Do we need #MainCharacterEnergy all the time?
We can’t all have main character energy all the time. Some of us are fab sidekicks. Some moments call for stepping back. And some may just be narcissists
Was it just the pandemic, or was camera-facing humanity hurtling toward this, anyway? By 2022, once lockdown restrictions were finally lifted, and people started to celebrate ordinary days and mundane routines, one hashtag, #MainCharacterEnergy, became a quick shorthand for the general global mood. Everyone went about believing they were the hero in the story of their life. They were. We are. But, honestly, if everyone’s special, it means no one’s special, right?
A common audio track for the hashtag content comes from TikTok creator Ashley Ward. Over twinkling harp music, Ward states, “You have to start romanticising your life. You have to start thinking of yourself as the main character. ‘Cause if you don’t, life will continue to pass you by, and all the little things that make it so beautiful, will continue to go unnoticed. So, take a second and look around, and realise that it’s a blessing for you to be here right now.” The clip has been used over 80,000 times. And viewed countless times more.
Having main-character energy is different from the idea of YOLO. You only live once, but protagonist mindsets call for a lot more self-involvement. When actor Kerry Washington appeared on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast in September, she aimed to discuss generational trauma and how to break it. Among her tips: Putting herself at the centre of her story, so that she feels like she’s living her story and not chasing somebody else’s. Countless influencers put up similar videos on how to be the star in one’s own lives.
Surely, on a planet of self-professed heroes, there’s got to be some villains. Look carefully. Someone out there is not living their best life, just faking it. Someone’s spotlight is so bright, it’s eclipsing another’s. Someone needs me-time all the time. Someone is finally unleashing their inner narcissist. Someone is starting to believe they are the most important thing in everyone’s lives.
Are we taking charge of our lives or glorifying self-obsession? There’s an easy way to check. Having main-character energy is largely about setting goals, drawing boundaries, stepping away from other people’s expectations and acknowledging one’s place in the world. Anything else is just selfishness with sunglasses on.
The true heroes are already changing the plot. Many use #NotTheMainCharacter, to indicate that they’re happy to shun the limelight, and be the sidekick, the best friend and the support system instead. They’re proving that it’s perfectly normal for life to not always be extraordinary.
Feel free to enjoy your own #MainCharacterEnergy moment. Just remember that there’s no point in comparing it to a 15-second clip of an influencer halfway around the world showing off a carefully curated side of their life. And remember that main characters, in stories as in life, are nothing without the universe in which they reside. Romanticise your narrative, but pencil in an interval. And check out what how other people’s stories are playing out too.
