Creating an Ethical Will to Share Your Life Lessons and Wisdom
Throughout our lives, we accumulate more than just material wealth and physical possessions. We gather wisdom, values, hard-won lessons, and heartfelt hopes for the future. While a traditional legal will allows us to distribute our tangible assets, there is another profound way to pass down an even more valuable inheritance - the legacy of our life's journey through an ethical will.
So, what is an ethical will? An ethical will, also known as a legacy letter or personal legacy statement, is a written document that allows a person to share the essence of who they are with their loved ones. It is an opportunity to impart the values, stories, and wisdom we've gained through our lived experiences. Originating from an ancient tradition spanning cultures and faiths, ethical wills hold immense significance as they enable us to leave behind a lasting legacy beyond material things.
The process of creating an ethical will can be as rewarding as the end result itself. The process encourages deep self-reflection, supports us to contemplate our core values, our proudest achievements, our hardest-won lessons, and the impact we hope to have on future generations. For the recipients, an ethical will becomes a keepsake and a way to honor and remember loved ones. There is no single prescribed format for an ethical will; it is meant to be an authentic expression of your unique voice and life philosophy. An effective ethical will often weaves together personal stories, expresses gratitude, imparts advice, and articulates wishes or blessings for the future. It can capture your genuine personality through a warm, conversational tone.
Our advice for creating an ethical will? Gather old photos, journal entries, letters, or mementos that can spark memories from your life. Then, reflect on what these things mean to you. How do they reflect your personal values? How do they show what is most important to you? With an open heart, you can allow your truth to flow onto a page by journaling about these reflections. Don't worry about perfection; authenticity is what makes these legacies so powerful. Alternative to writing your ethical will, you can opt to record a video or voice memo of your reflections.
Once complete, some choose to share their ethical will with loved ones during their lifetime, while others opt for it to be opened upon their passing. Regardless of when it is received, it ensures that the true essence of who you are lives on. I wish my grandmother had taken the time to create an ethical will. Without it, I still remember her and her legacy, but I have to imagine the advice, wisdom and perspective she’d offer me now.
We all possess a lifetime of experiences, insights, and wisdom worth passing along. We invite you to pick up your pen, open your heart, and begin shaping the masterpiece that shares the most priceless gift - the wisdom of your life's journey.
If that sounds like a lot of time and effort to put in on your own, we are happy to help you capture your personal legacy through our eLegacy interview process! First we record an interview with you over the internet, then we edit the video for you. In the end you will receive a video that captures your unique legacy that you can share with your loved ones whenever you choose.
Thank you for reading.
If you haven't taken the time to capture your legacy, or the legacy of an important person in your life, we encourage you to do so now. We at eLegacy can help, visit us at www.eLegacy.net to learn more.