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Hello and welcome to Find Yourself, Change Your Life. I'm your host, Mary Clavieres. This podcast is here to help you rediscover yourself and become the leader of your life, however you want that to look.

For today's episode, we are continuing the decision-making series. If you are just joining us now, I invite you to scroll back and listen to Episode 48. It’s the foundational episode of the series where I go into more detail on decision-making and how we're conditioned and the tool that I use for this process, which is called Human Design. You can also get your free chart and a workbook to go along with all of this.

And if you have mental or environmental (or mental) decision-making style, then that's what we're talking about today. So you're in for a treat.

Have you ever tried to make an important decision... and your mind just felt foggy?

You tried to think it through. You analyzed. You made lists. But clarity wouldn't come.

And then you went somewhere else. Maybe you took a walk. Or went to a coffee shop. Or found a quiet room.

And suddenly... it dropped in. The answer was obvious.

If this sounds familiar, you might have environmental decision-making style (also called environmental authority or mental authority in Human Design).

And understanding this? It changes everything about how you approach decisions.

What Is Environmental Decision-Making?

First things first. This is typically called mental authority or mental decision-making style. I prefer to use environmental decision-making style because it's more accurate of what is actually happening. So for someone that has environmental decision-making style, this is only found in projectors and you will only have a combination of the throat, ajna, and head defined, which are the top 3 shapes in the middle of your chart. You don't need to worry about the details of all of that, but I'm just saying it's for a very specific population. There's not many people that have this style, and it's an important thing to note.

What it also means is that you have an undefined or open identity center, which is the 4th shape down on the chart, the diamond in the middle. And so for someone that has an undefined or open identity center, it's really important to pay attention to the environment that they're in. And along with that, being a projector that only has between 2 and 3 centers defined, you are someone that has a lot of openness in your chart.

Openness in the chart is great. It's a beautiful thing. There's no right or wrong with any of this. Openness in the chart also means that there are a lot of places where you could be conditioned or taking on information or energy from other people or places. So I like to use environmental because it's a great reminder that your environment matters when you're making decisions. That's the key takeaway there. Your environment matters when you're making decisions.

How Environmental Decision-Making Works

This is especially for big decisions. This whole decision-making series is about big decisions in your life. So maybe it's moving or a job change or something in your relationships. It's really important to note that the environment matters when you're deciding these things.

Here is how this style works:

You need to speak your decision out loud. (Yes, like self-projected authority from last week's episode.)

But here's the difference:

With self-projected, it's about how it sounds and feels as you speak. With environmental, it's about speaking... and then letting clarity drop in.

You talk it out. You explore different angles. You speak, speak, speak.

And then... boom. Clarity drops in.

You feel it in your body. It lands. You just know.

But this only happens when you're in the right environment.

Why Environment Matters So Much

If you are someone that has environmental decision-making style, it's really important to make sure that you're in an environment that's supportive to you and that you clear your energy from other people and places, because with so much openness in your chart, that means you can be taking on from other people. And before you make any type of big decision, you want to be clear and you want to be in your own energy. So that's a very big deal.

Whether that is a special place in your house or if you have a home office or another office that you go to, or even being able to take walks outside—walks in nature are incredibly supportive to all of us and our mind-body connections, but especially when you have so much openness in your chart. So if you can take a walk and kind of get clear and be in your energy before you start speaking out loud and before you start to try to make a decision on something.

A Real-Life Example

I had a client with environmental decision-making style.

She worked from home. Had young kids. There was always a lot going on.

When we talked about her decision-making process, I told her: "It's really important for you to be in your own space. Somewhere that feels clear and supportive."

She said, "Actually, I'm getting my own office space outside the house. I'm really looking forward to it because I can bring just the things that are important for my work."

Perfect.

A few weeks later, she got back to me.

"Mary, this space is amazing. I feel so much clearer. I'm not bogged down by everything else going on in the house. I can actually think."

That's the power of environment.

Now, you might not be able to get a separate office. That's okay.

But you can find a space that works for you. A corner of your home. A coffee shop. A park bench. Somewhere that feels aligned.

The Speaking Part

Once you're in the right environment, you need to speak.

Out loud. Not in your head.

You can talk to someone else if you want. But here's the key: you're not looking for their advice.

You're using them as a soundboard. Someone to listen while you process.

If they start giving you their opinions, it throws you off. Because now you're taking on their energy. And you need to be clear.

So if you're going to talk to someone, make sure they can hold space without jumping in.

Or, you can talk to yourself. Walk and talk. Record voice memos. Whatever works.

The point is: speak it out. Let it flow. And trust that clarity will drop in.

Three Steps to Environmental Decision-Making

If you have this style, here's how to work with it:

Step 1: Clear Your Energy

Before you try to make a decision, get clear from other people's energy.

Go for a walk in nature. Spend time alone. Take a shower. Do whatever helps you feel like yourself again.

Step 2: Find the Right Environment

Go somewhere that feels good to you. Somewhere aligned. Somewhere you can think clearly.

This might be different for different decisions. Trust your intuition.

Step 3: Speak and Let Clarity Drop In

Talk it out. Speak, speak, speak. Explore different angles.

And then let it land. Don't force it. Trust that clarity will come.

Your Relationship with Your Voice

One more thing:

If you've been conditioned to stay quiet, dim your voice, or keep your thoughts to yourself... this decision-making style might feel uncomfortable at first.

That's okay.

Part of honoring this style is building a relationship with your voice. Giving yourself permission to speak. To process out loud.

It's not about being loud or taking up space in the wrong way. It's about expressing yourself so you can access your clarity.

Your voice is part of your decision-making process. Honor it.

Reflection Questions for Environmental Authority

I want to also share a couple reflection questions for you. Invitation to reflect on these as you build your relationship with your decision-making style:

Are you in an environment that's supportive to you? And if you aren't, what are the ways that you can find an environment that's supportive to you?
Are you clearing your energy and your aura before you try to make big decisions? Are you spending time with self and clearing your energy?
What's your relationship with your voice? If you are someone that has typically tried to dim your light, dim your voice, is shy about speaking up, it could be that it feels a little uncomfortable to use this decision-making style or to honor that you need to speak things out loud. What are some ways that you can build that self-trust so that it can support you with making your decisions?

So that's what I have for you today. If you have this environmental decision-making style, I hope this was helpful for you.

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share it with a friend, I'd be honored. It's a way that really easily helps the podcast to be seen and heard by more people and to allow this information to support others, because that's what I'm really here to do.

I appreciate your support. Thank you for taking the time here, and we'll continue the series again next week. Speak to you soon.