Last week I went to church with a friend and the pastor’s sermon was on leaving a legacy. From the title, it already had my mind wondering about what legacy I want to leave on this earth. What do I want people to remember me by? The pastor listed nine steps to leaving a legacy:

Step 1: Do you have a sense of humor? There are times when you just have to laugh at yourself. Life is hard but, make the most out of it. Embrace the hard times, for your struggle will all be worth it.

Step 2: (Compelling dream) Is your dream bigger than you? If you tried your hardest to give up on your dream and it seems like it won’t go away, maybe that’s God letting you know that your dream is actually your purpose for living.

Step 3: Make every day a masterpiece. Every day, work toward making your life and this world a better place. God has put you on this earth for a reason. Use it to the best of your ability.

Step 4: Whatever you want out of life, give it away. In Luke 6:38, the bible says “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Remember to bless others the way God has blessed you.

Step 5: Serve your generation. What impact will your generation leave? Our ancestors have left their mark. It is our turn to move this world to the next level to set an example for generations to come.

Step 6: Enlarge your circle of love. In Luke 6:31, the bible instructs us to “do to others as [we] would have them do to [us].” Spread love as you go through this journey called life. With all the violence and hatred in the world, we as Christians have to exalt God through it all because He is love.

Step 7: Never catch up with your dream. Always yearn to strive greater than your imagination. The sky is the limit. If you complete one task, don’t stop; proceed to the next. Remember that in order to leave a legacy, you have to go beyond the average person which means that you're eager to learn and enhance your mind.

Step 8: Do the unusual. In order to leave a legacy, you can’t be average, mediocre, stagnant, regular, and the list goes on. Think outside the box. Come up with something this world has never seen to advance to newer heights than what was here when you arrived.

Step 9: The final step is to envision the finish line. Figure out what your goal is. What is it that you want to complete while you are here? Visionaries see things before they actually come to fruition. Envision it, believe it, plan it, and seek it.

These steps have started me on my journey to leave a legacy the Lord, my family, and this world will be happy I started. Now it is your turn to decide what your legacy will be!