CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

ACHIEVING SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT



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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.
FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
A new awareness of how society's perceptions have become distorted (materialism, commercialism, racism, moral ambiguity, etc.)
Becoming self-aware in a way that evokes curiosity and creates the desire for an even deeper understanding
Awakening to new-found levels of love and connectedness with people, nature, animals, sacred spaces, the cosmos, God, etc.
Obtaining a feeling of "knowing" that one is on the right path (with one's goals, by applying religious teachings that resonate, etc.)
Becoming more health-conscious by understanding our bodies are a gift
Desiring to learn and to look for lessons and messages in every experience
Experiencing unshakable compassion and love for others and seeing everyone as equal and deserving of it
Needing to give back to others and feel one is part of a bigger whole
Appreciating the power of love in a new way
Being able to let go of worry and trust in God, the universe, or oneself
Experiencing an unexplained event that opens one's eyes to a higher power, calling, or spiritual world
An unshakable belief in the power of intention and putting good into the world

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: Feeling disconnected from other people, society, and the world at large can make a character want to understand their place in the universe by connecting to something bigger than themselves.
Esteem and Recognition: Achieving a deeper grasp of spiritual concepts and connection can lead to higher feelings of personal value. So for characters lacking self-worth, seeking to understand their existence and purpose can result in increased esteem.
Love and Belonging: A character may wish to strengthen their relationship with God or adopt spiritual beliefs to deepen their bond with a partner, family, or group that share the same ideas, beliefs, and values.  
Safety and Security: When hardship depletes hope and the character's life is controlled by fear, they may seek out spiritual connection to obtain strength and to cope with struggle.
Physiological Needs: A character who is mortally threatened (say, through the diagnosis of a terminal disease) may turn to religion (or the strengthening of existing beliefs) to help process turbulent emotions and to better cope with death and what comes after.

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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