A Glimpse Into How Our Energy Systems Work
- Pathways of Possibility
- Apr 24
- 4 min read
The human design is a marvel of complex physical, chemical and energetic systems and processes. In this article, Teresa Sullivan introduces five of the generally lesser known energy systems that nevertheless are key players in each and every one of our daily lives.
The Human Energy Systems
Did you know that as humans we have many systems within us that help us function in life?
The ones that most of us are familiar with are those that help our physical bodies work, for instance the respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems—while others are more subtle and energetic in nature and thus less well known. These inner energetic systems work together yet operate at different frequencies and speeds depending on the tasks they do for us.
Although there is much that can be said about these systems, here is just a glimpse to introduce you to them and how they work, so that you can then begin to become more aware of them for yourself.
Thinking System
The reason that learning to do something new takes time is that your human design has a dedicated system for thinking and learning new things, which operates at a slow speed. All new knowledge comes in through this thinking system. Have you ever heard yourself say, “Give me a moment to think?” This is an example of your thinking system at play.
Do you remember learning to drive a car for the first time (assuming you have)? If so, you can likely recall needing to get comfortable behind the wheel. You held the steering wheel for the first time. You moved your foot back and forth testing the brake and feeling for the accelerator. You found the gear shift, the lights, the windshield wipers. You put on your seat belt, adjusted the mirrors, and started up the car.
You slowly pulled out of the parking lot, listening to the instructions of your driving instructor intently as you proceeded. Backing up, parallel parking, staying within the lanes—all went slowly when you were first learning. You had to think things through each step of the way. Then, you needed practice to get comfortable with it, to get good at it. That’s where the next system takes over.
Repetitive System
Once your thinking system has learned something new, it passes it on to the system that makes new things become habitual. This system loves repetition. So practice, practice, practice is what it does. It goes at a faster speed than the thinking system. And I’m sure after years of driving a car, you no longer have to think about it.
It has become an automatic process for you thanks to your system of repetition. You can quickly put the key in the ignition (or press the start button), pull the seat belt over and clasp it, check your mirrors and back out of your driveway, all while listening to the radio and chewing gum.
What was once a slow, step-by-step process has now become an automatic habit for you (a “no brainer”), thanks to your repetitive system.
Instinctual System
Going back to the first time you merged onto a highway, and you saw cars rushing by, what was happening in you? Did you speed onto the highway without a care? Or did something in you say, “Keep your foot on the brake!” “Hands firmly on the steering wheel!”, “Focus on the cars!”, “Do not proceed until there is a safe gap in the cars passing by!”? That was your instinctual system. When this system senses danger, it alerts you to it. Only when it signals the “all-clear” to you, do you proceed. Your instinctual system observes and measures situations for you, and it runs at a much faster speed than your repetitive system—so if the car in front of you suddenly stops, it simultaneously reads the situation and sends a signal to your repetitive system to step on the brakes.
Emotional System
How did you feel when you completed your driver’s education course and received your driver’s license? Did you feel like celebrating? Were you proud? Did it fill you with joy and perhaps a sense of satisfaction for a job well-done? The emotional system was at work here. Its job is to process and handle our emotions in life. It’s also the system that helps, among other things, to forge emotional connections. (In this instance, perhaps, a fondness for your first car.)
Generative System
Once you had your license in hand, you likely wanted to get out on the open road to see where it would take you; to explore, to discover. The world became more available to you and beckoned. The urge to get out there and go to places you could not go to before might have filled you. This is the generative energy system. It is propositional and has in it the urge to experiment and try new things. It’s adventurous and always on the lookout for “What’s next?”.
Where else can you see it?
The example given here of learning to drive a car is but one of many that demonstrate our systems at work. What about the process of learning another language, or becoming familiar with another culture? Moving into a new house or having someone else move out? Choosing music that brings back fond memories or suits your current mood? Making friends and nurturing relationships? Trying to overcome old habits while developing new ones? Being both excited and perhaps a little cautious when an unexpected opportunity appears?
Once you become aware of the existence of these distinct inner energy systems, you can begin to look for and see them in action in you, and in others. Dedicated and faithful, they are always working for us behind the scenes, because that’s what they were designed to do.
The more you can understand and learn to use these systems as they were designed, the more you can begin to appreciate the human design itself, and the more you can begin to expand into the even greater human possibility that awaits.
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