NPC Energy: A Surprisingly Powerful Tool on My Healing Journey

I’ve tried a lot of things on my healing journey like journaling, rituals, therapy, moon circles, you name it. But one of the simplest, strangest, and most effective tools I’ve adopted came from my kids. They’re gamers, so the term “NPC” (non-playable character) gets thrown around a lot in our house. For those who don’t know, an NPC is a background character in a video game. They aren’t the main player. They just kind of exist. Repeat the same lines. Serve a function in the story. They’re not driving the plot, you are.

One day, I started applying that mindset to my own life. I’d walk away from a draining conversation or an online comment section and say to myself, “NPC energy.” And just like that, it lost its power.

It became a filter to help me decide what to absorb and what to release.

Not everything or everyone deserves a starring role in my story. Not every reaction is about me. Not every opinion matters. Some people are just background noise in my game.

And when I shared this mindset with a few people? They loved it. It stuck. It helped them too.

Here’s why I think this tool has been so powerful:

• It breaks emotional patterns. It interrupts that spiral of overthinking, people-pleasing, or taking things personally.

• It helps with boundaries. NPCs aren’t meant to be in your inner circle and that’s okay.

• It reminds me that I’m the main character in my life. That’s not selfish, it’s self-anchoring.

Of course, this mindset isn’t about dehumanizing people. It’s about not giving your energy away to characters who were never meant to hold the pen to your story.

If you’re in a season of healing , especially one where you're reclaiming your energy, voice, or identity I say try it!

Next time someone tries to throw you off course or make you doubt yourself, pause and ask: Is this a player in my game? Or just an NPC passing through?

Spoiler alert: You’ll know.