DISCOURAGED DEFINITION:Deprived of courage, spirit, or confidence PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: Displaying low interest in one’s surroundings Slumped shoulders Hands lying still in one’s lap Trudging; walking with a slow, heavy step A bowed head Holding one’s head Sitting bent over, with one’s hands or elbows on one’s knees Rubbing or covering one’s face with the hands A vacant stare, slackness in the face A voice that is quieter and lower in pitch than normal Sitting limply (the head back against a wall, arms beside one’s body, legs outstretched, etc.) Leaning against supports instead of standing tall on one’s own Not participating in conversations Eyes that look tired A partial smile offered out of habit or because it’s expected Speaking in monosyllables A body that curls in on itself Getting drunk or high Going quiet for long periods of time Sleeping a lot Shutting down others who try to encourage:What’s the point? Just accept it. Always being on the verge of tears Becoming emotionally volatile (lashing out, jumping quickly to anger, etc.) Frequent sighing A downward gaze Being very still An overall decrease in one’s energy and enthusiasm levels Agreeing because it’s easier than arguing or it just doesn’t matter anymore Avoiding conversations that touch on the source of one’s discouragement Becoming confrontational about other things as a way of regaining some level of power INTERNAL SENSATIONS: Lacking mental and physical energy A sense of heaviness in one’s limbs A constricted throat MENTAL RESPONSES: Thinking poorly of oneself or the cause of the discouragement Giving up on one’s dreams or goals Emotional numbness Berating oneself for wanting this goal (instead of settling for the status quo) Sluggish or slow-moving thoughts Feeling an overall lack of urgency, as if nothing is important Pessimistic thinking that makes it difficult to make future plans ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: Depression Becoming risk-averse Losing faith in the people, beliefs, or organizations one used to count on Becoming negative, skeptical, cynical, or bitter Discouraging others from trying to succeed or be happy A lack of interest in hobbies and passions Major changes in one’s appearance (gaining or losing weight, looking years older, etc.) Being easily frustrated and quick to anger Giving in to apathy Throwing caution to the wind; becoming reckless Lacking the motivation to make a change or try again SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: Over-the-top exuberance meant to mask one’s true feelings Exhibiting positive emotions (happiness, joy, contentment, etc.) in a way that seems forced Hiding or denying one’s tears Surreptitiously avoiding the topic of one’s discouragement (not going certain places, steering conversations away from the subject, etc.) Feigning disinterest; pretending one wasn’t really invested in the goal anyway Putting on a happy face in front of others, then falling apart when one is alone Self-medicating in private MAY ESCALATE TO:Anger,Defeat,Disillusionment,Self-Loathing,Indifference MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Acceptance,Hopefulness,Self-Pity,Bitterness,Disillusionment ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Abandon, alienate, cave, choke daunt, deny, disengage, distract droop, drowse, exhaust, flop forfeit, frown, give up, hide laze, lost, lumber, mumble ostracize, pass, punish, sag shun, slack, slouch, slump trudge, weaken, wither WRITER’S TIP:Disappointments will happen throughout a story to your characters, creating an opportunity to showcase different behaviors. What will each do if things don’t go their way: talk it out, get angry, wallow in self-pity, something else? Pull from their personalities, and experiment!