Character building or Building character

Every time I create a character and I put a little bit of myself into them. 

I know i'm not the only one who does it, Iv met people who are clear reflections of the person they have created. An angry 6 foot man playing an angrier 8 foot Orc. A Small shy woman playing an even smaller shy fairy. 

My first character was called Lyra and she was this introverted warlock who was ashamed of how she looked and hid behind her cloak. looking back now I might have been having a crisis of confidence. By the end of that champaign she was a fiercely loyal friend who protected her friends from giants and birds made of fire. My next few characters had a similar theme, Usually introverted or timid but then firey and reborn.

I have found that creating this false person is therapeutic, you can work out your issues through the roleplay. Having a rough time at work, Make your character one that finds it hard to connect, eventually your group will gel and your person doesn't seem such the outsider. Over months or years of playing they grow and change with you. Lyra was quiet and collected, She did know what she wanted from life but didn't really know how to go about getting  it. After being pushed to the front of the group  a few times to mediate situations I found myself putting my ideas forward for puzzles and tasks, and then being rewarded when my plans worked. 

Currently I am playing a barbarian warrior orc called Tish. She's headstrong,quick witted and full of fight, This reflects my real life at the moment. Soon i will be GMing at the Roleplay club I attend, not 100% sure what game mastering reflects, maybe a sense of control. 

They say that dogs look like their owners and I believe this extends to Orcs and Merfolk. 

It can work both ways though... I have built characters completely the oppisit of what my life was at the time. and through those characters iv worked out some issues plaguing my real life existence. I think if you want to be more confident you have to fake it till you make it. no one really knows what they are doing, they just look like they do. If your character is bold and stands up for their beliefs you can bet your life that will bleed over to you over time. 

In conclusion, If you play a dick of a character, you might be one... Some wise words I heard recently... If it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck... <3 

Jerrie x