CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

SERVING OTHERS



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HELPFUL TIP:

To understand why your character is driven toward a certain goal, get to know their positive and negative traits, as well as any significant emotional wounds that might be motivating them. Then you can explore the various kinds of conflict that could block them as they move toward their goal.
NOTES:
Similar to philanthropy, serving others means dedicating time and energy to other people to help and lift them up, but on a smaller scale.

FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Playing music for seniors in care homes (or volunteering steadily in some way)
Volunteering with one's church group to help the community
Volunteering to be on a committee or council to help out
Serving at one's church (as a mentor, teacher, usher, event coordinator, choir member, alter server, a pastor, a nun, etc.)
Maintaining the property of one's neighbors to help out
Providing council to others, free of charge (after a tragedy, after a difficult life event, by running a recovery group)
Providing free healthcare (donating hours as a physician, working in a free clinic, manning a mobile unit to allow homeless people access to free healthcare and tests, etc.)
Volunteering in a soup kitchen or food bank
Volunteering at school (on the PTA board, as a room monitor, as a field trip escort, by teaching or entertaining kids at a special event)
Giving time to a cause one believes in (working on political campaigns, helping out with after school programing, coaching a youth sports team)
Minding a neighbor's child after school while a single parent is at work
Baking goodies for a shut-in neighbor
Joining the volunteer fire department
Providing eldercare (driving them to appointments, cleaning their house, checking in on them, bringing items they need, helping with nail trimming and other self-care tasks)
Sharing one's talents and skills freely with those eager to learn (through library programs, at special craft sessions through a school, at the community center)
Setting up and maintaining a community garden that all can use and enjoy
Running a community watch patrol to keep residents safe
Hosting barbecues and pancake breakfasts at community celebrations and local events
Collecting items to be donated and distributed to organizations that help those who need assistance
Raising money in little ways to buy others what they need
Working with people to get them off the street and helping them improve their skills so they can get a job and research options that can better help them move forward in life
Walking dogs and running errands for people who have mobility issues

HUMAN NEED DRIVING THE GOAL (INNER MOTIVATION):
There are five basic human needs that, when missing from a character's life, could motivate them to pursue this goal. The following needs are all possibilities, but only one of them should be the primary driver for any given character. For more information on the relationship between human needs and outer motivations, please see​ this ​Character Motivation tutorial.

Self-Actualization: A character who feels adrift in life may view serving others as a way to have a deeper purpose and feel part of something greater. Doing so would help them to feel more connected to the world around them and perhaps the universe itself.
Esteem and Recognition: Giving back to others through serving can lead to a higher sense of personal satisfaction, increasing their own perception of personal value. 
Love and Belonging: A character lacking a home and family bonds may crave closeness and connections, which they can achieve in the service of others. Gaining the appreciation of those who benefit from this service will make the character feel part of a group and appreciated for who they are and what they contribute. 
Safety and Security: In times of uncertainty, there is comfort to be gained in serving others and helping them to feel more secure. By playing one's part, stress is reduced and everyone involved will be in a better mindset to deal with whatever challenges come.

HOW THE CHARACTER MAY PREPARE FOR THIS GOAL:
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POSSIBLE SACRIFICES OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL:
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ROADBLOCKS WHICH COULD PREVENT THIS GOAL FROM BEING ACHIEVED:
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TALENTS & SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THE CHARACTER ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:
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WHAT'S AT STAKE IF THIS GOAL ISN'T MET?
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