Legacy Projects for the Dying Course

Jun 16
2 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

A woman wearing a patterned headscarf sits peacefully in a comfortable chair beside a large sunlit window, appearing physically fragile but calm and reflective. Arranged neatly on a wooden table in front of her are several completed legacy projects, including a ribbon-tied stack of handwritten letters, a family photo album, a wooden memory box, a strand of colorful treatment beads draped across the box, a small wrapped keepsake gift, and a smartphone on a tripod used for recording messages. Warm natural daylight fills the room, illuminating the treasured objects and creating an atmosphere of dignity, love, and meaning. The scene captures a quiet moment of fulfillment as she reflects on the memories, stories, wisdom, and gifts she has prepared to leave behind for future generations.

Free Course by Everything IFS Academy | Death and Dying Series

Welcome to the Legacy Projects for the Dying Course for Everyday People

Almost everyone who knows their time is growing short arrives at the same question: what will I leave behind? This course exists because that question deserves a better answer than most people are ever given. Legacy work is love made keepable, and it belongs to everyone, not just the famous or the wealthy or the well. The lens this course carries through every lesson is a gentle one: there is something here for any energy level, any budget, and any amount of time, and what you leave behind can comfort the people you love for generations.

This course is written in plain, emotionally human language anyone can follow, whether you work in end-of-life care or have never been near it. It isn't clinical or professional training. It's real knowledge and guidance you can use in your own life and with the people you love, and each module offers clear teaching, real-life examples, and the practical substance the topic deserves: what each project is, what it asks of you, and how to actually begin. Every lesson ends with a gentle IFS and parts work exercise so you can begin working with what you learn right away.

This course is self-paced, with no tests, exams, or homework. Feel free to go through it in order, or jump around to whatever interests you most.

Course outline

Click any lesson below to begin.

Orientation

Module 1 — What Are Legacy Projects?

Core Teachings

Module 2 — Choosing and Shaping Your Legacy Project

Module 3 — The Ethical Will and the Legacy Letter

Module 4 — Letters and Messages for Future Moments

Module 5 — Telling Your Life Story

Module 6 — Voice and Video Recordings

Module 7 — Photographs and Family History

Module 8 — Recipes, Food, and Family Traditions

Module 9 — Handmade Keepsakes

Module 10 — Heirlooms, Belongings, and Gifts for the Future

Module 11 — Words of Repair and Reconciliation

Module 12 — Living Legacies

Module 13 — Your Digital Legacy

Module 14 — Your Farewell in Your Own Words

Closing

Module 15 — Putting Your Legacy Plan Together

Disclaimer: Everything IFS Academy is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the IFS Institute. While we strive for accuracy, errors can occur, and users are encouraged to cross-reference critical information. These courses, lessons, skills, and practices are offered for educational and self-reflection purposes only. They do not constitute therapy, mental health treatment, clinical training, or crisis support, and they should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care.

Crisis Support: 🚨 If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, feel unsafe, feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or feel too overwhelmed to safely use self-directed practices, please pause this material and reach out for immediate support. Contact a licensed mental health professional, call or text 988 in the U.S. or Canada, or use your local emergency or crisis resources.