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Hey {{ first name | there }}! Welcome back to The Flow by Flocus. If you’re new around here, welcome! 👋 You can catch up on our previous editions right here.
This week: You’ve probably heard about “main character energy”, which is all about visualizing yourself as the star of the “show” or “game” that is your life. Today, we’re exploring the opposite approach, aka “NPC energy”. What it is, plus when and how to use it.
🧍♀️ What’s “NPC” Energy?
For those of you who aren’t into gaming, “NPC” stands for “non-player character”.
NPCs are the exact same thing as the “extras” and background characters you see on TV. They also include supporting characters who assist the main character.
“NPC energy”, then, is behaving like a side or background character as you flow through life: unnoticed, unnamed, and unbothered.
It’s the opposite of what social media has dubbed “main character energy”, where people act as the star of their own story, where the spotlight is always on them.
Both types of energy have their place, as well as their pros and cons.
Indeed, “main character energy” can even be an insult to describe people who are rude, oblivious, or self-centered in their actions, particularly those that impact others.
With this framing in mind, let’s explore how the outlook of an NPC can reduce friction in life.
👯♀️ How NPC Energy Helps You Stay Balanced
🚶♀️ Gets you out of your head. So much of our time and energy is spent fixating on our own lives, problems, and mistakes (check out our previous spend on the spotlight effect). NPC energy puts some distance between yourself and all that overthinking by reminding you just how many other characters are out there with their own quests.
🪐 Reminds you just how much bigger the world really is than it feels. Because we’re so wrapped up in our own lives, it can be hard to remember that we’re just a teensy part of an enormous universe that has so much else going on.
😮💨 Takes pressure off you to be everything to everyone. In video games, the main character often follows “the chosen one” trope, where they play the hero who’s divinely blessed to achieve world-changing things and lead all the groups and guilds. But that level of leadership is a huge burden and responsibility! NPCs have it so much easier in comparison.
Before we cover how to cultivate NPC energy, let’s dig into some things to be aware of before trying it.
⚠️ Cons & Precautions for NPC Energy
Just as “main character energy” has a dark side, too much NPC energy can also:
🫥 Lead you to feel unimportant and inconsequential overall. If you notice your mind venturing into “I’m worthless” territory as a result of this mindset, gently pause or pull back, because that is not the aim of this game!
🤏 Make your actions and contributions seem unimpactful. In TV and games, it doesn’t matter whether it was an NPC or main character who traveled back in time and changed something in the past; it always impacts the current timeline. Just as your actions will always cause a ripple effect in our world, no matter how small they may seem.
🙂↔️ Result in false, harmful comparisons with the “main characters” in your life. NPC energy isn’t about comparing yourself to the “heroes” in your life — quite the opposite. Do your best to keep this exercise focused on yourself and how you show up in the world.
Now that you know some of the drawbacks, scroll on for ways to channel NPC energy in a way that’s healthy and helpful.
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Now, when and how to be an NPC!
😶🌫️ How to Cultivate NPC Energy, The Right Way
🔍 Do things that help you “zoom out”
Flying is great for this, as it literally zooms you out. From 30,000 feet, it’s a lot easier to see just how small our modern lives really are.
But there are lots of other, more accessible ways to cultivate this feeling while keeping your feet firmly on the ground (see next tip).
🚌 Spend time in a busy place
We especially love bus stations, airports, libraries, cafes, and similar “liminal spaces” for this, where people are always just passing through. Anywhere that’s high-traffic or puts you in touch with the flow of other people’s lives works.
If you’re wearing headphones or otherwise disconnecting from wherever you are, pause at points to reimmerse yourself in your environment. This is how you get those “NPC vibes” you’re aiming for.
🗣️ Practice some “NPC dialogue”
Some of gaming’s most famous, entertaining, and memorable moments have come from things the NPCs say and do, not the main character. (Ever heard the “took an arrow to the knee” line from Skyrim’s town guards? That’s a classic example.)
You probably already use NPC-esque dialogue in real life, like “I’m fine, how are you?” when someone asks how you are.
You can also use NPC lines like these as part of your manifestations, affirmations, and internal monologues to flip your mental scripts. Some examples from our fave games:
⚔️ “I can’t do this, I need help / resources.” → “It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this!” (The Legend of Zelda)
🦦 “I totally messed up...” → “A belly flop is just a swan dive getting workshopped.” (Animal Crossing)
✊ “I feel so powerless about what’s happening in my life.” → “Take charge of your own destiny.” (Pokemon)
💫 “I don’t know what to do with myself or my life.” → “Set your eyes on the furthest star, and let that be your goal. It's always within your power to go one step further than you used to believe.” (Stardew Valley)
🛡️ “I feel so much pressure to do things or live my life in ways that others want or expect me to.“ → “This is my story, not yours. You must let me finish telling it.” (The Witcher)
🪅 Flocus Picks
A curated list of things worth sharing.
4 Ways to Cultivate Confidence — More visualizations and techniques for boosting your confidence and conviction
Main Character Energy 101 — We talked about “main character energy” a bit already; check out this Flowback for the deets
lofi in outer space (Playlist) — A cosmic mix to unwind to
✨ Flocus: Your Personal Productivity Dashboard
Main character or NPC, every quest goes smoother with a clear mission. Flocus keeps your to-dos, timers, and ambient sounds in one calm dashboard, so you can focus on your next move without the extra noise.
🗳️ POLL: Which energy are you running on lately?
There’s so much out there on “main character energy”, while its counterpart rarely gets the attention it deserves.
What kind of energy are you embodying today? Are you in the spotlight, or in the background? Let us know in the replies!
Until next Sunday,
Flocus Team
