Are You an NPC or the Main Character?
Life, in a way, is like a complex game, filled with numerous unpredictable obstacles and objectives. The kicker is that you only get one shot at it. So, how are you faring in your own life? Are you mindlessly following the script, or are you taking hold of the pen and writing the story yourself? In gamer terms, are you an NPC (non-playing character) or are you the protagonist? Here are 10 signs to distinguish whether you're just a background extra or the main character.
1. Every Day Is the Same
When you're just an extra, every day goes basically the same for you. The same routine, the same dialogue, the same conflicts and resolutions. There is no motive, and there is no deviation. If your days consist of an endless loop of eat, work, sleep, you're probably an NPC.
2. You Rarely Start Conversations
If you've gamed before, you'll know that side characters rarely ever initiate conversations. Instead, they wait for the protagonist to go to them. In fact, you don't just avoid starting conversations—you avoid starting anything. You live in your own bubble, and you prefer not to be disturbed.
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3. Make the Same Complaints Every Day
Speaking of going through the same loop every day, that's not all you do—you make the same complaints every day, too. And yet, despite your protests, you don't go out of your way to change the script or make things interesting. You just continue letting the same problems run your life.
4. Interesting Things Only Happen to Your Friends
You're envious of your friends because it seems like all the interesting things only ever happen to them and not you. Maybe they get to travel to an unknown island, meet a celebrity, or become super successful. For you, however, things are always mundane.
5. No Original Thoughts
Your thoughts, opinions, jokes, and comments are all words you've taken elsewhere. You're easily influenced by others, and you mindlessly follow what they do instead of coming up with your own way of thinking or making your own decisions.
6. You Follow the Script Instead of Challenging It
In the same way as you rarely have original thoughts, you often wordlessly follow the script you're given in life instead of challenging it. You know you should probably try to introduce spontaneity sometimes, but out of laziness (or a lack of motivation), you don't.
7. You Let Others Define You
You let other people in your life and your past experiences define you and your worth. Instead of challenging those views and opinions, you let them weigh you down until you've convinced yourself of them, too. As the cherry on top, you constantly compare yourself to people who seem to be doing much better than you.
8. You Prefer to Blend In with the Crowd
You don't like being the center of attention, and you would much rather blend in with the crowd. After all, being in the spotlight sounds like too much work and pressure, so you're happy to just follow the motions and avoid standing out.
9. You're Not the Person People Gravitate To
When you're out with your friends in social gatherings, you're not the person who magnetizes people. People sometimes don't even seem to notice you there at all, unless you've arrived with a popular group that stands out.
10. You're Aimless
You don't know how to navigate life, and you have no desire to take the wheel. Your goals are vague, or you might not have any at all. Basically, you're just wandering with no real direction, but at the same time, you feel stuck in place, too.
Do those points sound like you? If so, you're probably just an NPC—a side character. If you want to know whether you're actually the protagonist in life, read on.
1. You Welcome Plot Twists
You don't just make lemonade if life gives you lemons—you elevate it. You reinvent the idea and the script and spin it into something better. You're not afraid when things don't go exactly your way, because you see it as a challenge, a tiny hiccup, not as an end.
2. You Think Outside the Box
You don't follow the same line of thought everybody else has; instead, you find solutions your own way. You enjoy seeing problems from different perspectives and challenging the norm, simply because that excites you more than following the grain.
3. You Make Your Own Decisions
In the same way, you enjoy making decisions based on your own thoughts, perspectives, and opinions. You might sometimes ask others to pitch in their views, but the ultimate decision lies with you, and nothing can sway your final choice.
4. You're the One Initiating
Instead of waiting for people or opportunities to come to you, you make them happen. This could mean you often go out to make new friends, you volunteer to lead work projects, or you explore different passions to find out more about yourself.
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5. You Define Yourself
You don't let your past experiences, mistakes, or relationships define you. You see them as stepping stones, things that made you stronger—not weaker. You know your worth and the value you bring to the world, and you're not afraid of letting that shine.
6. You Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
You might be scared of a lot of things, but you don't let fear stop you from trying. You let that fear drive you forward—to go on more adventures, to step further outside what you're comfortable with. This has led you to experience things you wouldn't have otherwise.
7. You're Always Evolving
Even when you encounter hiccups along the way, you don't let these ruin your momentum. Instead, you learn and grow from them, allowing them to shape you further. Your unique experiences are what keep you evolving—or levelling-up, as they say—and you're proud of that.
8. You Romanticize the Little Things
Whether you're cooped up indoors on a rainy day with a cup of hot chocolate, or you're watching the sun slowly set while waiting for the train, you romanticize the little moments. Where others might not spare a second glance, you find beauty, joy, and meaning in everything.
9. You Embrace Your Flaws
You know you're not perfect, but you don't let the thought of that weigh you down. In your mind, those imperfections are what make you uniquely you, and you find each of them beautiful in their own light. You know to highlight them as strengths, not weaknesses.
10. You Write Your Own Script
You understand that you're the writer of your own story, and your creative mind knows no limits to making every chapter of your life stand out. You don't wait for things to happen—you create the paths that lead you to them.
