Human Design for Relationships and Decision Making
In 2009 I started a program called: Behavioural Psychology. It’s the kind of program known for losing over half their students after the first year — and I was one of them.
I had the dream of helping people with developmental differences through music therapy. I’ve ended up working in Marketing and Communications, but my interest in human behaviour is integrated into almost everything I do.
My professors at St.Lawrence College stressed how ‘labels’ were limiting. The harm that comes from removing someone’s individuality and replacing it with this ‘idea’ of what it means to be them, assuming that we already know what they’re about.
“Oh, she’s neurotic? Okay, have a sense of what she’ll be like.”
It’s the difference between:
He’s disabled, he has down syndrome. His name is Johnothan.
— Label… Name
and
Johnothan has a developmental disability called down syndrome.
— Name…Label
Can I also add: If you introduce someone with a disability, you don’t need to introduce the disability as well. You can say “this is my co-worker, Susan” without saying “this is my co-worker, Susan, who is deaf.”
From Limiting to Language
It didn’t take long for us (the students) to began to police each other’s language. Armed with an automatic visceral response at the mere mention of a label.
Once we learnt how NOT to use labels we were taught an array of titles and diagnosis to use in identifying and categorizing the differences or similarities between people.
Labels give us the language to discuss big ideas.
More diverse discussions lead to more understanding.
Today I’d like to introduce 5 Human Design Personality Types to give you a new set of language skills for relating with other people, and yourself.
- Manifestor- Powerful, Force, Impactful, Change Makers
- Manifesting Generator- Multi-passionate, Efficient, Creator
- Generator- Mastery, Focused, Dedication
- Projector- Guides, Leaders, Seers, Sensitive
- Reflector- Mirrors, Wise, Unique
Human Design
Human Design is based in astrology but I don’t think you need a birth chart to find which type you are. By reading the descriptions below, I believe you know yourself well enough to identify the type that resonates with you.
Human Design is the science of understanding yourself.
Knowing who you are, e.g., knowing how you’re designed to operate in this world, is the most critical piece of information you can have about yourself.
Reflectors
Reflectors are incredibly unique. They take in their Surroundings (people + environment) and reflect it back to the world. Their identity is constantly shifting and changing.
The challenge with being around Reflectors is that your internal state will be thrown back at you. If you’re feeling unsure or agitated, you might find it difficult to interact with them. Once you’re in an aligned and stable place within yourself, suddenly you notice there’s a peace between you and the reflector that you’re relating with.
To support Reflectors, allow them to flow and change from day to day.
Their preferences, attitude, choices, and demeanor will constantly shift and embracing this quality can help you see different perspectives. Use reflectors for the truth they’re showing you.
If the environment around reflectors isn’t good, It’ll be hard for them to center.
- Allow reflectors to choose the restaurant on a date
- Create a comfortable space before having serious conversations
- Find a private room for meetings instead of catching them with a quick question in the hallway
Their life purpose is to reflect the health of the community in which they live; they are the barometers of the health, very empathetic people.
The wisdom and objectivity that reflectors have is incredibly powerful.
The Reflector is looking for goodness in humanity. When everyone is happy, then they feel happy. They have huge compassion. Reflectors need a lot of love and a strong support system of good friends.
Strategy: Reflectors wait to be invited in and initiated into projects or decisions. They require a period of time to look at various options before making a decision.
Occupations: Human Relations. Advisers. Chief of Staff. Facilitators.
Manifestors
Manifestors are designed to be powerful and impactful initiators. They bring vision and big picture thinking to projects. Manifestors aren’t often “doing the work” but instead “getting the ball rolling”. They can be edgy
They tend to be unapologetic in their opinions and triggering in their desire for change. It requires a lot of confidence and power to be a Manifestor. These are people who need freedom. They will lose energy when they’re being controlled or managed.
Manifestors also feel more loved and respected when they’re informed about what is happening. If you love a Manifestor, inform them about what you’re doing. It helps them create and takes away some of the natural anger that can be triggered in the Manifestor.
Don’t try to trap a manifestor or get them to stay. Let them go. If you do, it’ll increase the odds that they’ll be back
It’s said that the emotional theme of Manifestors is anger. But this anger is really about having their creative flow interrupted. It’s not true anger.
They struggle with knowing when enough is enough.
Strategy: Best at charting their own path. Going after what they want without hesitation.
Occupations: Leaders. Company/Business Starters. Artists.
Projectors
Projectors are here to be guides, leaders, and teachers. Their energy flows strong in spurts until it’s depleted then they require a lot of rest. Their gift is in understanding others, knowing what makes people tick, and sharing that with the world.
Projectors may need permission to rest. They should only take on projects that they have energy for. It will come on strong when it does, but require grounding between work.
Projector energy is not sustainable. As a result, they are often thought of as lazy. Unlike Generators, they cannot be “on” all the time but there are pressures from society for them to do so.
They’ll struggle with being listened to and recognized. Projectors can address a crowd and talk up a storm but if no one asked them to talk, they run the risk of either not being heard.
Strategy:Wait for invitation and recognition. People need to be ready for Projectors to come in.
Occupations: Managers. Leaders. Teachers.
Generators
These are people who have the energy to build and create in life. It’s incredibly important for Generators to do work that’s meaningful to them. They operate best when they’re passionate about what they do.
Generators/Maifesting Generators need to be careful to not over-commit. They may want to help others build their dreams to the point of exhaustion.
Generators will notice the feeling of Frustration frequently coming up for them. They want to get things ‘right’ and can work long and hard without getting to a specific place they set for themselves.
Strategy: Take inventory of what is the most life-giving and the most depleting. Only do what feels exciting.
Occupations: Trades. Coach. Company work. CEO. Sales. Marketing. Parenting. Really anything they’re passionate about!
Manifesting Generators
These are a hybrid of a generator plus a manifestor — when they’re living correctly they are like superhumans! Not only do they have the ability to initiate, like the manifestor, they can also make it happen like the generator.
Manifesting Generators are differentiated in that they move from one thing to another where Generators dive deeper into one project at a time.
Manifesting Generators are quick to respond which means they can have a tendency to skip important steps (which means they’ll have to go back and fix the steps they skipped).
To avoid this, they should envision the process and plan a project before jumping in.
Occupations: Entrepreneurs. Non-profit work. Designers.
Find what sets you apart. Take your awareness to your internal world, then become aware of those around you. Lean on the strengths of others to help you do your best work.
Human Design is just one system for identifying personality types. There are so many ways to categorize people’s preferred working style. The more we discover, the more tools we have at our fingertips.
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