The thought of dying is an unimaginable event to most people. As a result it takes a lot to sit down and anticipate the outcome you’d like for your heirs upon your passing. Going through the legal process of pulling together a will and testament is difficult enough, but rarely do people go beyond this to consider the emotional impact of the content they leave behind upon passing.
I encourage you to reconsider the attention you give to this important topic. In my marketing consultancy work in content creation, I see the impact that carefully chosen language can have in completely transforming a message and connecting with a market in business, but imagine this impact in your personal life. . This goes well beyond business acumen or a well-crafted turn of phrase and into the realm of making a very personal connection at a sensitive time in their life. It’s incredibly important to factor in the feelings of our heirs, even if you feel far-removed from your passing or, conversely, if you feel that they will be well-prepared for it.
Apart from the standard legal documents, leaving letters, voice recordings, videos, even social media pages behind for heirs has become a popular way for individuals to communicate messages and values that they weren’t able to share in life.
In considering what to leave behind for your heirs and how, I would urge you to ask the following questions about your relationship with each person:
- What kind of relationship have you had with them up to this point and what would you change if you could?
- What messages do you wish you could pass onto them?
- What family values or mission statement do you want to leave in your passing?
- HoIf you could imagine how someone might describe you after you were gone what would they say? Is there anything you’d like to change about how you’d be remembered by your family?
- What’s your favorite way to communicate with your family? Is it by phone, email, written letters? How does this inform how you’d like to be remembered?
- What are you leaving behind in your will that you wish to describe or pass along stories about?
- What other stories do you wish to share that you never had the opportunity to?
- What’s “missing” from your representation of yourself in your heirlooms and how can you fill that void?
Death is an opportunity to pass on posthumously what you might not have been able to say in life either because you never had the opportunity to or because you didn’t know how to. It’s not a time to dredge up past conflicts, but a time to bring these to a peaceful rest and, in the process, share with your family members what you hope to be passed on to future generations by your example.
Q for You: How will going through the potentially painful process of imagining the world after your passing beneficial to those you love in the long run?
Alix Purcell is a creative writer who helps business owners develop creative written content and create effective marketing strategies surrounding that content. She specializes in assisting attorney and financial planners in these efforts. She is also Dan’s creative writing partner and “Blogabilibuddy”: All of Dan’s blogs have been reviewed by Alix, and she has added her own creative content to bring you the blogs you are reading on this site. She can be reached at:
alix@alixpurcell.com
(203) 733-8926
Web Site: https://www.alixpurcell.com/
Blog: https://www.alixpurcell.com/#!businessdifferently/c1qb3
Thank you Alix for helping me deliver my thoughts to my clients effectively! – Dan
