Main Character Energy: Understanding Who You Are Before You Set Your Goals 📜
- Coach Brenna Vidal
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
Every story begins before the quest is named.
Before the dragon.
Before the sword.
Before the treasure map.
It begins with the main character — standing where they are, shaped by what they’ve lived, carrying strengths they don’t always see, fears they haven’t yet named, and instincts they’ve learned to trust.
This season isn’t asking you to reinvent yourself.
It’s inviting you to remember who you already are — and how that shapes the path you’re ready to walk next.
Not all clarity comes from thinking harder.
Some clarity comes from noticing what responds when a question is placed in front of you.
Let this be a moment of orientation. A quiet pause before movement begins.🗝️
🧭 Understanding Your Main Character Energy
In stories, the main character isn’t defined by how prepared they are — but by how their inner world shapes the journey.
Their values.
Their fears.
Their history.
Their way of moving through the world when no one is watching.
Your life works the same way.
Main character energy isn’t about confidence or performance.
It’s about self-awareness — knowing the forces that shaped you, the roles you tend to fall into, and the patterns that guide your choices.
As you read, you don’t need to search for answers.
Instead, notice sensations, emotions, and reactions.
Do certain words feel grounding?
Do others create resistance, warmth, or curiosity?
Where does your body soften — or tense — as you reflect?
Those responses are information.
They help you understand how you move through the world now.
🐛 Characterization: Who R U...Really?
Before goals, plans, or change — there is identity.
Not who you were.
Not who you think you should be.
But who you are right now, in this chapter of your life.
This section isn’t about labeling or correcting yourself.
It’s about noticing the layers you already move through the world with.
As you consider the aspects below, pause after each one and simply observe:
When I think about my age/current season of life, do I feel steadiness, urgency, relief, or pressure?
How does my identity (gender, orientation, culture, lineage, etc) feel in my body right now? Supported? Questioned? Empowered?
When I imagine my appearance, clothing, and presentation, does my body feel expressed or hidden?
Are there mannerisms or personality traits I lean on for safety? For connection? For control?
You’re not trying to define yourself here.
You’re simply observing what feels true — and what feels out of alignment.
🗺️ Character Background: The World Behind You
Every main character is shaped by the world they came from.
Not as baggage — but as context.
Your education, culture, environment, beliefs, access to resources, and early experiences didn’t just happen around you. They taught you how to survive, how to adapt, how to relate, and how to make sense of power, safety, and belonging.
This is the prologue of your story.
As you reflect on your background, notice what arises before thought:
When I think about my education or learning path, do I feel pride, grief, curiosity, or something unfinished?
As I recall key life events, which memories still feel alive in my nervous system (both 'good' and 'bad')?
When I picture the environment I was raised in, do I feel safe, alert, independent, or guarded?
Where has culture, spirituality, or belief supported me, and where has it conflicted with who I’m becoming?
When I consider money, work, and stability, do you feel calm or maybe a bit braced?
You’re not here to relive the past or assign blame. You’re here to understand why certain paths feel natural, why others feel heavy, and why your instincts developed the way they did.
When background is seen clearly, self-judgment often turns into self-respect.
🏹 The Path of Your Character Arc
Every character has an arc — even during the quiet chapters.
You are not static.
You are not behind.
You are in motion, whether you name it or not.
This part of the reflection isn’t about the world that shaped you —
it’s about how you’re responding to it now.
Pause here and look at your story from a wider lens:
If my life were a chapter, what kind of chapter am I in — a beginning, a crossroads, a rebuilding, a holding pattern, a reckoning, a redemption arc?
Does this chapter feel aligned with who I am, or am I playing a role I’ve outgrown?
Where am I moving from instinct or habit — and where am I consciously choosing?
If nothing changed for the next year, would I feel at peace with this arc, or would I want to write it differently?
You’re not here to judge your answers. You’re here to see your arc honestly.
It’s about noticing patterns — especially:
where your strengths have been carrying more than their share
where fear may be quietly influencing decisions
where support, allies, or structure might be missing
Because once you can name where you are in the arc, you regain authorship.
You’re no longer just reacting to the plot.
You’re choosing how the next chapter unfolds.
🔮 What Comes Next
Next week, the story deepens.
Before we set quests or make plans, we turn toward fear — not as something to defeat, but as something to understand. Fear often points to what matters most, and to where protection, care, or support are needed before forward motion. So before choosing a path, we’ll learn how to name what you’re guarding, and why.
For now, let this awareness settle.
You’ve just returned to the center of your story.
From here, the next step becomes clearer — and truly yours. 🗝️✨
Author
Coach Brenna Vidal
Founder of Fantasy Fitness + Sovereign of the Order of Legends
CPT, CNC, YFFR, RYT, KYT, PSYC BA, BSW, CWCM, Black Belt
Medical Disclaimer: No content on this site, irrespective of its publication date, is intended to replace direct medical advice from your doctor or another qualified clinician. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance. The author is not responsible for any reliance on the information provided on this site. Use it in conjunction with professional advice.
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