It’s not always easy being a Manifestor.

A common statement in Human Design is that from a young age, we are all conditioned to be Manifestors. “Just Do It” as Nike coined in 1988. The idea of “pull yourself up by your boot straps and go make something of yourself” implies in its meaning that you need to suck it up and make it happen. In our culture we are taught to be assertive, go out there and get ‘em, tiger. Go be a Manifestor.

It seems there is this idea out there that everyone wants to be a Manifestor. Wouldn’t it be so great to just do it? All you have to do is follow your Manifestor strategy, tell people what you are doing, and life is perfect. You can do anything you want, right? Well, I’m here today as a Manifestor to give my side of the story, with the top 3 reasons why it’s not always easy being a Manifestor.

First off, a little run down on the Manifestor. Manifestors comprise about 8% of the population. We are here to start things, initiate, create…and get out. The Manifestor does not have a sacral center, so we do not have sustainable work energy for the long haul. Manifestors get into a creative groove and tend to not ask for help, we don’t usually delegate, and we do just do it – thank you Nike. The strategy of the Manifestor is to inform, to tell the people around what we are doing. If a Manifestor is not informing and just doing, the surrounding people can become angry.

So for one, it is difficult to remember to inform. Try it. No matter what type you are, try informing people all day long what you are doing. It’s harder than you think! And my own experience is that I don’t realize the little things I need to inform about – like that I am getting up to go to another room, or that the garbage is full and I’m taking it out, or we’re out of ice cream and I’m going to the store.

Now while you’re trying to remember to inform, put some blinders on and get so into what you are doing that you’re just groovin’ - with three steps planned out ahead, in your mind. It’s like working with headphones on. For me it’s easier to just keep the headphones on, stay in the groove and do it all myself, than it is to stop the music, take off the headphones, and tell you I’m going to the store, that I’m looking for some paper, or that I’ve got a great new marketing idea for the company. It’s not that I am trying to withhold information, but it is just easier to do it myself and stay in the groove. I forget to inform, you’re mad, and I don’t realize how my actions affect you. I am so in my own process but I promise I didn’t mean to make you mad!

Second, sometimes it’s hard to know what to start, initiate, create. I know some Generators, Manifesting Generators, and Projectors that think they would like be able to initiate rather than to wait for something to respond to, or to wait for an invitation. But I am here to say that there can be a level of anxiety wrapped up in the idea that I am designed just to go and initiate things…and just how do I make it happen? Sometimes I think it would be great to have a strategy where I could at least know I was on the right track via response or an invitation. Add a little experimentation or trial & error (found in other parts of the chart) and it can be pretty scary to think about starting a business, buying a home, jumping into a relationship, etc. My constant question is: How do I know that THIS is what I am supposed to be initiating? Sometimes I can get stuck. It might look like a Manifestor is totally confident in what they are creating and initiating, but we have doubt and insecurities too…and it feels like everyone is watching when we make a mistake.

Third, it’s often misunderstood as being bullheaded, selfish, or uncooperative that I want to do ‘it’ (i.e. almost anything and everything) by myself. My mantra is “I can do it by myself,” because I can. I want to do it by myself. I like to do it by myself. It’s easier for me to do it by myself. Sometimes I need to do it by myself. But I know you might take it personally, like I don’t want your help. It’s not personal!

Usually I have things planned out in my mind and it involves only one in the equation – me. It’s not that I don’t appreciate your desire to help, or that I don’t think that you can do it, but I really just want to do it by myself. It feels good. I know it might be difficult to understand, especially if you just helping me with the best of intentions and I get mad or irritated. Please just ask me first – more than likely I’ll tell you I don’t need any help…but that doesn’t mean I don’t want your company! And when I do need some help, you’ll be the first to know.

I know sometimes we Manifestors are difficult to understand. Sometimes we don’t quite get you either! Some of you have the energy to go go go that I will never have. I may feel like a powerful being, but sometimes I need a nap! Yes Nike, we will “just do it,” but be nice to us Manifestors. You might think I’ve got it all together, to start, create, do, by myself. Manifestors, we can handle a lot. But sometimes I feel like a bull in a china shop, like I’m stepping on toes and I’m not meaning to at all, but every move I make seems to affect something else, and the shop owner is screaming at me to get out! That’s when I really could use some help picking up the pieces – but make sure you ask me first!

More to come on reasons four, five, and six of why it’s not always easy being a Manifestor.

Peace,
Robyn Howisey, M.A.