The Impact of “Main Character Energy”
I’m sure by now we’ve all heard of “main character energy” the term was popularized on TikTok. This trend came from the idea of romanticizing your life. There are two ways that this phrase is applied: one way that people interpret this term is the idea that your life is a movie and you are the main character. Initially, this can be seen as a good thing. It shares the idea that one should focus on the good things in life and focus on ourselves and our happiness. However, this can also be damaging. Some people have used it to give in to their narcissistic tendencies by assigning themselves as the lead role and pushing other people in their life to the sidelines.
We all know that ‘one friend’ who talks constantly about their own life and doesn’t bother to ask you about yours. Who wants to spend time with someone like that?
Not everyone takes this idea to the full extent but, we all know that “one friend” who talks constantly about their own life and doesn’t bother to ask you about yours. Who wants to spend time with someone like that? This leads that friend to push others away and create unfulfilling and emotionally closed relationships.
This mindset can be heightened by social media but, the main culprit is Tiktok because this trend can be seen the most there. The algorithm floods your feed with the same messages of productivity and perfection. It sets impossible expectations that we are expected to achieve. This can give anyone a hit to their self-esteem.
Finally, this mindset relies on emotion and affect rather than logic and rationality to create a picture-perfect life. It tells people that just living isn’t enough, they have to make their lives a movie! This ideal will never be completely satisfied. There will always be someone who is doing more interesting and exciting things than you. Instead of following this trend and trying to create a false lifestyle, you should focus on improving your self-confidence.
WAYS TO BOOST CONFIDENCE
BE PRESENT. If you spend all your time thinking about what happened the night before instead of focusing on the day ahead, you’ll exhaust yourself. Nobody is perfect. Being self-critical of yourself will not change what happened. The best way to live is to live in the present. You can only control yourself and how you want to live your life.
RELEASE EXPECTATIONS. If you go into a scenario with an idea of how things go, more than likely you will be disappointed. By just living in the moment you can enjoy what you have instead of wishing that things had gone differently.
EXERCISE. Getting some exercise releases endorphins, these will help give you a boost in energy and mood. The form of exercise doesn’t have to be crazy either. It could be playing music in your dorm to dance to or walking with friends around campus. This can also help you set goals and stick with them. Overall the goal of confidence is self-love and acceptance, not weight loss or a change in your body shape.
WEAR WHAT YOU WANT. Find pieces of clothing that make you feel good when you wear them. This could be your favorite wool sweater or wide-leg pants. When you wear what you feel comfortable in, you will feel more sure of yourself and this will show itself in your actions.
SUPPORT FROM FRIENDS. It can be hard to open up to others when you don’t feel good about yourself. But talking to a trusted friend can really help you find ways to feel more comfortable in your skin. You’re not alone. Feelings of sadness, anxiety, and embarrassment are normal. I bet that everything you’re feeling your friends deal with as well. This connection will create a strong support system that you and your friends can rely on whenever these feelings bubble up.
I’m not saying that “main character energy” is a bad thing, it just needs to be used in moderation. Instead of spending our time “fine-tuning” our social media and presenting an ideal life, let’s work on our confidence, live in the present, and be ourselves.
Sources:
https://www.pedestrian.tv/online/main-character-energy-tiktok-trend/
https://www.killyourdarlings.com.au/article/the-cruel-optimism-of-main-character-energy/
https://hellorelish.com/articles/how-to-be-confident-everyday.html