In stories and movies, there are always four distinct characters.
All four of these characters are also all within us, as well.
Despite how these four characters seem to be predetermined in stories, we have a greater amount of control within our own story than we think.
So, now it’s time to meet our four characters in our lives……the victim, the villain, the hero, and the guide.
The victim essentially exists to make the hero look “good” and for the villain to look “bad/evil.”
In reality, the victim has no hope, and so it does not really exist in our lives (as we all have a glimmer of hope, no matter how deep down that might be). Therefore, the victim is just a prop in the story. She will attract a lot of resources and attracts a rescuer, but people tend to resent the victim because of the extent of energy that she sucks from everyone around her.
We tend to play the victim when we are scared or when we don’t want to face responsibility for changing things. At the end of the story, the victim never really transforms, never grows, and never has glory. She is a stagnant prop in other people’s stories. Don’t play a victim in your life-story.
The villain serves the purpose of making the hero look strong in the story.
The villain never has friends, but only has minions. Therefore, there is never connection in their lives, despite people being around them. She often has a backstory of pain and responds to that pain by wanting others to experience similar pain in life. The plot of the story is always headed toward the villain being defeated, so it is not a wise role to take on.
Don’t be a villain in your life-story; nothing will wreck your energy in life than playing the villain.
We all know the story of the hero. The story is ABOUT the hero. She stands up and faces the challenge in front of her.
Inherently, at some point things do need to go badly for the hero, simply so she act in faith and run towards that glimmer of light that things might get better. Throughout the story the hero transforms, and becomes a better version of herself. She will prove her own identity to herself. She teaches good lessons to the world, and inspires those around her.
In your life-story, spend a lot of time playing the role of the hero. It is a good place to be for both you and the world.
The guide is the one who helps the hero win her battle.
The guide has a backstory of her own, but as compared to the villain, she was the hero in her story. The guide knows the way out of the circumstances the hero is in and understands how the story goes. To the guide, personal wins are not the point; it is helping others to get their wins that is truly important.
The older we get, the more often we step into this role of a guide. It really is the point of life, to guide others, and she should strive to live the majority of our life-story in this role.
“Courage is playing the hero so you can become the guide.”
– Donald Miller
1. What character have you played in your life-story in the past?
2. What role are you playing right now?
3. What needs to change within you to start becoming the hero or guide?
(adapted from Donald Miller, Building a Story Brand)
