Everyone wishes to leave a legacy, but real impact isn't made by pursuing gigantic, world-altering objectives, it is made by living with everyday purpose.
There are actually two kinds of purpose in life:
- Big Purpose (Big P): These are the ambitious, grandiose goals creating empires, altering the world, or doing something that makes headlines. Inspiring as they may be, Big P Purpose tends to generate stress, anxiety, and burnout because it centers on only the outcome.
- Little Purpose (little p): This is regarding the little things that light you up and give you meaning on a daily basis. You don't chase results, but instead, pay attention to the process of showing up, engaging, and having fun with what inspires you. Failure is nearly impossible with little p purpose because the reward is found in the doing itself.
And here's the thing: true happiness and contribution are constructed more on Little Purpose than Big Purpose.
Why Big Goals Can Be a Trap
Few resist this concept. They contend that in order to truly leave their mark, their mission has to be monumental starting a business, finding cures, or revolutionizing the world. But that's a fallacy.
I did learn this myself. As a child, losing my dad motivated me to become a doctor. That Big P Purpose sustained me through years of medical education. But when I did start practicing, I found the cruel truth, I couldn't save everyone. The disconnect between my gargantuan goal and reality left me exhausted, depressed, and burned out.
Large objectives tend to fail since they are dependent on luck, timing, and factors outside our control. Not everybody can be president, start a billion-dollar company, or play in the NFL. If we pin our whole identity on those objectives and come up short, our impact diminishes rather than expands.
The Power of Small Purposes
When I left medicine, I went into things that interested me for no other reason other than that they made me alive writing, podcasting, and public speaking. I wasn't trying to change people's lives; I was just doing what felt alive for me.
To my surprise, those little decisions made a much larger ripple effect than I could've ever thought. My articles touched millions, my podcast influenced even more, and my words touched people I'd never met.
This is what happens when joy meets intention. Doing what excites you draws people in. It builds community, attracts opportunities, and creates a ripple of influence that spreads naturally.
How to Build a Legacy Without Stress
You don’t need wealth, fame, or a groundbreaking invention to leave your mark. Your legacy can be built step by step:
1. Discover what excites you. Find a hobby, passion, or subject that energizes you.
2. Step up. If sports are your passion, play on a local team, join a club of fans, or volunteer in your community.
3. Share with others. Share your passion, teach, learn, and work together.
4. Let it grow naturally. One thing will lead to another. Day after day, these little decisions make big impacts and have influence.
Legacy isn't about one huge accomplishment, it's about how you show up every day.
Redefining Impact
There will be some who will make their mark on the world, but for the rest of us, our largest legacy is nearer at hand. We'll be remembered for how we stood by a friend, guided a colleague, or advised a child when it counted.
They are small moments, perhaps, but they are the real blocks to build a legacy.
We tend to think of legacy as something you see a huge, overt monument. But actually, it's working quietly into the lives that you touch. When you stay close to your Little Purposes the things that make your heart happy, you automatically shine your light. That energy transforms lives, one person at a time.
And the lovely thing? That ripple of effect goes on forever after you're no longer here.