Main Character Energy Is Not Selfish — Let’s Talk About It Reclaiming your 

Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught that putting ourselves first was rude, arrogant, or selfish. Especially if you’re the dependable one. The fixer. The one who always shows up. But stepping into Main Character Energy isn’t about ignoring others—it’s about finally including yourself.

Main Character Energy means recognizing that your life is not a rehearsal. You don’t exist solely to support everyone else’s storyline while yours stays paused. It’s choosing your peace, honoring your time, and making decisions that align with who you are now, not who people expect you to remain.

Reclaiming your life without guilt requires unlearning the idea that self-sacrifice equals goodness. You can be kind and still have boundaries. You can love people and still say no. You can grow without dragging everyone with you.

When you start living intentionally, some people will feel uncomfortable—not because you’re wrong, but because you’re no longer convenient. And that’s okay. Main Character Energy isn’t loud or boastful; it’s quiet confidence. It’s waking up and knowing your needs matter too.

This year, let go of the guilt. You’re not selfish—you’re finally self-aware.

3 Resources

• Book: Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab

• Podcast: The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema Bryant

• Tool: Personal values worksheet (values-based decision-making)

New Year 2026 Joke

“My New Year’s resolution is Main Character Energy… which means I’m no longer overexplaining myself. If you’re confused, that’s part of your character development.”

3 Historical Oddities

• In ancient Rome, wealthy men hired professional mourners—literally paying people to center their life story even in death.

• Queen Elizabeth I refused to marry partly because she didn’t want her authority overshadowed—Main Character Energy before hashtags.

• In medieval times, mirrors were rare and expensive, so many people never saw their own reflection regularly—symbolic of how long humans have lived without self-focus.