There’s a moment in every cheesy coming-of-age movie where the protagonist stands in the rain, staring at their reflection in a puddle, realizing they’ve hit rock bottom—but they’re about to rise. Cue the slow piano music. They’re ready to embrace their destiny, fight the good fight, and reclaim their narrative.
Main Character Energy is basically that moment, distilled into a TikTok trend.
It’s the idea of treating yourself like the protagonist of your own story—walking into rooms with confidence, making bold decisions, wearing impractical hats just because they look cool in the imaginary movie of your life. And honestly, I get it. Who wouldn’t want to feel like their life is cinematic? But let’s talk about the cracks in the facade, the messy bits that don’t make the highlight reel.
What Is Main Character Energy, Really?
On the surface, it’s about self-empowerment. Main Character Energy says, You’re the hero. You’re the star. The plot revolves around you. It’s an antidote to feeling invisible in a world that demands conformity. It’s walking down the street with your headphones on, pretending the mundane act of buying oat milk is part of a montage.
But scratch the surface, and you’ll see it’s also a reaction to burnout. When life feels overwhelming, chaotic, or meaningless, Main Character Energy offers a sense of control. You’re not just slogging through your 9-to-5; you’re the lead in a gritty drama about survival. You’re not stuck in traffic; you’re on a journey of self-discovery (even if that journey ends at a Taco Bell drive-thru).
The Double-Edged Sword of Self-Centric Narratives
Main Character Energy sounds empowering, but it comes with baggage. When everyone’s the star, the pressure to constantly perform skyrockets. Your messy, mundane moments? They’re now plot holes. Your bad days? Character development. It’s exhausting to constantly frame your life as a story worth telling, especially when the audience is mostly imaginary.
And let’s be real: not every day is Oscar-worthy. Some days are bloopers. Some days are deleted scenes. Some days you’re not even an extra in someone else’s movie—you’re just the person they step over to get to the snack table.
For Autists, It’s… Complicated
As someone on the spectrum, the idea of Main Character Energy feels both appealing and alien. On one hand, it’s a framework for self-validation—a way to celebrate quirks and triumphs. On the other, it’s another social script to navigate, another performance to perfect. The idea of confidently striding into a room with a perfectly timed witty remark? That’s not me. I’m the one who rehearses conversations in my head, only to forget my lines when the moment comes.
A Personal Rant: Not Everyone Wants to Be the Star
I remember a party (one of the three I’ve attended in my entire life). Someone asked me, “What’s your main character moment?” I froze. Main character moment? I don’t have those. My moments are more like “supporting character who gets five lines before disappearing.”
The question stuck with me. I started thinking about all the times I’d tried to center myself in a situation and ended up feeling awkward, out of place, or just plain tired. For me, life isn’t a movie—it’s a series of quiet vignettes, small victories, and long stretches of existential dread. And that’s okay. Not every story needs a hero’s journey.
Why Main Character Energy Is Exhausting
Overproductivity isn’t just about work anymore—it’s seeped into our identities. We’re not just supposed to do things; we’re supposed to be things. Be charismatic. Be compelling. Be someone who can sum up their life in a single aesthetic Instagram grid.
But here’s the truth: most of life is boring. It’s eating cereal in your pajamas, scrolling through emails, or spending an hour trying to untangle a charger cord. Framing every moment as cinematic doesn’t make it less mundane—it just adds pressure to make the mundane feel meaningful.
Reclaiming the Supporting Role
What if we stopped striving to be the star and embraced the quiet beauty of being a background character? Supporting characters don’t have to carry the plot. They don’t have to have perfect arcs or climactic endings. They can just… exist.
And sometimes, that’s enough. Sometimes, your greatest contribution is listening, observing, or holding space for someone else’s moment. Sometimes, your life isn’t a movie—it’s a collection of snapshots, and the beauty lies in the stillness between frames.
Final Thoughts: Main Character Energy, Unfiltered
Main Character Energy is a fun trend, but let’s not forget the quiet power of being a bit player in your own life. Not everything needs to be aesthetic, profound, or Instagrammable. Sometimes, just showing up is heroic enough.
So here’s to the supporting characters, the deleted scenes, and the bloopers. Here’s to the messy, unfiltered moments that make us human. You don’t have to be the star to have a story worth telling—you just have to be real.
