The Meaning Making Machine
Doesn't Belong in the Driver's Seat
FOUR-YEAR-OLDS SHOULDN’T DRIVE
When learning about Human Design, the first thing one learns, if they have a good teacher, is that the mind is not one’s authority. The mind is like an exuberant 4-year-old who has decided they can drive a car, unable to reach the pedals, and with no driving lessons. It should not be used to make decisions, as it is a poor tool for decision-making. It is useful to express ideas, perspectives, and insights. One’s authority is in the body and is rooted in physical experiences, such as gut feelings or emotional responses unique to the individual. Following one’s inner authority helps individuals avoid confusion and live more authentically. Unfortunately, most people are allowing the 4-year-old to drive as they have been conditioned to believe they are their mind.
BEYOND THE MOVIE
Most of us don’t know what others think of us, although we might imagine we do, and we, of course, want them to think well of us. But that isn’t always the case, and that is rarely within our control in any way, shape, or form. Everyone is in their own movie, and in that movie, they are the screenwriter, director, producer, and star. In their movie, you may be a friend or foe, or once a friend and now a foe, and that likely has nothing to do with you. In your movie, you are the screenwriter, director, producer, and star. In your movie, other characters may be friends or foes, or once friends and now foes, and that likely has little to do with the other. Our minds are meaning-making machines, crafting all sorts of stories based more on projection rather than reality. We don’t see clearly, and the mind readily volunteers to interpret reality for us, often to our detriment.
The mind is a busy little bee, isn’t it? It cannot leave well enough alone. It seems it must always be crafting a meaning, or a story, about virtually everything. This is the stuff that sleepless nights and this sort of low-level hum of anxiety are made of. It ruminates constantly like a cow chewing cud. Just as you think you have swallowed it, up it comes for another go. The mind is a meaning-making machine, for better or worse, but often for worse. The worst kind and most common form of rumination is fear-based.
If I sold a magic pill that one could take to eliminate rumination, I’d probably be a billionaire. But that would probably be unethical because the same mind that ruminates also creates. This is the other side of the coin. Creativity also comes forth from this same sort of activity, only devoid of fear. A creative thought becomes an obsession that can’t be let go of until it is fully fleshed out or materialized into whatever gift to the world it is to be.
So, like everything, there is a balance to be found and maintained. And while I will never claim to have perfected said balance, I do believe there are practical steps that can be taken to lessen the temptation of rumination.
NOTICE
What has been useful for me is to be aware of what my mind is doing and choose not to participate. Now, this is, of course, easier said than done, but it can be done with consistent practice. Simply noticing when the mind begins to weave a tale to make sense of something seemingly nonsensical is a great beginning. The YOU that is the watcher of the mind, chiming in and watching the activity, often short-circuits the tale. But not always. Sometimes inquiry is a proper course.
INQUIRY
Questions such as those in Byron Katie’s The Work are very helpful, but this is by no means an exhaustive list.
1.) Is it true?
2.) Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
3.) How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?
4.) Who would you be without that thought?
COZY UP TO UNCERTAINTY
What if we decided to make no meaning of what we don’t know or understand? What if we decided to leave it alone? What if we made it our business not to be in anyone else’s business? Why do we have to know? Is it that important? What difference will it make? If it is something that we have no control over, which is most things, why are we wasting our precious energy on it in the first place?
EMBODIED
Certainly, we should move towards what is true, but how do we understand what that is and gain clarity about it? We must look to our bodies. Our body isn’t interested in telling a story or solving a mystery. The body only knows what feels right or wrong to it, and it moves accordingly and intelligently if we allow it. And that is all that is needed. This is understood well through the gift of Human Design. Human Design isn’t simply a trendy personality analysis tool. It is a way to navigate this world more skillfully with less resistance and free from the dramatic rumination of the mind. Through HD, we can learn to access wisdom from within our bodies.
For some people, clarity is obtained when emotions settle. So there is a waiting period for decision-making. This authority is located in the solar plexus, and it is called emotional authority. It’s wavy, and no clarity is available in the moment when there is great movement in the range of emotions. Clarity comes when emotions settle.
Sacral authority is an immediate gut feeling, and sound, when clarity is known. It responds with a visceral “yes” or “no” to life’s questions in the moment.
Likewise, splenic authority works through intuitive awareness, providing immediate, in-the-moment insights.
Heart, or ego, authority stems from personal values and commitments, focusing on what one can truly commit to.
Self-projected authority requires speaking thoughts aloud to gain clarity, often needing a supportive environment.
And, believe it or not, some individuals’ decisions are influenced by the lunar cycle, requiring time to reflect before committing.
Your body knows what is true and correct, and what is neither. When we look within to find guidance, we will navigate this earthly experience with more peace, wisdom, and clarity.
You are not your mind. Tell the 4-year-old to climb into the backseat where they belong.
Blessings!
April
P.S. To find out your Human Design, check out Genetic Matrix for a free chart. Also, I still do readings once in a while if you want to dive deeper, so send me a personal message if this is something you are interested in.