Identifying Mode Imprinting

Imprinting around Modes makes us doubt our power to implement our goals because we typically sabotage our ability to implement. When we are imprinted to be a Mode that we are not, this creates a pattern of activity where we are not owning our own power. Instead we are deferring to the way our parents took care of this particular area. This is the way that many people end up behaving like their parents without realizing it. When we become more conscious about how we have been imprinted to behave in certain ways, we find we can expand beyond our imprinting and do things consciously instead.

The way to identify our imprinting is found in the beliefs we hold and the ways we operate under stress. We will go over the seven different Modes and discuss how we can identify our own patterns of activity and recognize the patterns of activity in others.

Reserved Imprinting

We are over-identified with our behavior to the degree that we appear inhibited, constrained and suppressed particularly in comparison to natural Reserve individuals. With Reserve imprinting we do not feel as connected to our inner beauty and serenity and therefore focus ourselves more on our outer minimalist presentation. Paradoxically, we seek more interaction with others and then feel overwhelmed when we get it. Our cool indifference hides a desire to break out and be seen by others. Our partners can best support us by being warm and easy-going and not falling into the trap of over-doing our role-playing.

Reserved imprinting is identified by the way they close themselves off from other people, giving themselves time to re-generate within themselves. The imprinting itself is more cautious than when we are doing Reserve on a primary level. In other words, being in a primary mode of Reserved has more elegance and focus in using being pulled back as a way to refine their expression. When we are imprinted with Reserve, we do not naturally do the refinement any more, we are more committed to using our own isolation to protect ourselves. Those with Reserve imprinting will retreat and withdraw immediately from public contact when they are overwhelmed. The belief that is held onto by those in Reserve is “I do not need to deal with this right now” whenever things become too intense or difficult.

Passion Imprinting

Our behavior is seen as dramatic and compromised by individuals with natural Passion mode. Passion imprinted individuals need to be involved in everything. While we need quiet self-reflection time, we believe we have to perform to satisfy others, causing us to lose ourselves in the desires they manifest. We feel like we have no choice about how we are going to accomplish something because we automatically begin to respond to the intentions of others. A partner needs to focus us on our own truth, otherwise we will become overly interested in helping them to explain things to us. Passion imprinted individuals can become scared of actually doing Passion because it does not always work out.

In other words, Passion imprinted individuals can become overly passionate and find themselves in relationship with others who do not accept their passion and they are hurt. Many Passion imprinted individuals are therefore conscious and do passion only when it feels safe with others or when it is not vital to their well-being. People with primary Passion do not check with themselves before jumping into passion. Passion imprinted individuals always check whether this is the right circumstance in which to be passionate. Individuals with imprinted Passion believe that there is a perfect time and place for passion and they have to figure it out in advance.

Caution Imprinting

Our behavior can be seen by individuals who manifest natural Caution mode as being either phobic or unreasonably fearful. With Caution mode imprinting we are more attached to our fears and doubt our reality completely. Many times, our long-term goals are compromised by the need to handle everything up front. Our partners would do best by reassuring this individual that they are not really causing any difficulty by the demands they are placing on the situation. Caution imprinted individuals are even more cautious than those with a primary Caution mode. They end up closing most people out of their lives because of their fears that something can go wrong. Caution imprinted individuals believe that others can take advantage of them if given “the opening and the opportunity.” Therefore they resolve not to give others this opening.

Power Imprinting

Our behavior can be seen as driven because we need to be seen as being stubbornly successful in our own way particularly by other individuals who are naturally persevering. With Perseverance imprinting we get so attached to the image of overcoming adversity that we do not focus on the inner qualities of our strength. The key issue for our partners is not to directly challenge our assumptions, rather to show this individual how we are meeting and exceeding their assumptions. Occasionally, our desire to be seen as strong gets in the way of our ability to express ourselves, especially around the problems we see in our life. Power imprinted individuals are typically scared to be in their power fully because of what others may think about them. Usually this is because they grew up in a household where power was done to them, not with them. They seek to be powerful without dictating to others how it should be because they do not wish to be identified with the way in which their parents did Power mode. They can be identified by their belief that there is an appropriate time and place for power that “ I’ve got to make sure that others are ready for it before doing it.”

Perseverance Imprinting

Our behavior can be seen as driven because we need to be seen as being stubbornly successful in our own way particularly by other individuals who are naturally persevering. With Perseverance imprinting we get so attached to the image of overcoming adversity that we do not focus on the inner qualities of our strength. The key issue for our partners is not to directly challenge our assumptions, rather to show this individual how we are meeting and exceeding their assumptions. Occasionally, our desire to be seen as strong gets in the way of our ability to express ourselves, especially around the problems we see in our life.

Perseverance imprinted individuals cannot give up when things are not going well. They are easily identified by their tenacity in making things work before they let something go. Their belief is that they cannot let the circumstance or situation get them down so they feel the need to prove themselves before they move forward. Individuals with full Perseverance are even more ingrained in this process, believing that they should not leave a relationship until they know how to fix it. Imprinted Perseverance individuals have more flexibility about who and what to engage and for how long. They can be identified by the belief that they just have to go a little deeper to understand and appreciate the pattern so that they can move forward.

Aggression Imprinting

Our behavior can be seen as obnoxious, belligerent and demanding, particularly with individuals who do Aggression naturally. With Aggression imprinting we want what we want and are unwilling to compromise what we want in any way. We see ourselves as manifestors who make things happen and do not want to be associated with wimps, or to be seen as passive in any way. Others need to acknowledge and value the physical prowess of this individual to focus them on any interaction. Aggression imprinted individuals can be fearful about assertive activity because, typically, they were at the effect of this around their parents. This means that they are very careful around people that move quickly or take charge in a way that is direct and forceful. Ironically, they end up doing this to other people without realizing it. The difference between Aggression on a primary level and imprinted Aggression is how much they trust their inner drive to express themselves in activity. Aggression imprinted individuals can be identified by the belief that there is no appropriate time and place to be overly assertive, demanding and intense.

Observation Imprinting

Our behavior can be seen as scrutiny or the surveillance of others, particularly by natural Observers. Many people can falsely interpret this interest as being judgmental. Actually, we feel compromised by our inability to intervene or fix situations that we perceive are not working out. This occurs because while we are focusing on understanding something, we do not naturally feel connected to doing something about it. Observation imprinted individuals believe they should observe and be able to remember the details of circumstances for a period of time, yet they do not necessarily have the attention span and memory necessary to recall exactly what happened two weeks ago. An individual who does Observation on a primary level can remember the details of circumstances and situation easily, making those with imprints feel inadequate around those who imprinted them. Observation imprinted individuals operate from the belief that details are important, yet usually have trouble in keeping track of the details in their life.