
Legacy3 - Legacy cubed
Meaning - in order to leave a legacy - you need these three elements:
Connect: Be willing to connect with other generations
Create: Be willing to create a life plan, and engage in legacy projects
Change: Be willing to change yourself and your community
7-Generations
The idea that there are over 7 Billion people living on Earth today
And that at any given point in time there are around 7 generations represented
Your generation, three before and three after
Quote: "The Legacy Project's 7-Generation work draws on an Indigenous concept of long-term thinking across seven generations while at the same time reflects the modern context of a historic demographic shift to more living generations. For the first time ever, you are likely to personally know seven generations in your family and/or community: your own generation; three before you (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents); and three after you (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren). There is comfort, insight, and power in this ability to connect more generations than ever before."
Founder: Susan Bozac explains it well in an 18 minute Ted Talk if you're interested in a deeper dive on this concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYJg7zuEhQw
In the talk she explains that if we want to change the world, to become a 7-Generation world, we need two things:
Generations (external): The ability to connect with those before us, and those after us
Legacy (internal): The ability to hold onto the bigger things, actively owning what really matters and deciding in advance the best thing for the world moving forward
She used an interesting word a few times - the word was "McMoment"
The idea that we're living in a "McMoment" world where all we care about is what's right in front of us
She called it a disconnected present - living without the influence of the past, or an understanding of our future
Update to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Found wanting in that legacy is viewed as fringe - only for those who have it all figured out
More of an ecology: LIVE, LOVE, LEARN, LEGACY
None higher than the other - each important at any given time
7-Generation concept came from science:
A small tree has a hard time growing in the middle of a field
But plant it close to a large tree - and it grows faster and more heartily than away from the large tree
Interesting illustration - that a child benefits from the legacy of older generations
Not just the legacy after they are gone - but the legacy they pass down while still alive - while they are able to interface with those before them, and then offer that interaction to the generations that follow
Amazing stuff! Selfishly for me - because these ideas dovetail so well with Transcend Human:
The 7-Generation concept is all about Transcending Human
It's about rising above the human condition
The core values of Transcend Human: TRUTH, TRANSPARENCY, GROWTH & LOVE would find a happy home over at the 7-Generation headquarters
Can you see it?
Trying to live the 7-Generation lifestyle would require:
A willingness to see TRUTH for what it really is
A willingness to be TRANSPARENT with other generations
A desire to GROW based on what we learn from the other generations
And a LOVE for the other generations, as well as the world around us
But I digress...back to legacy...
// 2. LOOKING BACKWARD - LOOKING FORWARD
It's funny...I wrote these headings prior to my research on the topic. So I came up with the looking backward - looking forward thing before even knowing the 7-Generation stuff existed.
But it fits pretty well don't you think?
At the core of what Susan Bozac is saying is this idea that we need to look back to the three generations before us, and forward to the three that follow.
Now my use of the phrase will be a bit different - but I love the overlap.
When I was thinking through this idea of legacy - I wanted to talk about the past, and the future before diving into the present. Obviously, the present is the only one of the three we have direct control over - but when we talk about our legacy - the first thing we tend to do is look back at the things we've done already.
So let's start there. With our pasts...
At the top of the show I said a bunch of things about my parents - things that make up the legacy they are leaving:
Yes, there were a few negative things - things that tarnished the legacy
But most of the things were positive - good things they did to leave a lasting legacy for my siblings and me
I'm assuming that at some point in their mid 50s - they looked back on their years as parents:
Some of things that went down they were probably sad about - wishing they could go back and do things over
And other things they probably smiled about - thinking, "Well, at least we did some things right."
And this is what each of us needs to do:
When we start to understand this concept of leaving a legacy
When we come to believe that it's important
When we realize our behavior isn't just impacting us - but that it has a ripple effect across generations
That's when we become open to change
And it starts with looking backward - into our past
Step 4 in the original 12 Steps of AA reads: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Now we'll address this again when we talk about the present
But when looking at our past - we need to have the same mindset
The words "searching" and "fearless" are important:
Searching - because we need to go back over all of it - all the things that we did
Fearless - because it requires an honesty that is difficult. Admitting that there were things we did that were not good
For me - this means admitting the truth about The Lost Years - the near decade of alcohol use that tarnished the legacy I was wanting to write
But once we have that list written out - we need to understand the following:
The past is the past
You can't change the things you did
All you can do is "own" them as part of your story
To be honest about them
And allow them to inform your present and your future
Learn from your mistakes - don't repeat them
And at the same time - there should be good things on your list from the past!
Things you did well - things you can be proud of
These are also things you can learn from
You see them in the past - and you can replicate them in the present and future
Speaking of future - this is the next step...
After coming to grips with our pasts
We need to turn the telescope toward the future
Look down the road and dream
How do you want to be remembered?
