Human Design is an endless well of wisdom—but here’s the thing: most of us don’t need more information, we need ways to actually use it—so we can stop overworking, overthinking, and overgiving, and start enjoying life more.

At its core, Human Design gives us permission to step outside the boxes and expectations others place on us—and be the unique person we were born to be. It’s not literal; it’s about noticing where your energy flows, where it gets stuck, and learning to trust it. That’s how you find your rhythm, even when the rest of the world is off doing its own thing.

After I closed Sweet & Spark, I reconnected with Human Design and my own energy patterns. I realized that strategy, hard work, and perfection can only take you so far. Internal alignment—not struggle—is the key to ease, fulfillment, and sustainable momentum. Now, that’s worth reading twice.

These are the three parts of a chart I like to dial in on first. I’ll use my own chart as an example to bring this to life, but you can pull your chart for free here and follow along.

1. Energy Type-> Think of this as your main needs

There are five energy types in Human Design and yours shows how your life force moves in the world—not what you’re “here to do,” but how you’re designed to engage with life.

• Are you meant to respond, initiate or wait?

• How do you regulate your energy to prevent burnout?

• How do you feel when you try to move in ways that aren’t natural for you?

I’m a Manifesting Generator, which is a hybrid of two types and about 35% of the population. That means:

• As a Generator, I generate sustainable life force energy when I respond to what lights me up: emails, beautiful finds, yummy food, ideas that feel alive, interesting people I meet.

• Then, as a Manifestor, when something clicks into place I can move fast through action and multi-tasking.

What I’ve learned is that if I try to make things happen without generating good feelings first, I can get misaligned quickly. I can also get stuck manifesting something that no longer excites me because I’ve invested so much effort—so I’ve had to learn how to quit with grace. The biggest ‘aha’ for sustaining my energy has been carving out dedicated time to integrate in between meetings and projects- like a 10 minute walk, 15 minute shut eye or 5 minute grounding.

Quick energy check-in: Where are you giving too much, or not enough? What do you actually need to pace yourself?

 

2. Authority -> Think of this as your relationship with your intuition

In Human Design, your Authority is your decision making style and there are seven different types. I like to think of this element as how your intuition communicates with you. Some people know things instantly. Some need time to feel. Some need to talk it out. Some need something to respond to. Some need a strong pull.

I have a Sacral authority, which is about 35% of the population. My intuition speaks to me in black and white: if it isn’t a hell yes, it’s a no or not right now. Here’s how I work with mine:

• I ask myself yes/no questions: “Do I want to say this or that?”

• I break things into bite-size pieces to respond to.

• I go back and forth, testing responses, until I feel alignment.

If I skip ahead and try to go faster, my energy feels scattered, and I make decisions that don’t feel clear and end up showing in the results.

Quick check-in: How are you listening to your intuition today? How can you treat it like a trusted friend and strengthen your relationship to it?

 

3. Incarnation Cross -> Think of this as your signature energy

This is my all-time favorite element of Human Design because it’s the most specific. There are 192 different Incarnation Crosses, each made up of your four greatest gifts, and it gives a lens into your life’s purpose—how your energy is designed to show up and contribute to the world.

This signature is like the archetype or ‘costume’ your most authentic self is here to wear to make an impact. Some themes are about generating creative tension, some about embodiment, acceptance, leadership, movement, change, or sharing—each chart has a unique flavor that shows how you bring value to the world.

This is the internal identity you’re calibrating (read more about manifesting from your authentic self vs. ego here).

Mine is the Right Angle Cross of Tension 2 (39/38 | 21/48). It’s about noticing when things are out of alignment by naming patterns in a way that inspires growth. My four greatest gifts play out like this:

• 39: sparking aliveness and freedom

• 38: standing up for what I believe in

• 21: owning my personal authority

• 48: being an endless well of wisdom

These gifts define my values—freedom, authenticity, depth—and drive the work I do as a creative, coach, writer, and speaker.

Quick check-in: Where are you living in alignment with your signature energy? Where are you holding back?

 

Human Design isn’t about perfection. It’s about learning to notice your energy, letting things go, saying no, trying new things, and following what lights you up—while setting boundaries to make room for your authentic self to shine even brighter.

Pulling your chart is a great first step, but sometimes having a guide to help you see how it actually shows up in your life can make all the difference. If you ever want to dive into a 1:1 chart reading together, I’m here to help you explore your energy, patterns, and gifts more clearly.

I’m so grateful for all our unique quirks, curiosities, and all the energy that makes this movie of life so rich, fascinating, and full of wonder!