FEAR THESAURUS

BEING POWERLESS



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HELPFUL TIP:

A deeply embedded fear often stems from trauma, so it can be helpful to explore emotional wounds that may be a factor. Your character might also become risk-averse, which can create problems in their relationships and limit their fulfillment. And for a character to achieve their story goal, they must overcome any fear-based thinking that's holding them back. The Character Builder is a great resource for pulling all these factors together.
NOTES:
This fear arises when a character worries they could lose a measure of control and be unable to alter their situation, influence outcomes, or make decisions that matter. The anxiety that their agency will be removed (which may be true or merely imagined) is often based on personal experience—a time when they couldn't change their circumstances and had to endure the discomfort of being stuck. 

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE:
Experiencing discomfort when thinking about the future
Uneasily taking stock of what they don't have control over or what isn't going well
Identifying disruptive forces that could take things in a bad direction
Looking for possible power dynamics that could put the character at a disadvantage
Always needing to be in charge (and a tendency to micromanage)
Questioning everything and everyone
Preferring to work independently
Setting firm boundaries with others
Being reluctant (or refusing) to marry 
Choosing submissive romantic partners
Not going into debt or owing anyone favors
Over-researching any ideas or possibilities that could create a power imbalance
Always having to be strong and at their best
Suppressing emotions they perceive make them look weak (sadness, doubt, uncertainty, fear, regret, etc.)
Being fiercely self-reliant
Being hyper-aware of possible dangers
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COMMON INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
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FLAWS THAT MAY EMERGE:
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HINDRANCES AND DISRUPTIONS TO THE CHARACTER'S LIFE:
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EMOTIONAL WOUNDS IT COULD STEM FROM:
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SCENARIOS THAT MIGHT AWAKEN THIS FEAR :
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HUMAN NEEDS THAT COULD BE IMPACTED:
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GOALS MADE DIFFICULT BY THIS FEAR:
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CONFLICT SCENARIOS THAT OFFER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
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HOW THE CHARACTER CAN MINIMIZE OR OVERCOME IT:
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