IT GIRLS GUIDE TO BEING THE MAIN CHARACTER - Part 1: Actionable Steps
This is everything I have learnt in my journey from the side character to the main character. If you have ever felt like you were always pushed to the sidelines and felt ignored and unseen. This is for you 🧡
This is however, physical or practical things you can DO to step into the main character energy. I will probably make a part 2 that talks about the mindset aspect of it. Tell me if that is something you guys will want!
Okay so let me explain because i do not mean be busy in a toxic way.
The crux of what I mean is that main characters are always busy and always working towards their goals. Nobody wants to read about characters who have nothing going on in their lives. Who do nothing but scroll on their phones all day long.
You need a goal. You need a purpose, to be the main character. And it's okay if you don't know that yet, but you should definitely be actively trying to figure that out or try new things.
Practical Steps: Some practical ways to do so is-
2. Design a personal curriculum for yourself where you study or research the topics that interest you.
3. Go out. Explore your city.
4. Try out new hobbies and skills.
I also have a post on goal setting.
🎀 Main characters focus on themselves and only themselves
Now, this one is for my people pleasers and anxious girlies.
I am going to be very frank. If you have time to worry about what other people think of you and their opinions of you....you have too much time in your hands.
I say this with utmost love and care, because this was me. I would spend hours thinking about why someone hasn't texted me back. Why are people ignoring my texts? And are my friends purposely excluding me and on and on... I have always felt like I cared more for people than they cared for me. And then one day I was just done with finding myself in the same position over and over again. I was disgusted at how i was giving my time and energy to people who never cared.
I decided, that i will invest that time and energy into creative ventures, my passion projects and other skills and hobbies.
So my advice to you is, get some hobbies and find things to work on.
Practical Step: If you find yourself worrying about what people think about you and seeking validation from anyone aside from yourself, take a deep breath, roll back your shoulders, and now ask yourself, how can I employ and invest this time into more beneficial things and opportunities...
🎀 Create as much as you consume
In today's digital age, it is so common for people to spend their entire days just consuming information.
Now, i am not saying there is anything wrong with consumption, in fact to create, you inevitably need to consume. However, you should be creating as much as you are consuming, if not more.
It does not matter what form you are creating in, whether writing books, fanfiction (hehe), painting, sketching, edits, blog posts, choreographies etc. You should be engaging your creativity in one way or the other.
Practical Step: Try out a creative medium you have never before. If you are a writer, try out making an edit. If you are a painter, try out writing something. Experiment with new art forms. This way, not only will you be learning new things but also participating in self discovery.
As a daydreamer and also an escapist at heart, this was a major issue i had to work on. Main characters are present and aware of their surroundings. You want to be an active participant in your life. Just being present, and focusing your mind on what is happening in the moment can transform your life experience.
Next time when you are out by yourself, instead of wearing earphones and listening to music or podcasts just look around and take everything in as though you haven't been there before.
Explore the world with new eyes. Stop multitasking and focus on one task at a time.
One major misconception about being the main character is that it is selfish.
I find that almost laughable because a pattern I have noticed in main characters is that they want to change the world. They want big things for themselves. They want to impact people and they want to be of service to humanity.
The only way you can do that is if you rise above the small issues of everyday life. If you stop people pleasing and saying yes to people, situations and demands that drain you. Your energy and time is limited. You have to put it in yourself first to be able to offer value to other people.
Once you block out the things draining you, you can now start to think about the ways, you can make the world a better place and ways you can alleviate the pain and suffering of others. Even if you are offering value to just one person, it is valuable.
Practical Step: You can volunteer for NGO's and charities. You can do some activism work. You can even try to offer value by creating content. The opportunities are endless.
