Is Your MC’s Cause Balanced or Imbalanced?

The next concept we will explore is Cause X Balance vs. Imbalance.

The first question that needs to be addressed here is: What is the Cause balanced with? What variables are we comparing to assess whether it is balanced or not?

When we are evaluating a Cause’s Balance, we are looking at how he is balanced with the MC’s current abilities as well as how he is balanced with her most General Cause and Desire.

When she is selecting a Cause, she needs to find someone who is able to meet her where she is at right now. His prescribed Desire Obtainment Process shouldn’t be too NW or too NE for her. It needs to be within her Zone.

She also needs to ensure that the Specific Causes she chooses are in alignment with her more General Causes and Desires, otherwise major conflicts will arise. Her more General Causes and Desires are her priorities. She does not want to give up her long-term, more fundamental Desires or break her commitments to her more General Causes. Otherwise, Sustainable Joy becomes the opportunity cost of temporary pleasures.

The concept of Cause X Balance vs. Imbalance adds an essential dimension to the character relationships in the story. Evaluating a Cause’s balance involves comparing him with the MC’s current abilities and her most general cause and desire.
When the MC is selecting a Cause, she needs to find someone who is balanced with her current abilities and progress. His prescribed Desire Obtainment Process should align with her Zone, avoiding processes that are too extreme in the NW or NE directions. It’s crucial that the Cause’s guidance and expectations are reasonable and achievable for the MC at her current stage of development.
Additionally, the MC needs to ensure that the Specific Causes she chooses are in harmony with her more general causes and desires. Major conflicts may arise if her specific causes and desires contradict or undermine her overarching priorities. Making sure that her specific causes align with her more general ones is essential to maintaining sustainable joy and preventing the sacrifice of long-term desires and commitments for temporary pleasures.
By exploring the balance or imbalance between the MC and her chosen causes, the story can delve into the dynamics of mentorship, guidance, and influence. A balanced cause can provide the necessary support and growth opportunities for the MC, while an imbalanced cause may lead to internal conflicts and a struggle to align her desires and commitments.
Ultimately, the exploration of Cause X Balance vs. Imbalance enriches the MC’s character development and relationship dynamics, adding depth and complexity to the narrative as she navigates her journey and seeks guidance from her chosen causes.

An extreme Northwest Cause is abusive. He demands too much too soon. This is similar to Cause X Justice vs. Time. Extreme Justice Causes are the same thing as an extreme NW Cause. A Justice Cause asks our MC to make and keep commitments. When this is too extreme, he expects or even demands for her to make and keep commitments that she does not have the ability to do. Or he requires her to make and keep commitments within too narrow of a time frame.

I need to differentiate between a Northwest Cause and a Justice Cause. If they are the exact same thing, I don’t need to have both levels. I think that a Northwest Cause requires a more basic explanation. This is Level 3 on the vertical axis. We are just introducing the fact that a Cause can require too much or too little, and that there is a Northern Zone in between these two extremes. And sometimes a Cause can be more NW or more NE but still be within the MC’s Northern Zone.

There are times when the MC must push into the NW side of her Zone. Much is required of her. But then there are times when she needs to rest or slow down her journey in the NE side of her Zone.

An extreme Northeast Cause is negligent. He doesn’t require enough of her and gives her too much time. Like extreme Time Causes, this Cause doesn’t ask the MC to do enough. He doesn’t give her enough guidance and direction or training.

And this is one of the crucial truths about stories. We don’t want things to be too easy for the MC. That makes for a boring story. We like to read about conflict resolution and overcoming challenges. We want to read about the MC’s Cause entrusting her with difficult tasks. We like to learn about how she solves problems or mysteries. We admire her as she acquires knowledge and skills and uses them to help herself as well as other characters in the story. We like to read about how she resolves the general conflict of earning a living. We don’t want to her to be handed everything she needs.

You are absolutely right that extreme Northwest Causes and extreme Justice Causes can overlap in their demands and expectations. Both types of causes can push the MC too far beyond her current abilities and capacities, causing undue stress and unrealistic expectations. It’s essential to differentiate between the two to avoid redundancy in the storytelling.
In Level 3 on the vertical axis, you can introduce the concept that a Cause can require too much or too little from the MC, and there exists a Northern Zone in between these extremes. The Northern Zone represents the balanced and realistic expectations that a Cause should have for the MC, guiding her to push herself to achieve her desires while still providing the necessary guidance and support.
A balanced Cause, operating within the Northern Zone, understands the need for appropriate challenges to help the MC grow and overcome obstacles. This type of Cause provides a mix of guidance, instruction, and opportunities for the MC to develop her skills and achieve her desires. They don’t overwhelm her with demands she can’t fulfill or leave her with inadequate support and training.
As you mentioned, the conflict and challenges faced by the MC in the story make it engaging and interesting for readers. A well-balanced Cause can offer those challenges without becoming too extreme or neglectful, allowing the MC to learn and grow while also maintaining a realistic pace and progression in her journey.
By exploring the spectrum of Cause X Justice vs. Time, you can add depth to the dynamics of mentorship and guidance in the story. It helps create nuanced relationships between the MC and her causes, shaping her character development and the trajectory of her journey in a compelling way.

A Justice Cause is in the NW portion of the Northern Zone. Because our MC has already made commitments with this Cause and has received the privileges, she is bound to this Cause. She is held accountable. She must fulfill her responsibilities and keep her promises. Even if the Justice Cause is extreme, she has already entered into a Commitment relationship with him and has received extreme privileges as well.

A NW Cause is someone the MC is evaluating. She has not yet made commitments to him or received binding privileges from him.

This concept uncovers the fact that there are binding privileges. These are privileges that imprint upon the soul and once the MC partakes of them, she will never be the same again and neither can she go back to receiving a lower level privilege. She can’t be satisfied unless she maintains her commitments.

The concept of binding privileges adds a fascinating layer of depth to the relationships between the MC and her causes. These privileges create a strong sense of responsibility and commitment, shaping the MC’s choices and actions throughout her journey. It’s a powerful mechanism that reflects the weight of decisions and the lasting impact they can have on the MC’s character development and the progression of the story.
The notion that certain privileges are binding and irrevocably alter the MC’s perspective and desires adds a sense of permanence to her choices. It underscores the importance of making informed and thoughtful decisions when choosing her causes. Once she has entered into a commitment and received these binding privileges, she becomes accountable and must fulfill her responsibilities. This not only adds tension and conflict to the story but also emphasizes the consequences of her actions and the transformative nature of her journey.
As the MC navigates her relationships with different causes, the concept of binding privileges becomes a driving force behind her growth, her pursuit of desires, and her resolution of conflicts. It highlights the complexity of the Cause-Effect relationship and how it shapes the MC’s path in both subtle and profound ways. This dynamic can provide rich opportunities for character development and thematic exploration in the story.

We’re getting into Resultant Effects when we talk about binding privileges.