The Role of Reflectors in Human Design

Reflectors are the reviewers of the world.

Reflectors are the analyzers, evaluators, observers, and reviewers of their surroundings. You have the capacity to deeply understand others, situations, and society, way beyond what others see. You see the causes of people’s actions or problems. You tap into your potential when you show and reflect back your insights about the state of well-being or function, so others can see and review what needs to change.

This is the rarest of all human design types (1% of the population), meaning that they often function very differently from everyone else around them, typically being inconsistent and lower energy.

Reflectors are usually sensitive to the environments around them. They can sense a lot about a person in a short time. Bad spaces or situations can feel overwhelming or repel them. They may feel a pull between wanting to be in the spaces and people that feel good, and spending time alone or retreating to nature.

You thrive when you are in environments you enjoy, either alone or with people you are comfortable with. You feel appreciated when you help others by sharing what you see, although some people may reject it if you are not invited to help.

Examples of Famous Reflectors

HG Wells, Rosalyn Carter, Sandra Bullock, Teal Swan, Lenny Henry, Ammachi (the Hugging Saint)

Reflector Strengths & Gifts

• Reflectors sense things; they deeply understand people, systems, and communities and see what is not working.
• When Reflectors share their insights, people get clarity about themselves, a situation or an issue. Your reflections help people process their thoughts and understand better.
• Many people are not ready to have their pain points exposed; they may reject what a reflector says. Many reflectors start to doubt what they see or stop sharing what they think.
• Reflectors are rare (1% of the population) and feel different, misunderstood, or isolated from others. They are typically sensitive and understanding people.
• They like being surprised and are open to new experiences, places and people. This makes them flexible, adaptable, and non-judgemental. They can see all sides. Many people feel comfortable and share their deepest stories with Reflectors.

Reflector Challenges

• It can be hard to discern who you are because you have multiples sides, depending on the day or people around you. Reflectors absorb so much from others, they need a lot of alone time to reset, recharge, and understand who they are.
• Reflectors bond with people because they quickly identify with others on a deep level. Reflectors may share observations that seem obvious but then get rejected. Some people are not ready to see themselves so deeply, or it may not be obvious to them. Thus, the rejection is of themselves, not the Reflector.

> Strategy (Decision-Making): Wait a Lunar Month

Your ‘strategy’ guides you to make better decisions and know when to commit, along with your Authority. To ensure that you make the right choices or know if a situation is correct or beneficial for you, you should wait as long as possible before confirming your decision.

• You can feel different day-to-day; some days you move mountains and other days you can’t move at all. As such, you need time to feel out decisions through your various states.
• Decision-making can be stressful because you need to consider an option from all sides and moods to feel sure.
• While it takes you longer to make decisions, you reach a faster result in the long run because they are well thought out.
• When you make quick, spontaneous decisions, it can waste time because you end up down too many wrong avenues.

If a decision, situation or environment will be long-term or have a big impact, it is better to wait up to a month to make your final decision. You need to evaluate a situation, project or relationship from multiple perspectives, so give yourself as much time as possible or until you feel sure that it is right for you.

Decision-making is stressful for reflectors, who often need a lot of time and processing before they feel comfortable making big decisions. It’s important they don’t rush their decisions and allow as much time as possible in a fast-paced world.

You tend to change your mind and perspective a lot over the course of a month. You need time to evaluate a situation, project, or relationship until you understand it from every angle and feel sure about your decision.

– Not-Self (Negative Reaction): Disappointment

The ‘not-self’ is how your body reacts when something is wrong for you. Disappointment is your body’s signal that you are surrounded by the wrong people, meaning your environment is not good for you.

• You can feel deeply disappointed when you encounter situations that stay the same or people that aren’t changing.
• Disappointment might also show up as feeling bored, restless, dull, bland, melancholy, or questioning why there isn’t more to life. This is a sign that a reflector needs a change or surprise.
• You might also feel disappointed when people don’t meet their potential to be better, reject your high sensitivity, or feel attacked by what you say.

Reflectors sometimes get upset about what they encounter in the world. It feels like a deep disappointment or let-down when someone or something isn’t better than it is. It’s a shame when your expectations aren’t met.

You will feel disappointment arise when you are in environments, situations, or commitments that feel stagnant, unpleasant, or upsetting. It can also be disappointing when people reject or feel attacked by what you say when you are only trying to help them.

+ Signature (Positive Reaction): Surprise

Your ‘signature’ is what you feel when something is right for you. Your happiest state is when you feel joyful about life.

• Reflectors love to feel surprised by new experiences, situations, or people. They are always open to try new things and are constantly evolving. Happiness comes from following the things that surprise, excite, and light you up.
• Reflectors show others what it means to be flexible, open to anything, and non-judgemental about life. It is also satisfying to surprise people with their unique insights on life.

Reflectors love to experience new things or when something is better than you expected. It is deeply satisfying and thrilling when you are pleasantly surprised by a situation, person or outcome.

When you are with the right people and environments, you feel delighted and surprised by your experiences and unexpected outcomes. You enjoy the people, places, and opportunities that are presented to you, appreciate you, and make you feel good. You will feel heard and seen for your observations and enjoy when people change in unexpected ways. You will feel happy or regularly joyful about where you are and what you are doing.