5 steps to an ethical video will

Do you remember that scene from the movie? Superman (Christopher Reeve’s) Where do you go to the North Pole to spend some time alone? He brings a bag of crystals that he throws into the snow and they are organized into the ultimate snow cave. Then he places the master crystal, I think the green one, on his newly erected icy console, and lo and behold, his father (long dead) starts talking to him and giving him life lessons.

Released in 1978, Superman remains the highest representation of an ethical will in all video cinema (although My life it is also worth seeing as an example of ethical will in a modern narrative film). It was through the magic of those crystals that Clark Kent was able to learn that he is more than the adopted son of those kind but limited and aged Midwestern farmers. And he is able to learn what his responsibilities will be living among us, poor ignorant humanity.

In the real world, an ethic is not much different than the one Supe’s father prepared for him (just as Krypton exploded). But instead of those glasses, we have, of course, the video camera and the DVDs.

So what is an ethical will?

An ethical will is a message for future generations about values, beliefs and life lessons. It can also cover more business matters, such as wishes for your funeral, recipients of small gifts, or even instructions in the event of a medical emergency (“health care proxies”). Sometimes called “spiritual wills” or “inherited letters”, the idea is to convey the intangibles of a life well lived. TO testamentary will transmit your possessions; year ethical will it conveys your thoughts and beliefs and can impart life lessons or bestow deep and personal blessings on others.

Difficult economic times appear to have contributed to the growing popularity of ethical wills. With so many personal savings accounts crushed by the Great Financial Crisis, people are realizing that treasure can be lost, but values ​​last forever. Therefore, creating an ethical will (in writing or on video) has never been more important.

Whether you plan to create an ethical will on video or in writing (or in Powerpoint or in a scrapbook or on audiotape), the process is basically the same.

Step 1: Who is the beneficiary?

First, you must decide who will be the beneficiary of your spiritual letter. As with any communication, knowing your audience will help determine the topics you cover and your words. And the ethical will intended to be listened to by adult children will likely be a little different than an ethical will that you want your grandchildren to observe. You may choose to address different people with different parts of the inherited letter.

Of course, you have to keep in mind that no matter what your intentions are, ultimately, you will not be able to control the audience with your ethical will.

Step 2: decide what to include

Next, jot down a list of topics you’d like to cover. Could you include a life event and the lesson you learned from it? More than one person has lived to regret taking shortcuts with their education and using their ethical will to instruct their grandchildren in other ways. Is it to tell children that, despite everything, you are proud and happy with them and happy with their choices in life? As parents, we can be overly critical and spiritual will is an opportunity to set the record straight once and for all.

You may feel the need to explain a decision you made or the direction you took. Are there values ​​you want your descendants to follow? Do you want to record family history? Maybe you just want to say “thank you for all the love and support.”

Step 3: What form should I use?

Third, decide how you want to register your ethical will. The pen and blank paper are the fastest. Or you can choose to get a book that guides you through the process and provides a guided space for your writing (Susan Turnbull’s “The Richness of Your Life” is one such book). For a more personal approach, you can record your voice in audio.

Or, as I always recommend, you can decide to talk about your life on video. Video is a form of immortality, if you think about it. And the words spoken on camera have an immediacy and emotional impact that is truly unmatched. Up there in the ice and snow, Superman actually heard his father’s voice, he didn’t just read a letter (hastily scrawled in Kryptoniae).

Step 4: things to keep in mind

Fourth, you must get down to work. Start with an outline drawn from your topics and then expand on it. If your ethics are to be written, then there may be multiple drafts. If you plan to create a written spiritual letter, all you will need is your notes. If the ethical will is to be captured on video in an interview format, then the interviewer will have their issues and will be able to motivate their responses.

There are a few things to keep in mind when writing your inheritance letter:

Don’t use your ethical will to settle scores or have the last word. Don’t say anything you can imagine regretting.

Be careful to designate a person to receive a special compliment or thank you. You will inevitably cast others into the shade, which may not be your intention.

Do not delay. Time speeds up as you get older, and as a result, it becomes increasingly difficult to get things done.

Don’t worry about your appearance. Future generations are interested in who you were and what was important to you.

Try to be uplifting. In her book, Susan Turnbull gives this example of a couple addressing their young children:

“We hope you always look outside of yourself and consider the perspective of others … We hope you are aware of what is happening in your community and how events are affecting the people there …”