A Wren Says

Following from my post last week, I’m recasting the film of my life, with myself as the lead. But what does that mean? You likely have seen for some time now “main character energy” across social media. I am not here to bring you anything from that space to define this. I instead have turned to storytelling.  More specifically, I’m pulling from this article from Masterclass.

A main character is the central lens through which the reader or viewer experiences the story. Their view shapes how we view that world. A protagonist, who may or may not be the main character, is the one who drives the plot. I’m aiming to be both in my life using these 5 steps.

Step 1: Establish where you came from.

For me this is all about getting grounded in my personal story. What are the events and experiences that have shaped who I am today. This is about diving into my personal history and that of my heritage. My past experiences, and those of my family and community, have influenced the opportunities I have had, my life choices I’ve made so far, and how I continue to act, so I have to take note.

Step 2: Figure out where they’re going.

Once I know where I’ve been and who I am, I need to determine the path I want my life to take. I need to visualize the future I want for myself. What is my purpose? What are my dreams and goals? Where do I want my journey to take me?

Step 3: Make them believable.

This might seem odd, but I think it is important to establish my motivation and my humanity. First, I have to think about what motivates my actions. If I were looking back on my life decades from now, would it make sense to me then to have been driven my that cause? Next, this might seem weird, but I also to think about what makes me human. In this case, it is about how I’m connected to the rest of world, especially about those people who seem most different from me. And then no matter where my journey takes me, I need to consider how do I remain relatable and show up as my authentic self. What keeps me connected to the entire human race?

Step 4: Have them interact with supporting characters

A good film has strong leads with supporting actors who are so good they are nominated for awards. Making myself the main character doesn’t mean making it all about me all of the time.  Since I have not intentionally left society to live as a hermit, there are people around me. I should get to know them. Every interaction I have with someone else enhances their story line and reveals more about me as a person. I believe it was Levin who said something to the effect that we aren’t truly human without knowing other people. How can I connect with those people who are already in my life supporting me? How can I connect to those random strangers who pop in my life? How can I make myself more human, more real, by engaging as a social being?

Step 5: Give them internal monologues

This is step is also about establishing my key beliefs. An important note is that as the main character, I have to have my own thoughts and opinions. I can’t have all of my action driven by what other people think. This means I need to separate my thoughts, opinions, and beliefs from those of my family and everyone around me. But on top of that, I need to be in control of the narrative that plays in my mind. Just because my thoughts stay in my head doesn’t mean they don’t affect my outward actions. How can I use my internal monologue to empower myself on this journey?

As you can see, when I think about becoming the main character, I am not advocating for self-centeredness, a lack of empathy, or literally making a film about yourself. You don’t need actual cameras. You don’t need narcissism. You just have to make a choice to shape your own story by establishing who you are, who you want to surround yourself with, and how you want to think. Decide on your own story; direct your own life.