The Legacy Manifesto

There are moments in our lives when we just stop and observe; what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and questions start to come up. One of those questions is one that many of us tend to avoid, because it can all get very unsettling. “What am I doing all this for?” comes back in a moment of silence. In the gap between two other thoughts. And when we think about it, most of us feel an emptiness inside. The question comes, likely, in a moment of total clarity, but the answer to it is often as unclear as it can get. And that is because we don’t know why we’re doing certain things. And most of us don’t have an answer to this question because we don’t have a purpose in our lives. Working hard, achieving our goals, amassing wealth is meaningless if there is no higher purpose behind all of it.

Dark Night Of The Soul

My partner and I are expecting a baby this year. And before we found out about our pregnancy, I had a feeling of fear. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to have children anymore. Ever. I had moments when I thought that I would really love to enjoy my life, to live freely, to not be bound by anything or anyone. And it was strange, because I had always wanted children. I had always dreamt of myself as a great father, who would pass on solid principles to his children. Having the beautiful and wise mother of my children by my side. So this rebellious thought was unusual. It felt like a longing somehow. I wasn’t sure whether this was the real me or whether it was just a passing thought and a passing feeling. In the break between two thoughts, I remembered my dreams, my ideals and the good I have always wanted to bring into the world. The legacy I’ve always wanted to leave. The wealth, the name, the fame and all the accolades. And I asked myself… “If you don’t have children, who are you doing all this for? Yes, you can leave everything to the world, as Andrew Carnegie did. But isn’t the purpose of life to also create life?”

When the news about the pregnancy came, my first tendency was to panic. To go back to thinking about the negative impact this might have on my life. I kept my cool though, but I couldn’t avoid the intrusive thoughts. I was about to bring a baby into this world. A world in which the only certain thing is uncertainty. A world in which people no longer care so much about values, about being good, respectable, dependable. A world that seemed to get worse with every passing day. But I soon came to a realization: that I have always wanted to have children and to instil in them the values I thought would make the world a better place. So, I finally embraced that. I understood that this was my chance. I’ve always wanted to be an influencer. Not in the sense that the word has taken nowadays. But in the sense of influencing people to get their best side out into the light. To mould characters and to inspire people to become the best version of themselves. And I made a decision then and there, to become the person I have always aspired to be.

Questions And Answers

How do I want to be remembered? How do I want my children to think about me as their father? Will I be a good father? How will the world remember me? What will I leave behind?

These were just a few of the questions that went through my mind. I visualized my children talking about me and saying that on the masculine side, I was their role model. I decided to leave behind something more valuable than just wealth and a surname. I decided that I would leave a legacy to be remembered by. One that would still inspire people to find their inner power and create a life they desire and deserve, long after I would be gone. I decided that my children would see me as a true hero, as a man who always makes the impossible possible. As a father who was there for them when they needed it most and not only that, but a human who dedicated his life to leaving the world better than how he had found it. I decided to leave a legacy that will outlive me. I decided that everything can be done, no matter what the odds say.

Bigger Than Yourself

This doesn’t mean that if you are committed to not having children, you should change that. It’s not about children here. It’s not about giving birth or raising a family. It’s about what you will leave behind, what you will give back to the world. And trust me when I say that wealth is the last thing you should be thinking about. Yes, money is vital as well. Having enough of it or more than enough will ensure that your loved ones are cared for. But the principle, the values, the spiritual legacy are far more important.

We judge ourselves by our intentions. Others judge us by our actions. What you want to do is important, but what you actually end up doing is what will set you apart from the majority.

Moving through life, doing big things and achieving your goals is meaningless if there is nothing bigger than yourself that you are doing all of that for. If there is no purpose, you are just drifting aimlessly. And I am not talking about purpose in the sense of your career or the trade you have. But about what that trade or career will enable you to do and give to the world.

You wanted to be a doctor growing up? An artist? An inventor? Good! Why? Maybe you liked the profession. Maybe you liked a certain thing, or you were just passionate about the process. It’s all great! But if you’re doing anything just for the sake of it, change that now. Make it all about the people you serve. Make it about the world. About others, not just about yourself or the trade in itself. Make it bigger than yourself and decide to do all it takes to become the best in your field. Not just for the fame and the money. When you have a lot of money and a lot of fame, you’ll realize that they are not the end goal. But do what you do to be remembered as someone who dedicated his or her life, not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of others.

What will YOU be remembered by? What will YOU give to the world for all that the world has given you? How will YOU be thought of once you are no longer part of this world? Did you settle for where things were? Did you live a cool life and then died? Did you just accumulate experiences that made your life worth living? Or did YOU also pour everything that you had gained throughout your life back into the world? Did YOU make the world a better place? Did you put all your dedication and passion into something that revolutionized the way people live, think or act? What did YOU live for?

In your own words, ask yourself those questions when you go to bed. Ask them every day and every moment. Use them as a way to get better and to move the needle into the right direction. If you fall into a disempowering state, into a depressed state, that’s ok. You are in a good place! You still have a chance. When shooting an arrow, you first pull it backwards to create enough tension. That’s what launches it forward. Sometimes, when you build something, you first have to demolish your old beliefs, your old values, your old self. And then you start building anew and you keep building.

A few weeks ago, I found an amazing quote by one great man, constantly driven by the “desire to harness the forces of nature to the service of mankind”. In a moment in which the others didn’t see the possibilities. In a moment in which everyone else thought his ideas were stupid and unachievable. In a moment in which only he could look into the far future and see how his work would influence the world long after his death, Nikola Tesla wrote: “Let the future tell the truth, and evaluate each one according to his work and accomplishments. The present is theirs; the future, for which I have really worked, is mine.”

I decided to do just that. To bring my thoughts to you all. To dedicate my life to inspiring people around me to grow, to reach new heights and to make their lives into masterpieces. What have YOU decided?

Bless you!

Daniel