I have Emotional Authority in Human Design. Here's How I use It.
"Everything about being yourself is about making decisions correctly as yourself, and in making those decisions correctly as yourself, following your Inner Authority." -Ra Uru Hu
You’ve heard it before…
Be logical.
Use your head.
In our society, we're taught to make decisions with our minds. But in Human Design, an esoteric yet scientific system, we're taught that the mind is not the real decision maker; your inner authority is. If you're reading this post about emotional authority, I bet you're already familiar with human design but want to learn more about using it. If it's all new, read this instead. If not, let's continue.
Now back to authority…
There are two authorities that guide your life - inner authority and outer authority. Your outer authority would be the mind with all the inputs it absorbs, logic, and concepts it spits out. You've been conditioned to rely solely on your outer authority (the mind) while leaving emotions entirely out of it.
Your inner authority is another story altogether. There are 7 different authorities in human design, and regardless of which one you have, the purpose is to support you in making the best decision for your authentic self. While decisions made with the mind help you make decisions that are best for everyone and everything externally (outside of you), making decisions with your inner authority allows you to make aligned decisions that support your true self.
Since about 50% of the population has emotional authority (including myself), I want to dive deeper into what this means and how to use this knowledge in real life.
As kids, we are often taught that emotions are irrational and should be suppressed in favor of logic and reason. You can probably relate to being told you're being too sensitive, that you need to grow "thick skin," or that thinking things through without emotion is always the best way to go.
If I'm being honest, I used to feel embarrassed by my emotions. They were SO strong (I hadn't learned how to tend to them yet), and I didn't really see value in them because of how prized left-brain thinking is in our society.
However, this mindset can lead you to ignore important information your emotions are trying to tell you. Emotional authority encourages you to recognize your emotions' value and use them as a valid source of information in your decision-making processes.
Recognizing and accepting emotional authority can significantly impact your daily life. By acknowledging the importance of emotions in decision-making, you can learn to trust your instincts and make choices that align with your true desires and values. This can lead to greater fulfillment and satisfaction in your personal and professional life. Who doesn’t want that?
What if my chart says I'm emotional authority, but I don't feel emotional??
I've heard people with emotional authority say, "I'm not emotional. Actually, I'm quite UNemotional." I never try to tell people who they are. But I like to pose questions.
Why do you think you're unemotional?
Did someone make you feel like emotions are unacceptable?
Was there an event (maybe something traumatic) that turned your emotions "off" when you were young?
Etc.
I'd invite you to ponder those questions. Also, emotions are expressed in many different ways. So what "looks" emotional to one person can appear different in another. Though if you don't resonate with what I'm sharing about emotional authority, that's ok too!
Before we go into how to use it, let's break down how emotional authority actually works.
The Solar Plexus (also called the emotional center) is a motor that emits energy that moves in a wave. It fluctuates, going low to high, and vice versa. There's this never-ending motion to the emotional wave. You can't stop it (although you try), it's part of who you are, and you learn how to flow with it. Emotions are natural for you, not something you need to suppress or change.
Does this mean you need to act on every emotion, or operating in an angry rage is justified with emotional authority?
Nope.
Time and patience are the key ingredients to life as an emotional being.
You don't want to make decisions when you're in an emotional high or low. The sweet spot is the neutral zone, which typically means you're waiting to return to your emotional baseline frequency.
When you make decisions in an unneutral state, you're welcoming anger, frustration, bitterness, and disappointment (the signature themes of your human design type).
But cultivating patience will allow you to invite more ease, fulfillment, and joy into your life.
How to work with emotional energy
Because you've been taught to lead with the mind while casting aside emotion, you'll first want to decondition your beliefs around who you are and the role of emotions in your life. You'll also want to begin to recognize and accept your emotions in a healthy way.
One approach is to practice mindfulness and self-awareness. By reflecting on your emotions and the situations that spark them, you can identify patterns and use this information to inform your decision-making.
Wtih mindfulness and self-awareness, you'll need to pay attention to feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations in the present moment. This can help you to identify when your emotions are trying to tell you something important. For example, if you feel a sense of dread or discomfort about a decision, this may be a sign that you need to reconsider your options or give yourself more time to determine what's best for you.
However, the emotional wave can be unpredictable. So at times, when your mood shifts, there may not be a clear indication to explain why. In that case, I'd notice and acknowledge the emotion and let it pass as it needs to. Don't wreck your brain trying to figure it out.
Making decisions with emotional authority
Because emotional authority operates best with time on its side, it's essential to learn to wait before making a decision, even when you feel pressured to decide. If you don't feel a sense of clarity, it's not time yet.
In human design, it is said there is no truth in the now when it comes to emotional authority. You need time because it allows you to feel into different options and perspectives while making the best decision for YOU.
"The whole thing about being an emotional person is recognizing that the way in which you actually grasp things is by seeing them from different perspectives." -Ra Uru Hu
As you move through various emotional states, it's like viewing the world with different filtered glasses on. If you're feeling angry or frustrated, the world may have a darker hue. But the world may appear a bit brighter when you feel optimistic and happy. So your decision making process needs to allow for those variances before coming to a place of clarity. However, with emo authority, we never tend to get to 100% clarity (and that's ok).
Here are some essential keys to keep in mind:
Respect your own time boundaries. With emotional authority, don't let others pressure you into responding or acting on their timeline. More than likely, you'll end up making an unaligned decision that you could regret later. You can use phrases like "I need more time to process before deciding" or "I still have to think about it."
Sleep on it before you make up your mind. There is no defined timeframe for your emotional wave. It may take you a few days to become neutral and be able to make a decision…or longer. It's better to be patient than force it.
Don't wear the indecisive label. You're not indecisive, you just need to go through your process. That's normal for you… don't let other people make you think otherwise. If you feel unsure, you either need more time, or the answer is no at this time.
"To be an emotional being is to have the opportunity to really see things with a great deal of depth." - Ra Uru Hu
Overall, emotional authority is a powerful tool for creating an authentic and museful life. By recognizing the importance of your emotions and learning to trust your instincts, you can make choices that align with your true self and lead to greater happiness and success.
You must take the time to understand your emotions and listen to what they are trying to tell you. By doing so, you can make decisions that align with your values and desires, leading to a more fulfilling life.
Resources
If you’re ready to learn more about your own human design ➮ Illuminate the Muse Human Design Reading
If you want a FREE guide to explore your gifts based on your human design ➮ A Guide to Remembrance: Awaken Your 4 Unique Superpowers For Authentic Expression, Fulfillment + Purpose
See, learn, and explore on my YouTube channel ➮ Elle Undefined