Consciousness and Deconditioning in Human Design

Consciousness is a topic that sparks a great deal of debate and interpretation. Its meaning can vary significantly depending on who is using it, drawing from spiritual, psychological, religious, or metaphysical contexts. Almost everyone who talks about consciousness ends up defining it according to their perspective. And I am no different.

When I speak of consciousness, I’m referring to the unique human capacity to focus attention on our behaviors in the present moment. This conscious focus plays a specific role: it provides just enough awareness to interrupt automatic behaviors for an instant, creating the possibility for change. These automatic behaviors, or “behavior chains,” occur without us actively thinking about them. Once triggered by a stimulus, they proceed in a predetermined sequence.

Automatic processes or “zombie agents” are routine actions without conscious thought.

Christof Koch and Francis Crick, known for their pioneering work on consciousness, describe these automatic processes as “zombie agents”—routine actions that occur without conscious thought. In their 2004 book, The Quest for Consciousness: A Neurobiological Approach, they argue that these zombie agents are so integral to human consciousness that they warrant serious scientific study. Koch and Crick’s work has been fundamental in exploring how consciousness is tied to specific neural processes, particularly in areas like visual perception and attention ​(Wikipedia, Berkeley Grad Lectures).

This ability to be aware of what we are doing as we are doing it, however brief, is crucial.

Consider an argument with someone close to you—a parent, spouse, sibling, or a long-time friend. Often, you can predict how the conversation will unfold: you know what you will say, how they will respond, and how the situation will escalate. This realization can happen suddenly, but the window for acting differently is typically very narrow because the behavior chain is neurologically hardwired and operates faster than our conscious, cognitive thinking.

However, this fleeting moment of awareness provides an opportunity for reflection later on. We can choose to ignore what happened, forget about it, or make a conscious effort to respond differently the next time. We can decide to research new ways of handling similar situations or plan to act differently in the future.

These recurring arguments are examples of “conditioned responses,” which are automatic reactions established through training or experience. In psychological terms, deconditioning involves extinguishing an unwanted response while creating a new one to the same stimulus, often requiring repeated practice and exposure to the stimulus. For instance, someone with a fear of flying might gradually be exposed to airports while practicing relaxation techniques to manage anxiety.

The notion that deconditioning takes a fixed period is more of a guideline than a fact.

In Human Design, the concept of “deconditioning” involves identifying and altering these automatic, conditioned behaviors that do not align with one’s true nature. It is often suggested that this process takes seven years, a time frame that is symbolically connected to the body’s cellular renewal cycle. However, while some cells in the body replace themselves every seven to ten years, others, such as those in the central nervous system, do not regenerate. Thus, the notion that deconditioning takes a fixed period is more of a guideline than a scientific fact.

The Human Design System categorizes behaviors into three major Circuit Groups.

Without consciousness, we remain a prisoner of habits learned through repetition. With consciousness, however, we always have the chance to change. This idea is central to the Human Design System, which categorizes behaviors into three major Circuit Groups that form the foundation of the system. All the Centers, Channels, Gates, and Lines of the Human Design chart are essentially expressions of these circuits. Human behavior is influenced by these circuits, either because we are genetically wired with them or because we have learned them through social or cultural conditioning.

Behaviors that do not align with our Human Design are “Conditioned” or “Not Self” behaviors.

This is essentially a restatement of the classic “Nature versus Nurture” debate, suggesting that some behaviors are intrinsic, while others are learned through external influence. Some of these behaviors bring anxiety, anger, fear, and frustration. Often, we don’t understand why we think, feel, or act in certain ways, and we may resist these feelings or see them in others and judge them harshly. Yet, these behaviors have persisted throughout human history for a reason—they serve a purpose.

Understanding consciousness and behavior from this perspective allows us to recognize the patterns we repeat and gives us the freedom to choose differently. This process of self-reflection and conscious decision-making is the crux of personal growth and self-awareness.

Changing a conditioned response, particularly if tied to strong emotions, is challenging.

It requires consistent effort and repetition. The faster we recognize and decide to alter these patterns, the more effective the change. While there is no definitive proof that deconditioning takes a specific amount of time, the effort put into changing one’s response patterns is what ultimately makes the difference.

At its core, the difficulty of breaking conditioned behavior lies in its self-reinforcing nature. Every time we repeat a behavior, we reinforce it, making it harder to change. It is a cycle that feeds itself, a process of “self-conditioning.” Recognizing this cycle is the first step towards breaking it and achieving true freedom from habitual responses.

Ultimately, life is full of complex patterns and behaviors that are not easily understood or changed. Yet, consciousness allows us to navigate these complexities with awareness, providing us with the opportunity to break free from automatic behavior and live a more deliberate and meaningful life.

If you liked this post, you might also like Ra Uru Hu Speaks the Truth: Human Design Insights and Tapping Into Consciousness: Exploring Human Design.

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