Love, Leadership and Legacy

Valentine's Day - the day of love (or luuuuurve as I like to say!)

You either love the idea of it with all of its romance or you are of the opinion that it is another way for businesses to make money! Either way, it happens every year anyway!

Personally, my hubby and I don't normally 'celebrate' Valentine's Day but it is always a nice reminder of how we should be thinking about this stuff every day and not just one day a year.

I am currently sitting in Sri Lanka. We are over here attending a friend's wedding. The thing I really love about this wedding is that people are coming from all around the world to celebrate this special day with our friends. People will travel far and wide for love and the celebration of it.

And why?

Because behind all the news you hear about the world being a horrible place with bad stuff happening every day, is the underlying fact that we are all looking for, seeking out and wanting to share and spread the love and joy that happens in our everyday lives.

As a human race, we want to leave behind something better than it was before us. We want to leave a legacy that is going to continue on long after we are gone but the only way to do that is to change how we are living today.

  Legacy is not leaving something for people

When I used to think of what leaving a legacy might look like, I was always under the impression that it was a physical, tangible object of sorts that would be passed on to generations to come. But I was totally wrong! A legacy is not about leaving something FOR people, it is about leaving something IN people. It is a feeling, something that will inspire people to live better and continue the journey that you began. All in the name of love.

 Your legacy is everyone you touch  

We underestimate the fact that we are leaving a legacy every single moment of every single day. Think about the people you spend a lot of time with. It certainly might be easier to see how you can influence and impact them. But your legacy is not just about the people you know. Your legacy is about everyone who you have not met personally but has been impacted by your story or by someone else who has been touched by your story. It is never just a direct influence. Your legacy is everyone you touch both directly and indirectly. Your legacy on this earth is how many hearts you touched. It is the ripple effect.

  We are here for a reason

Whatever your beliefs are about life and what happens after it, it really doesn't matter because, at the heart of it, no one actually knows what happens next. What we DO know is that we are here now. We are on this earth and the chances of us actually being born are 4 trillion to one. We all talk about the fact that life is short or precious and we understand in our heads that we only have one go at this - because we know it's not a trial run! But we forget the most important part! We are ALL here for a reason and to make a difference. The difference you make will be done in your own way with your own unique skills and opportunities but we are all here for the same reason. I think sometimes, we get so caught up in our heads that we forget that what we do, every day, makes a difference to those we connect with.

So how do we leave a legacy of love and influence with the world around us? Here are my thoughts today on a few simple things we can do to make a difference.

 Lead with love

What we don't realise is that our legacy is being written every single day. It is in how we conduct ourselves, how we interact with others and how we lead the people around us. Whether you are in a position of leadership at work or not, we are given the opportunity to lead people every day of our lives, simply by how we live and love. It is our responsibility to be thinking about this each day. Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts when you're not around.

  Don't miss the opportunities

We all know that life is full of opportunity. We just have to open our eyes to the world around us and be open to seeing them. Leading those around you is about seeing those opportunities and your legacy is what will be left behind when you grab them! Don't be fooled into thinking that what you do today doesn't matter and won't affect anyone.  

 Be You!

We have all heard this before but it is a hard one for people to be. There is no way you can influence the world around you and share the love you have if you are not showing up as your true self. You will never influence the world by being like it. You have to stand out. You have to trust yourself. You have to shine your own heart, love and passion with others in order for them to know that it is possible in their lives too. As you become more clear about who you really are, you will be able to make better decisions and have a clearer vision of what you need and what the world needs. 

 Measure of Success

We all measure success differently. But when it comes to sharing the love in our hearts and how we can make a positive difference in this world, success isn't just about what we accomplish. It is about what we can inspire others to do or who we can inspire them to become. That is the measure of success.

 Small or Grand

This is the most important part - when it comes to leaving a legacy of love and leadership, what you do does not have to be grand gestures or internationally recognised. Your legacy can be as simple as how you interact with people every single day. It is about how you leave people feeling. It is about inspiring them to love more, live better, do something different. The greatest legacies can be found in the smallest acts every single day. People may hear your words but they feel your attitude. Bring your A game every day. You never know who needs you.

If I can leave a legacy of love and passion in the world, then I have done my job.

Until next week my friends.....live and lead your days with love.

Love,

Clarissa xo