FEAR THESAURUS

BEING UNABLE TO ACHIEVE A DREAM



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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, avoiding people and situations they associate with this fear. 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:
We all have dreams, and we know how much work they require. For some characters, achieving that goal can be all-consuming, overshadowing everyone and everything else. This becomes a problem when the fear of falling short of the goal causes the character to abandon other aspects of their life, sideline people who should be a priority, or give up on the pursuit entirely rather than risk failure.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE:
Being a visionary
Wanting to leave behind a legacy
Telling everyone who will listen about the dream
Working long hours in pursuit of the dream
Having very little free time
Being achievement-driven
Obsessing over the dream to the point of ignoring everyone else
Forgetting about appointments, dates, and outings with friends
Sacrificing their basic needs in pursuit of the dream (giving up on personal hygiene, going without sleep or food, etc.)
Taking stimulants to stay alert and productive
Researching and learning new skills 
Ignoring good advice if it doesn't support the character's goal
Skipping school or work to focus on the dream
Developing unhealthy sleep patterns
Networking to acquire necessary contacts
Sensitivity to criticism
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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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