Embrace Main Character Energy to Take Control of Your Life

Have you heard of "main character energy?" It's something that I recently remembered and found useful. I often feel powerless, as if I am a spectator of my own life. This isn't out of the blue: a recent series of events has shown me how cruel life can be for no reason. However, last night, I set aside some thinking time to try and resolve this issue. That's when I remembered main character energy, a social media term coined in 2020. It's a concept that deeply resonated with me, so I revisited it online and spoke about it with my therapist. Here's what I discovered. 

What Is 'Main Character Energy?' 

My therapist clarified that there are various negative traits associated with this term, such as narcissism and a sense of entitlement. However, in this post, I will only focus on the positives of main character energy (MCE).

According to VeryWell Mind, it is defined as follows. 

"Main character energy describes a person who lives life as if they're the main character of a novel or movie. It refers to an attitude toward life in which you invest in yourself and put yourself first. That can be a good thing if it's used in a way that prioritizes self-care, and many people mean it this way, but it can be a bad thing if taken too far."¹ 

I would say MCE is about treating yourself as the most important person in your life, knowing your worth, and owning your choices. 

How Can You Embrace Main Character Energy?

It's one thing to say I'm going to embrace MCE and another thing to do it. When you live with a mental illness like anxiety or depression, it is difficult to see yourself as the protagonist of your life. These conditions tend to flare up at the worst possible time and prevent one from getting things done. But I believe MCE is not about hiding your imperfections; it is about owning them and doing the best you can anyway. It is also about taking care of yourself and personalizing social definitions of success and normalcy.

Remember, when you focus on the things you can control, it gets a little easier to let go of the things you have no control over. When you accept who you are, work on what you can, and give yourself grace when things aren't going your way, give yourself a pat on the back because you, my friend, have become the main character of your life. 

Source

1. Vinney, C., PhD. (2024, February 1). Main character energy: being the hero of your own story. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/main-character-energy-8550923