Yesterday, I listened to one of my favorite podcasts, The Goal Digger Podcast by Jenna Kutcher, and my mind was blown. The topic she covered unlocked something in my mind and I knew I had to share it with you.
It’s called Human Design.
Centered around five energy types, it’s a system based on both ancient and modern sciences. It provides insight into the way a person should best use their own unique energy in things like chasing goals and making decisions –all based on specific birth data. As someone who is obsessed with personality types and birth order, I was instantly intrigued.
The more I listened to its principles the more interested I became. It all made so much sense. I was like, could this really be a thing?
So of course, I did what I always do when I hear about a test or quiz that can tell me all about my personality. I hit pause on the podcast. I needed to know RIGHT THEN what category I fell into before I listened any further. Does that sound like something you would do too? Well-off I went, I googled a random site, added my simple info. Within minutes, I learned that I am a Generator.
But also, the fact that I went running full speed ahead without hearing all the facts or understanding anything else before diving right in is pretty telling too. Why? Because one of the key elements of how Generator makes decisions and acts is by trusting their gut and focusing on things that light them up. I guess my gut told me to find out more.
Before you go all Generator on me, let me give you some background and context, if for no other reason than to save you from falling down the Human Design rabbit hole like I did.
Human Design Theory is not a new concept. According to the Human Design Lab, it is a system based on both ancient methodologies and modern sciences to provide insight into human nature. It offers an energetic blueprint based on specific but very basic birth data, known as a body graph, to guide individuals in understanding their unique path in life and in making decisions that align with their authentic selves.
Alan Krakower, who published a book in 1992 under the pseudonym Ra Uru Hu, created Human Design as a specific way to learn more about your personality, emotions, and energy centers. Think of it as a map to guiding you along a journey of self-awareness. No group tour required! You don’t have to have deep faith in any type of spirituality to use it. But if you’re like me, this information may just awaken something. Maybe an understanding of how you are wired to optimize your unique energy as it relates to problem solving, relationship building, working in teams, and being creative. The idea is, if you understand this and use your energy correctly, you will be more aligned and successful in your pursuits.
After diving back into the podcast, which features Human Design Educator, Erin Claire Jones, and then doing some digging of my own, I realized that Human Design is pretty complex. And honestly, I am not sure how deep I want to dive into the whole concept. I need some time to decide on that one! But I am intrigued and if you’re still reading, you’re probably wondering what the five energy types are.
I’ve got you covered. (With a little help from Jenna Kutcher!)
Manifestors: Innovative, disruptive forces who are here to get things started, not to keep the thing alive. They are provocative, sparking the world into new ways of doing things. Their energy ebbs and flows, and their strategy is about initiating. They are the only type meant to start the thing and do it when the urge arises within them.
Generators: Natural doers who enjoy diving deeply into one thing and then into the next. They are steadfast, dedicated, committed, and magnetic when lit up. They are not selfish to prioritize their desires and need to use up their energy in ways that light them up. They are meant to let things and ideas come to them rather than chasing them.
Manifesting Generators: Multi-passionate doers who cannot be confined into one box in their careers and lives. They are ever evolving shapeshifters, always wanting to reinvent themselves. They are efficient, faster than most, and not meant to chase after opportunities. The right things will show up in their world, and their only job is to trust their gut to know what they feel naturally pulled towards.
Projectors: Leaders, guides, advisors, teachers who are not here to do all the doing. Their energy ebbs and flows, and their gift is in how they see the world and how sensitive they are to others. They are natural coaches, therapists, good at asking the right questions. The right opportunities are the ones they are invited into.
Reflectors: Collective mirrors who are sensitive to their environment and mirror back what they are around. They must be ruthless curators of who they spend time with and where they spend time. They are super fluid, having days where they feel like manifesting generators, projectors, and manifestors. Their job is to honor whatever feels like them that day, knowing it’s all them.
So, can you guess which one you are? I challenge you to find out because from what I can tell, understanding your type (and a host of other fascinating things related to your blueprint) can help you set up daily routines, aid in making choices that help you stay true to yourself…and so much more—all things that can help you reach your goals and feel more fulfilled once you reach them.
But this is merely a starting point when it comes to Human Design. Once you know your Energy Type, you can move onto to your Authority which is how you make your decisions. For example, we all have intuition but we all access it differently. See what I mean? This topic is complex. I guess that’s a post for another time!
So why this post today? Why share this information. Well, this summer, as I’ve been creating new team building activities and compiling more spontaneous tasks for teams to try this fall, I’ve been asking myself questions surrounding the concept of teamwork. I’ve been mulling over how we can create better teams. What strategies can be used? And I’ve realized that one size does not fit all. One key rests in getting to know your team—the individuals that make it up and the group as a whole. Only then can we really understand how to effectively coach or guide. This idea of human design intrigues me as a writer and also as a mentor for teams. I plan to study it further. I’ll be sure to report back!
I hope you’ve found this topic as interesting as I have! Maybe it can be a tool for you too. To travel further down the rabbit hole yourself and find out your own energy type, here’s the link to the podcast that I referenced. https://jennakutcherblog.com/humandesign/
Enjoy!
