Normally a will is a document that discusses the distribution of property among the heirs of a deceased person. However, a will that passes on personal values and life philosophy has existed in some cultures for many centuries. The ethical will is becoming a popular way to pass along life lessons and insights to family and community.

Ethical wills can be traced back to ancient Jewish culture as well as Hindu and Buddhist cultures. These documents communicate the years of wisdom acquired and help pass along the writer’s wishes. In contrast to a normal will, which deals with material possessions, ethical wills deal with non material gifts you wish to pass on to others.

The ethical will is not so much a legal document like the typical will, though here are some law firms that work with them. Rather the ethical will is a way to share personal hopes, lessons learned, blessings or forgiveness with those you love during your lifetime. Ethical wills are also an excellent way to give your family a sense of legacy.

There is nothing complicated about writing an ethical will, though it takes thought to decide what you would like to include in it. You can begin an ethical will today and continue adding to it for years. At any point along the way you may choose to formally share your document with the people for whom it’s intended.

Beginning to document your ethical will can be as simple as starting with a blank piece of paper and writing down your thoughts. Editing can be done as time goes on. This is the place to tell your family who you are and what you believe. What are your core values and intentions? How did you arrive at these? Be specific, tell stories of the moments from your life that guided you to a life lesson. What are your beliefs and how did you arrive at them?

Perhaps you’re still seeking your own philosophy of life. Perhaps you’re still seeking what you truly believe. If this is the case you have a wonderful opportunity to pass along your process of where that journey has taken you. Often we look back on our family tree and realize we know very little about the people who came before us. The ethical will is a way for your family to fill in some of the blanks and know who you are. In the course of documenting your journey through your life lessons you will also be passing along valuable information about other family members.

The ethical will is a wonderful way to conduct some very useful self examination. If you’ve never thought about your core values and life lessons and philosophy, this is an excellent way to bring those into your awareness. You have the opportunity to learn as much about yourself as you’re providing for others.