Living Your Legacy from Authenticity

I never expected my body to stop me in my tracks. But one day, it did. My back gave out, and I literally couldn’t get out of bed. At first, I was angry—why me? But lying there, day after day, I realized this was no accident. It was my soul’s invitation to stop pretending, to stop living from a persona others expected of me. That was the beginning of my dark night of the soul. And it was also the beginning of discovering my true legacy—not the one society told me I should leave, but the one my authentic self was yearning to create.

Truth Be Told

Society sells us the myth that a legacy is measured by what we leave behind—a foundation, a fortune, an empire. Bigger numbers, audiences, achievements. We hustle and strive for recognition, believing that only visible markers prove our worth. This script makes us exhausted, fearful of irrelevance, and obsessed with whether our impact “counts.”

But what if this isn’t true? What if legacy has nothing to do with numbers, status, or accumulation?

A Sacred Reframe

Legacy, in its deepest truth, is not what is left when you die. Legacy is the living imprint of your true self right now. It’s how your higher self radiates through your choices, your generosity of spirit, your service, and your willingness to live from authenticity, not performance.

Authentic legacy says:

• Replace “What do I leave behind?” with “How do I show up fully alive today?”

• Replace external validation with the sacred call of soul purpose.

• Replace measuring outcomes with resting in the truth that one smile, one kindness, one presence can shift the world.

In this way, your life itself becomes legacy—fluid, creative, and enduring.

What Is A Personal Legacy Statement

Your personal legacy statement is your manifesto for choosing a life you love, and it gives you a way to influence others ethically. Don’t mistake your personal legacy for a goal. Goals are often a person’s ambition to achieve, performance related to acquisition, a desired result .Can you see the differences between goal setting and a legacy statement?

My past life is now working through me, for me, supporting my future self.” Nina Zapala, enjoy my debut book; Unpack Your Personality: Let Your Inner Guide Be Your Travel Guide.

How to Create a Personal Legacy Statement

First, I don’t believe you can create a personal legacy statement without intimately knowing your authentic self. Personal legacies should include what’s important to you, your values and beliefs, and how you want to be of service. All of us will need to overcome our core wound, which for me and for you, become our vocation.

Embracing your history and its consequences help shape a personal legacy. Instead of believing your past was disabling, rethink it, “My past life is now working through me for me, supporting my future self.” This mind shift can transform what you believe to be terrible experiences (yes, I know some experiences are horrific – yet each experience is in play to evolve your soul) into pivotal moments of awareness that shape your future. In fact, it’s essential for your spiritual awakening.

Examples of Three-Word Personal Legacy Statements

Here are examples of three-word personal legacy statements that are concise yet powerful, capturing core values or life missions:

• Inspire, Serve, Encourage

• Love, Lead, Heal

• Create, Share, Grow

• Live with Integrity

• Faith, Family, Freedom

• Courage, Compassion, Connection

• Learn, Teach, Transform

• Gratitude, Grace, Generosity

• Peace, Purpose, Passion

• Kindness, Strength, Wisdom

When reading these three-word statements can you see how they embody personal values or aspirations and serve as daily reminders or guiding principles for living an authentic legacy. Mine: Authenticity. New Beginnings. Legacy.

Authentic Living Practice

A simple practice to begin living your authentic legacy today:

• Soulful Micro-Practice: Light a candle tonight and speak aloud one truth about yourself you’ve been hiding. Let the flame witness and affirm it as part of your legacy.

Sacred Spark

May you feel the freedom today to step into your authentic self—not as someone striving to leave a mark, but as a luminous soul whose very presence is already shaping the world. You are already a living legacy.

Share the Message

I hope this story plants a seed of courage—to see yourself freshly and remember your timeless gifts. Share this with a friend, sister, or coworker who might need the reminder that your true self is waiting. If your soul is whispering for more, my book Unpack Your Personality and one-on-one sessions are gentle ways to explore who you truly are beneath the noise. Whenever you’re ready, I’m here to walk beside you.

Dive Deeper Into the Journey

If this story speaks to even a small part of you, you’re invited to explore more of my journey and approach through these heartfelt conversations and resources:

• • Watch my interview on Beauty in the Mess with Michelle Simms, where I share my path to embracing: What if You’ve Been Chasing the Wrong Success All Along  
    🎧 Chasing the Wrong Success

  • Explore more inspiration through videos:
    YouTube Channel Highlights

  • Read reflections on trusting intuition and authentic style:
    How To Trust Your Intuition And Inspire Others No Matter Your Age
    The Hidden Spiritual Personality Traits That Unlock Your New Beginning 

  • And when you’re ready, my debut book Unpack Your Personality offers a gentle yet profound roadmap to your true self:
    Get Unpack Your Personality here

Trusted by Those Who’ve Walked the Path

“Working with Nina helped me remove the blind spots that were holding me back,” says Judith Wilms, TEDx speaker and author. Her bespoke clarity session was the nudge she needed to stop merely living life and start creating the life of her dreams. If that resonates, a clarity session may just be what you need too. Schedule your Clarity Session

About Spiritual Personality Typing

I developed Spiritual Personality Typing during what I call my “midlife tsunami”—a transformative season that stripped away illusions and revealed profound truths. Traditional typologies only told part of the story, so I created a new paradigm that unites soul and self.

This isn’t about anti-aging—it’s about authentic aging: showing up as your truest self, unapologetically and wildly free, leaving a sacred legacy only you can bring. Every wrinkle tells a story, every silver strand carries wisdom, and every scar maps your unique journey. When we deny our true selves, the soul withers; when we embrace her, we bloom into timelessness. Your new beginning awaits!

Photo Credit: Nina Zapala in St. Lucia

Post updated: April 17, 2025