Finding Your Flow with Human Design

by Lisa Husseini. Published, December 19th, 2022

There is a moment in every musician’s journey where they transition from being the method-seeker to becoming the decision-maker. 

We colloquially refer to the end result of this transition as being the moment that someone finds their musical voice. It can seem a bit magical and elusive - hard to describe what exactly happens, but easy to identify when it has happened.

However the transition itself has less to do with magic and more to do with ownership. In a craft that is primarily taught via apprenticeship methodology, young musicians spend copious amounts of time trying to recreate what their teachers have modeled for them. 

But one day, the student must stop following the path of their teacher and is prompted to create their own path. For some, this transition occurs while they are still technically a student on paper. For others, this leap presents itself long after the musician has left formal training.

No matter how it occurs, it inevitably occurs. In order to embody the creative freedom they desire, every musician must eventually put their stake in the ground as to say - This is how I operate. This is what I believe in. This is how I think, feel, hear, and see. And as a result, this is who I am as a musician in this world. 

While this leap can feel scary, it is wildly beneficial for the individual who takes it. It is no surprise that this declaration of ownership is oftentimes followed with great ease, freedom, and success. 

In music and in life as a whole, knowing who you are and then claiming it - even if others might find it weird or wrong - is powerful. It has a way of clearing unnecessary obstacles and getting your needs met much more easily.

Why, then, can it feel so difficult to do so?

Permission to be You

I’ve been many things in my professional life - musician, administrator, CEO, board member, author, coach. In all of the professional areas I’ve occupied there has been a culturally touted ‘way’ of doing things that is presented as better than the other ways of doing things. 

This is the same way that in our society, there is a culturally touted ‘way’ of looking that is presented by our media as being better than the other ways of looking.   

The forever issue that stems from holding up an imaginary ideal is that most if not all people can’t meet it. And if we spend all of our time trying to fit into an ideal that was never ours, we end up not having time to actually produce great art or great work.

For me, a big part of my journey in reclaiming my time and energy and growing as a professional has been in seeking sources of permission. I have found that when I feel permission to claim how I operate best in the world, I actually claim it. And then, believe it or not, I am able to start operating at my best. 

One of the systems that has helped me tap into this has been a system called Human Design. 

What is Human Design?

Human Design is a system influenced by astrology, the I Ching, and the chakral system. Like many systems of its kind, it is influenced by a person’s date, time, and location of birth. If you are not a person who believes that date, time, and location of birth can dictate anything - that is okay. Human design can also be used as a secular archetypal system which I would argue can be even more helpful way to approach the system. 

There are many facets to Human Design, but one of the core concepts is what I want to speak about here - the concept of Energy Type.

The entire system of Human Design is predicated on the idea that all of humanity is not designed to have the same energetic rhythm as we walk through our lives. Many people experience this same thought when discussions around hours of sleep pop up. Should we all sleep 8 hours? 10 hours? 5 hours? What if I feel best when I sleep for 5 hours at night with a 2 hour nap later and you feel best when you sleep for 8 hours straight with no nap? Which of us is right or is there space for us both? The Energy Types of Human Design essentially endeavor to answer this question.

In the Human Design system - there are four main Energy Types:

Manifestor - This type works best in short explosive bursts with immense down time in between. For example, a residency model lifestyle would work well for a Manifestor.

Generator - This type works best with a full and consistent schedule. Our societally prevalent 9-5 work schedule is most aligned with the Generator work style.

Projector - This type works best with flexible but semi-consistent work in medium-sized chunks with enough consistent down time spread out. Remote or flexible-hours jobs tend to work well for Projectors.

Reflector - This type is a giant sponge for human energy and thrive with multiple kinds of schedules but they need to have both the right people around them and a lot of alone time. Reflectors are rare, but it is common for them to thrive in writing or visual art type professions due to the large amount of isolation provided in the creative process.

These are brief descriptions, but as you can probably see, there is a wide variety as to what constitutes a ‘good days work’ amongst the Energy Types. And this is on purpose.

In Human Design, we all process energy differently. What is easy for one person may not be easy for another. What is satisfying for one person may not be satisfying for another.

My experience is that this is simply true, with or without Human Design. If we are given enough time and space to get in touch with ourselves, most of us have a baseline preferred way of operating. However, we life in societies, cultures, industries, or communities that may say otherwise. 

Most humans, when faced with this discrepancy, will simply try to conform to what they feel will provide them with external validation. But much like with the path of being a musician, there comes a point where we get to decide who we are in this world and what works best for us. 

Sure, the outside world may not immediately conform. But that’s not the point. The point is to gain access to the clarity, freedom, and ultimately power that comes along with speaking our truth and deciding where we are putting our stake in the ground.

How do I start finding my flow?

If this all sounds great to you but you don’t even know where to start - try this:

The next time you are feeling stressed, pressured, or upset because of an externally dictated way of working (e.g. a rehearsal schedule that burns you out or a job requirement that puts you on edge) - acknowledge it. Resist the urge to collapse internally to the idea that ‘this is just how it is so you should learn to be different.’

You don’t need to quit. You don’t need to tell anyone else. The first step is simply to acknowledge that you operate best one way, and the current circumstances are not allowing for that to happen. That’s it. Just be aware.

Part of the reason that systems like Human Design are so powerful is because they allow for people to increase their own self awareness. We live in a world that applauds fast-paced action and quick solutions. But sometimes, a little awareness is all we need to let the future carry us to where we need to be.

If you want to learn more about Human Design, I recommend starting with www.myhumandesign.com

BIO

Lisa Husseini is a professional coach who supports human beings in creating their version of extraordinary living. Chronically fascinated by the human condition, a client once described her as "Not your typical life coach, not your typical executive coach, but the weird space in between." A former flutist, nonprofit administrator, CEO, and underwhelmingly proficient ukulele player, Lisa now primarily maintains her connection to the arts world through serving on numerous committees and boards across the US. Learn more about her at www.lisahusseini.com