Under Pressure: The Sense of Urgency from The Undefined Root Center
Let me ask you these….
Are you on a constant “search” for something more?
Do you feel this pressure to “figure it out,” or know what you’re good at, and what you’re meant to be doing?
Are you unable to focus or finish something you’ve started?
If you answered yes to any of those, you may have an undefined root center….
Meaning you might be taking in pressure from the world around you and amplifying it. You might feel the need to “hurry up” or rush through life to find purpose, ease, and peace.
People with an undefined root center like me absorb stress from their environment.
They may constantly feel this “pressure” to do something, start something new, find their passions, and hurry to initiate a new experience.
Without having awareness, they may rush through things and be impulsive, hyperactive, and overly productive. The response to this sense of urgency can lead to a dysregulated nervous system and eventually burnout.
Take it from me…. I have an undefined root center and have used this pressure to be extremely productive and to push myself to endure long work hours, intense physical activity, and extracurricular studies. For most of my life, this pressure fueled my performance and strides toward perfection. I became obsessed with trying to find a purpose, achieve one thing, and then look for something else to do….
From the outside, it may have appeared that I had tons of energy and was healthy. But, internally I was frantically trying to deal with this sense of pressure I felt from my environment, job, relationships, and the conditions I was taught.
For years, I pushed and pushed myself to find answers, to create a simple life, to escape this feeling of pressure.
After a while, I hit a wall…. Physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I was tired and confused.
I knew I needed to slow down and relax…. I knew my body couldn’t take on anymore. I was processing this stress by doing and doing…. Eventually becoming an underweight, sleepless, a frail and anxious mess.
However, the thought of succumbing to the pressure or letting go was scary and daunting.
I was scared that I would lose control…. That I would fall behind and lose my ground in the “fight for life.” That I wouldn’t survive.
But, I knew I needed to do something different. I knew I needed to make changes in my mindset and in my lifestyle.
I couldn’t keep running myself into the ground, depleting my adrenal glands, and sabotaging my enthusiasm for life.
So, little by little I started to put the pieces together. I started to discern what is mine and what is not. I started to question the stories I had in my head about who I was, what I should be doing, and what I wanted. I started meditating and journaling. I started reading and listening to books and podcasts on personal development, health, and self-help.
I started observing my patterns and behaviors and taking note of my feelings during those moments.
And at some point in the process, I discovered human design. I learned about the system, the different aura times, strategies, authors, characteristics of the undefined and defined centers, profile types, and other nuances of it all….
And slowly things started to make sense for me…. What was in my chart was reflected in my life and the things I struggled with.
Since learning about my Human Design, my energy type, and my body’s needs, I am practicing to DISCERN what stress is mine and what isn’t….
I am able to recognize when I’m acting out of this “pressure” from my environment or from my real, true self.
I am able to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy stress….
And most importantly, I am learning to not feel guilty or shameful when I am being “lazy” or deciding to rest instead of run, rush, or race
.
For me, understanding this has allowed me to go at my own pace and enjoy life's moments.
According to Human Design, about 60% of the population has a defined root center—these are people who have a fixed and particular way of dealing with stress and the pressure to move ahead in the world. They are generally comfortable with their own consistent internal pressure and have the energy to move their body at their needed speed. On the other hand, 40% of the population has an undefined root center and can end up absorbing the pressure from people in their life who have a defined center.
In order to find a healthy balance, someone with a defined center must be aware of the pressure they unconsciously have on others. This way they don’t put unreasonable expectations on others and not take it personally if someone needs a “break” or space from their energy. For someone with an undefined root center, they must be aware that they are sensitive and vulnerable to the stress of their environment. When moderated correctly, they are able to release the pressure without guilt and select environments that are less stressful and draining to their nervous system.
It is essential for someone with an undefined root center to find healthy ways to remove the pressure they absorb from their surroundings. And what is “healthy” is dependent on the current state of your central nervous system.
If you have a sensitive nervous system or get easily overwhelmed, calming activities, breaking tasks down, and self-soothing practices may be more helpful to clear external stress. Things like relaxation breathwork, journaling your thoughts, drawing or doodling, being out in nature, reading a book, talking to a friend, doing yin yoga, or taking a bath are some ideas to try.
If you have a robust nervous system and manage your stress, activities that use up energy and adrenaline may help relief the pressure. Some ideas would include running or exercising, taking a cold shower, dancing to music, shaking or drumming, or building/creating something.
For both cases, having your unique toolbox of healthy outlets and stress management techniques will help you discern and clear the root center you collect from your environment so that you can be free of pressure and have more energy.
Whether you resonate with human design or not, you can reflect on these questions to address the pressure you may feel in your life:
-What am I trying to find?
-When do I feel like I am in a hurry?
-What am I trying to escape?
-Who am I trying to impress or please?
-What places make me feel calm?
-What are my outlets for stress?
-How do I relax?
I encourage you to use these prompts to build discernment around stress…. having an idea of the things that cause you stress, where you feel pressure, and why you feel pressure will help you dismantle the things ruling and running your life.
And if you want to go deeper and explore the mechanics of your pressure center with me, you can schedule a 1:1 strategy call with me where we explore ways for you to free yourself of pressure from the outside world.
If you are unsure of your human design chart, use this website to get your free chart.
New to human design? No problem! You can check out this brief description of human design here.
Still not sure about it? Don’t worry—it’s not the holy grail…. it’s just another intricate system designed to help you understand your body’s energy, mechanics, decision-making process and so much more. I am not an expert but, I have been actively studying and experimenting with it since 2019. It has helped me in so many ways and provided me with validation and clarity on my life path. Human design is a tool and when used properly, it can fix and change your whole perspective and approach to life. I know it did mine…. if you’re curious to learn about your design make sure you are subscribed to my free Moments & Musings weekly newsletter where I’ll share bit and pieces of it to help you on your wellness journey.
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