One trend I uncovered as I interviewed retirees is the tendency to think about how we will be remembered after we have passed on. Both successful and unsuccessful retirees commented on this. However, successful retirees applied the results of their introspection quite differently.

Unsuccessful retirees expressed a lot of regret - even bitterness - about their circumstances and the things they didn't do when they had a chance. Their focus was past-oriented, and their attitudes often amounted to a sense of victimhood. This isn't healthy, of course. One way to apply the success strategy of imagining your legacy is to consider how people might recall such attitudes once you have passed away. "She always wanted to go to the Louvre," someone might say. "Yes, it's sad she didn't go," another might reply, "but let's be honest; she preferred the drama of making it sound impossible."

Successful retirees use their personal idea of legacy to influence their lives in positive ways. They consider what is truly important and use it as a compass to guide their activities. For example, this could mean creating a viable plan for visiting Paris, or attending art exhibits featuring items on loan from the Louvre.

Successful retirees also use the consideration of legacy in its more traditional sense. Some arrange to leave monies, financial support, or items of value to people or organizations important to them. Others take a creative (and financially modest) approach. Examples include building a family tree and recording or writing a memoir. A retiree I recently met said he was slowly transferring thousands of slides into digital format. These slides include pictures of friends and their young families, so many beyond his own family will treasure this gift.

I recently completed a year-long project entitled Life Through My Eyes. During the year I remembered, and wrote about, my life from birth to the present day. I documented feelings, remembrances, highs and lows of my life together with corresponding photos. The end-result is a hard-cover book which I've presented to my adult children and other relatives. I'm now receiving thanks of appreciation for creating a lasting personal history.

Our self-assessment of our potential legacy can also help us stop "sweating the small stuff" and embrace what psychologists often call "authentic stuff". Such changes will affect our life in many positive ways in addition to informing how people will remember us. "I was so proud that she finally went to the Louvre," someone might say. "Yes, it's absolutely inspiring!" another might reply.