What story do you want to write?
What type of legacy do you want to leave for your kids? For the world that comes after you?
This can be a HUGE moment in your life!
When you stop and think about the future
What kind of person you want to be
The actual behaviors you want to display
The life you want to live
The way you want people to remember you in terms of personality, selflessness, positivity, generosity, etc.
Sometimes just looking at a list like this can make all the difference. It shines a spotlight on you as a person - and identifies where you're doing well, and where you're lacking in the present.
// 3. LIVING YOUR LEGACY TODAY
So the obvious place we need to get to is present day...
Because today is the only day we have 100% control over - at least how we choose to think and behave today:
Today is our tool
Our weapon of choice in the battle of life
Today is when we make choices that form habits which form character
Today is when we can push back against darkness
Today is when we can rise above the human condition
Today is when we can choose to Transcend Human
Today is powerful!
I'm not going to go too far down this rabbit hole, but this whole idea of time is a concept that can blow your mind if you study it at a deeper level:
Time as a concept
The idea that today is just a moment in time
The idea that all we really have are moments in time
The idea that our memories are only available in this moment of time - though they occurred in the past
The idea that the Earth is tied to this construct of time - but there are other areas of the Universe where this may not be true
And ultimately the idea that God exists outside of time and space
That time means nothing to Him as He has always existed and will always exist...
Like I said - it can really start to mess with your mind...
I've been watching a Netflix series called Dark. It's a German series with English voiceover and subtitles. So it's a little strange to watch. And it pushes the envelope a bit on content.
But the premise is time travel - and how the past and the future are cyclical on some level. People are traveling back and forth - some are caught in the wrong time periods, and believe it or not - the behavior of the characters actually help define outcomes in both the past and the future...
Then, those of you into the Marvel Universe would probably throw in the new show Loki as well. Since the main premise is time travel, and the idea that you can interface with multiple "variants" of the same person from different time periods.
I'm noticing that this whole concept of time seems to be trending in tv, movies and even mainstream conversations...
I mean, if this stuff really interests you - there's another rabbit hole you can go down - and Rob Bell will be happy to be your tour guide.
In a recent episode of the RobCast called "Time In Us," Rob and his son talk about time, memories, awareness, and our direct experience with time as we live out our lives. Some really interesting ideas to be sure.
But again - these are rabbit holes - so we'll keep moving.
Step 1: Was to look backward
Step 2: Was to look forward
Step 3: Is to look inward - at yourself - right here, right now in the present
So this is where Step 4 in the original 12 Steps of AA is equally important:
We need to Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
Not things we've done in the past this time
Instead - how we're living life in the here and now
Again, the words "searching" and "fearless" are important:
Searching - because we need to go through everything. Our thinking, our behaving, our personality, our time management, our hobbies, our people skills, our wants and desires, our goals, our hidden agendas and our true intentions
Fearless - because we must be honest with ourselves - or it will be a waste of time. An exercise in futility. Of course, honesty can be difficult. Admitting that we have deficiencies, bad habits and things that need changed. But only after being honest with ourselves - will we be able to see the changes that need made
So let's tie it up in a nice, neat little bow...
Legacy is work. It requires time and effort. Looking backward. Looking forward. And looking inward.
But it is possible. If you're willing to think it through - there's no telling what you can do today to impact your future - and the future of the next three generations that come after you.
Let’s Land the Plane:
I'll leave you with this...
If you're really interested in this whole concept of legacy - check out Bob Goff's Dream Big Podcast:
An episode called: Dreaming With the End In Mind
Bob interviews Steve Leder - Rabbi in Los Angeles
And they talk a lot about legacy
With an interesting twist
Near the end of the episode, they talk about something called an Ethical Will
So crazy... The idea is - as you create your actual will, power of attorney, etc. You can also create an Ethical Will
This document includes your hopes and dreams for the next generation. The values you want to pass down. The legacy you want to hand off so the next generation can carry it forward
So interesting! The link is in the show notes if you would like to learn more about that.
Before we go - here are a few questions for this week:
Have you ever thought much about legacy?
If not - this week might be the perfect time to do it
Look backward this week:
Can you identify negative things to stay away from? Positive things you can do more often?
Look forward this week:
Can you identify the person you want to be?
Can you get specific about the type of legacy you want to leave?
And finally, look inward this week:
What are you doing that fits with the legacy you want to leave?
What are you doing that will tarnish that legacy?
Now make changes accordingly...
Thanks for making Transcend Human a priority in your week.
We love having you here - and love that we get to walk this road together.
As always, share the show with friends and family. And if you are so inclined - leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Each review helps boost us in the overall ratings, and in turn makes Transcend Human more visible to new listeners.
Have a great week everyone, live your legacy, and keep Transcending Human!
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