Another answer to persistent impact is communality. Your actions echo in the people and places you've shared with others.
The laws, traditions, buildings, sentiments, norms, societal wounds, environment, relationships, etc. all come from people doing things during their lifetime. You can be one of those people, and choose what your contribution and legacy could be.
What will you leave for the next generation?
You can't affect if your consciousness will live on or not, but you can affect your conscience. Maybe start there?