Is Conditioning Really That Bad?

One of the biggest misconceptions about Reflectors is that because our centres are undefined and wide open, that we don't actually have personalities and traits of our own.

Not only is this sooo untrue but it's actually a little insulting.

Every Human Design type has a special function in this world, and while Reflectors are here to experience conditioning (ie. Feel the vibe of those around us) we're not meant to be conditioned by those folks. There's a big difference between those two things.

Experiencing

This is where Reflectors like you can absolutely thrive! Walk into a room where your closest friends are and you'll be the one to pick up on any tension or nervousness that's buzzing around. You're the one who can sense the most subtle things that are out of whack and know instinctively how to set them right. That's a gift!

Maybe you've been called sensitive all your life, or maybe (like me) you've been told you're not easy to connect with deeply. Either way, it's because Reflectors experience so much of the energy around us that it's not uncommon to let it all in or push it all away before you learn how to experience it in a constructive way.

On the other hand…

Being Conditioned

There's a reason why deconditioning is such a big part of living in alignment with your Human Design. Taking on other people's expectations or energy in a more long-term way, aka being conditioned, is one of the fastest ways to hamper your beautiful Reflector gifts.

Have you ever been to a new city and thought, wow this is a great place to visit but I'd never wanna live here? Being conditioned is the same as staying in a place you were only meant to visit. It comes with other people's thoughts, values, beliefs…and tons of baggage.

Those feelings of pressure to decide on a certain career path once and for all? That's an example of being conditioned, and it's a tough one to reconcile when most people reinforce that expectation.

Realistically though, I don't know anyone who's completely avoided conditioning since it's just part of living in a human society. We were raised by people who have beliefs and these get impressed upon us whether we like it or not. As part of the Human Design journey, it's up to us to decipher which parts of ourselves are really us, and what's just baggage that was handed down by someone else.

I used to think there was something wrong with me because I never had one dream career path that I felt destined to be on. It seemed like everyone around me knew from birth that they wanted to be a teacher or a pilot or a marine biologist, but not me. Nowadays I see it much differently. Being adaptable and able to thrive in so many different areas is what being a Reflector is all about.

Being Authentically You 

By now you might be wondering where the real you is hiding among all these experiences and conditioning. You're definitely not alone. It may take some uncovering and exploration to pick out the real you but the short answer is that the real, authentic you is unique and gifted in ways that no one else could possibly be, so you're worth getting to know!

Reflectors experience new people, interests, locations, and just about everything else differently than the other types because our centres are open. For this very reason you were never meant to be one way for your entire life! Who you are today will be different that the version of you one month ago and even one month from now. And that's exactly as you were designed to be. The tricky part is being ok with this inconsistency.

It's easy for Reflectors to be dismissed as the type that's most susceptible to conditioning but I believe that view is way too superficial to even begin explaining who a Reflector actually is. Our purpose as Reflectors is important and we need your special gifts to help everyone live in alignment with their design.