What will people say about us when we are gone? This is a troubling question to consider. We have just started our leadership journey. What can we do about the old us? What legacy have we left behind prior to taking back control over our own self? It is a frightening thought, all those years, all of those interactions, all of the lost chances to make a positive impact staring at us. What should we do when we find our self confronted with the past? Should it control us too? How can we be completely free from manipulation if we have yet to throw off the chains of our old self?
It is good though that we believe. Without faith our past can control our future. For the apostle Peter taught us this, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." Blotted out. That is an amazing thought. Repentance clears our heart, soul, and spirit. It is as if the fog once blinding the way to a better future is lifted. We have solidified in our mind that we will no longer be controlled by anyone or anything in this world, even our past. This is good, for in order to establish a true legacy we must have a free and clear mind.
Now then, it is instructive for us to examine the thoughts that please us most when reflecting upon our legacy. Instead of wondering what people will say about us when we are gone, how about we write a script for them. Right now. What are we waiting for? This takes contemplation. In this exercise we put to full use our God-given unique ability to imagine future events. Take out a pen, open up a note on a computer and put down this first, "This is what people WILL say about me." Beneath this statement we should write down the three people that we care the most about in this world. Under this we should write in the three people that we affect the most in our daily work life. Lastly, let us write the three people in our life who look up to us as an example.
We have our list. This is the environment that surrounds us. This is our impact zone. We have real influence on these men, women, boys, and girls. Next to each name we shall prescribe the words by which they will remember us. He really inspired me. She was always fair and never played favorites. He treated everyone with mutual respect. She was someone I could always go to with my problems. He always turned lemons into lemonade. She was the most caring person I have ever known. He was the most ethical and moral man in the world. She could find ways to make me smile. He always listened to me. So, what will people say about us? At least now we know what we want them to say. What we do with this script is completely up to us. We choose every word, every behavior, every action, and every step of our life. We leave behind a legacy whether we want to or not. Go now, let us live and define our own self for the whole world to see.
Copyright © Robert Clinton Chedester 2013
It is good though that we believe. Without faith our past can control our future. For the apostle Peter taught us this, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." Blotted out. That is an amazing thought. Repentance clears our heart, soul, and spirit. It is as if the fog once blinding the way to a better future is lifted. We have solidified in our mind that we will no longer be controlled by anyone or anything in this world, even our past. This is good, for in order to establish a true legacy we must have a free and clear mind.
Now then, it is instructive for us to examine the thoughts that please us most when reflecting upon our legacy. Instead of wondering what people will say about us when we are gone, how about we write a script for them. Right now. What are we waiting for? This takes contemplation. In this exercise we put to full use our God-given unique ability to imagine future events. Take out a pen, open up a note on a computer and put down this first, "This is what people WILL say about me." Beneath this statement we should write down the three people that we care the most about in this world. Under this we should write in the three people that we affect the most in our daily work life. Lastly, let us write the three people in our life who look up to us as an example.
We have our list. This is the environment that surrounds us. This is our impact zone. We have real influence on these men, women, boys, and girls. Next to each name we shall prescribe the words by which they will remember us. He really inspired me. She was always fair and never played favorites. He treated everyone with mutual respect. She was someone I could always go to with my problems. He always turned lemons into lemonade. She was the most caring person I have ever known. He was the most ethical and moral man in the world. She could find ways to make me smile. He always listened to me. So, what will people say about us? At least now we know what we want them to say. What we do with this script is completely up to us. We choose every word, every behavior, every action, and every step of our life. We leave behind a legacy whether we want to or not. Go now, let us live and define our own self for the whole world to see.
Copyright © Robert Clinton Chedester 2013