TED Conversations

Closing Statement from Stuart Woods

Whatever question it takes to unlock our true potential, If we do our best work, nurture others and reward kindness then our legacy will live for eternity, not in things or places, but in the hearts of individuals who we hope are compelled to pass it on.

I have read everyone's responses with gratitude. Essentially what I noticed from the responses was that people who I have never met generously opened up their inner hopes and dreams whilst remarkably structuring them to allow others to gain from them too, inspirational! Many think that predicting or forecasting the future is impossible and yet over generations our willingness to try has not be diminished in the least. I find this fascinating and believe it is testament to our need for certainty and to hope for the best. I could tell by reading the responses (often in the inference to what would happen if we actually asked ourselves these questions) that we readily ponder our PURPOSE on this earth. I also noted those who chose not to add what their response, but I hope by responding everyone did think of their answer.To search for deeper meaning for our existence is a recurring theme, so too, the altruistic standpoint of first offering to others before ourselves; heartening indeed. Some of the proposed questions referred to 'leaving something behind'- a legacy. When we transcend egotism I surmised from the what we might really mean is the statement I opened with:

Whatever question it takes to unlock our true potential, If we do our best work, nurture others and reward kindness our legacy will live for eternity, not in things or places, but in the hearts of individuals who we hope are compelled to pass it on.

Thanks to everyone I now have a wonderful resource on which to draw when I need re-focusing and re-energizing. I hope you do too. I fully intend to pass your questions on to my students. Best wishes. Stuart