Let’s talk about becoming the main character of your life. We all have tales of our lives that we would love to tell and be remembered for, but how do we go about making this happen?
The first step is to realize that you are the main character of your life and that everything you do affects not only yourself but also everyone around you. Coming to this realization may be difficult, but it is important as it will help you to take control of your life and make decisions based on what is best for you and those around you.
Sometimes this step is the most difficult because it’s so easy to lose ourselves to the external forces surrounding us. However, by taking the time to introspect and understand who we are as individuals, we can start to carve out our own unique path in life.
To understand what your character (YOU) want out of life, try creating a character profile so that you can see your character in black and white and identify what is truly important to you.
Character Driven Life
Like all good novels and movies, the main character’s profile determines how that character interacts with the scene and the other actors. Because life is unpredictable to a large extent, we need to focus on creating a character-driven story rather than a plot-driven story.
When we describe a story as “character-driven,” we mean it centres on the characters, their internal world, their relationships, and the ultimate transformation of those characters. The story is not about the external world but the internal reactions of the characters to what’s happening around them.
This type of storytelling allows us to delve deep into characters and explore their motivations and how they interact with each other. This is what makes for great drama and entertainment because you can always expect something unforeseen to happen, exactly like life!
The benefit of living a character-driven story is that it makes your life more interesting and meaningful. When everything revolves around your central character, your world becomes much more interesting. You have a vested interest in your journey’s outcome, which makes for an engrossing story to live.
In a plot-driven story, the focus is more on the things a character deals with, while a character-driven story focuses on why the character deals with those things in the way they do.
For example, in a plot-driven story, the main character might be trying to save the world from an evil dictator. But in a character-driven story, the main character might be trying to save the world because he feels like it’s his responsibility or because he’s passionate about justice.
In a character-driven story, the plot is used to develop the character. Our lives are the stories that develop our characters.
Create Your Character Profile
So how do we go about creating our character profile? The first step is to take a look at yourself from the outside in. What are your personality traits, likes and dislikes, and what does the world see when they look at you? Once you have a good understanding of who you are on the outside, it’s time for the next step: self-reflection.
Start by asking yourself tough questions like these:
• What am I really passionate about?
• What makes me happy?
• What do I want people to say about me when I’m gone?
• Who are my true friends, and why?
• Why do I get angry sometimes, and how can I control that?
Next, delve into your backstory: Answer this list of questions: Where were you born? Who are your parents? What are your siblings like? What are your parents’ professions? What is the story of your family’s migration to Australia (or the U.S., for that matter)?
Finally, answer this list of questions: Who does your character interact with daily, and how do these interactions shape his or her worldview and behaviour? Where does he or she go to get information, and what sources does he or she rely on for advice (e.g., friends, family, books, etc.
Once you have a good understanding of who you are, inside and out, it’s time to start shaping your story. This is where your character profile comes in handy.
List Your Main Character KeyWords
Start by creating a list of keywords that describe your character. These might be things like “passionate,” “driven,” “independent,” or “hardworking.” Next, research what other people who fit the profile have done in their lives. This can be anything from reading books to watching movies to travelling abroad.
After you have a good understanding of what makes your character tick, it’s time to start writing. Use these keywords as inspiration for your story. What is your main goal? How will you achieve it? Who are your allies and enemies? What are the consequences of your actions? How do you want your character to be transformed?
The goal of this exercise is not to write a novel-length story but rather to develop a basic idea for a story that can develop as you move through your main character life.
Write a Life Story that is FULL
What does your character want to do now? Does your character want to drink coffee at a Parisian café? Perhaps they are learning how to finally ask for what they want. Is it time to finally say no to doing things your main character does out of obligatoriness, fear of what others might think?
So there you have it! The steps to becoming the main character of your life. By following these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to living a full and exciting life story. Who knows, you may even inspire others to follow their dreams as well.
