Secondary Expression

Introduction

Our Secondary Creative Expression is one of the same seven as our Primary. The difference is that we use our Secondary as a way to maintain Safety and Security. Our Secondary is primarily the energy we use to build our career so we can be seen as successful. Therefore, Secondary Expressions are more related to proving ourselves capable of making a significant contribution in the world. We want to prove we can make an impact and actually change the world in some way. This level of expression is more about finding something tangible that we can do, which others want us to do, so we can be Respected or Esteemed. Others can see and value our Secondary Creative Expression, but it is also possible for us to over-do or under-do it, especially when we are not engaging our Primary Creative Expression.

When we over-do or under-do our Secondary Creative Expression, others find it difficult to be around us. On the over-do side, we are trying to prove who we are, which can be perceived as pushy, annoying, false and fake. People may actually “run” when they see us coming. This can be particularly problematic if we have an extroverted Secondary Expression that may cause us to talk incessantly without saying anything meaningful! The under-do side can have all of the same, undesirable, impacts on our relationships. We are perceived as holding back, or not showing up in a way others can genuinely connect to. Both of these situations indicate we are out of balance with who we are and are indicative of a growth opportunity.

When we begin to be seen and acknowledged creatively by others, it is usually because we begin to engage our Secondary Creative Expression. Using one of these seven creative energies, we feel capable of being successful on an outer level. This Secondary Creative Expression begins to overshadow our Imprinting and we begin to identify with energies that allow us to assert ourselves. This is where we develop an ability to operate as a coordinated personality with our own needs and desires. As we develop our own sense of power over our environment, we sometimes over-do or under-do this use of energy, upsetting others when we attempt to use our creative energy to fix or control them. Over time we learn effective boundaries so we moderate the use of this energy.

Some individuals choose to stop growing once they are being successful in their Secondary Creative Expression. It is easy to become comfortable at this level of growth because often we are making the money we always dreamed of and are able to live a life that is safe and secure. We may sense that there is more to life than getting up and doing our work, but we do not trust that we have any other choice. We may feel stuck, so we focus on the day when we can retire. All we have to do is “suck it up” for another 10 years or so, right?

There is nothing wrong with being successful and having a lifestyle we like. We suggest a different perspective of the role our Secondary Expression plays in our life. We need to look at our Secondary, in relation to our Primary and explore all the possible ways the Secondary can support the Primary. Our Primary Creative Expression has its own plan for a Life Work path that will bring us a greater sense of fulfillment and joy because we are doing something we love while contributing to others. We have already experienced the success of our Secondary, so all we need to do is start shifting our successful Secondary into a support role to our Primary’s vision for our life. A shift in lifestyle may not be as horrible as we imagine! In fact, being fulfilled in our purpose leads to greater abundance. Transitions are scary, but the results can be surprising.

The seven Secondary Creative Expressions are uniquely designed to provide the support our Primary Expressions require to fulfill our Life Purpose. While some of the descriptions will be similar to the Primary descriptions, keep in mind that as Secondary expressions, the focus is on “doing” (success) rather than the Primary focus of “being” (fulfillment). 

Validating Our Secondary Creative Expression

We can validate our Secondary Creative Expression by identifying the main characteristics we have used in our life, to be successful. For many, these qualities have been the focus of our careers. If we haven’t had a long term career, but instead have had multiple jobs without a noticeable pattern, then we have to take a look at our parents, to see if we have been “doing” our Secondary, or if we have been doing what our parents wanted us to, or the reverse (anything besides what our parents wanted!) In either case, we could be operating from our Imprinting. The difference between our Secondary Expression and the Imprinting we received from our parents is that our Imprinted expression is not seen and valued by others. In such situations we end up wanting to express ourselves but then deny who we are because it is in conflict with who our parents wanted us to be. Some individuals do not realize how unconscious and unseen these parental beliefs can be in our own life. Sometimes we take on our parents’ unconscious aversions to an energy, particularly one of our energies. As a result, we will unconsciously avoid embodying this energy.

We heal our Self by seeing the beauty and wonder in our Secondary expression and find avenues which support our manifesting it. The more we believe we are our imprinting, the more we unconsciously deny our real selves. This creates a discontinuity between who we believe we need to be in order to create a sense of Safety and Security, and what we actually can contribute as an Authentic Being. The nature of this conflict is frequently self-sabotaging. The Creative Expression Imprinting we receive from our parents is more about appearing to deliver than actually doing so. When we are acting out our Imprinting, others can neither see nor appreciate what we want to contribute to them, because we are not doing it in a genuinely committed or passionate way.

How do you seek to be most Successful?

a) Do you focus on making sure everything is done correctly and without question? (Orchestrator)
b) Are you committed and devoted to demonstrating that you put others first? (Compassionate)
c) Do you focus on being productive and delivering simple, unambiguous results? (Implementer)
d) Do you prefer to be somewhat invisible and hard to define wanting to keep all possibilities open? (Inventor)
e) Do you focus on using details to demonstrate depth of understanding? (Investigator)
f) Do you have extraordinary capabilities that others don’t seem to appreciate? (Visionary)
g) Do you influence others by using humor in your interactions? (Storyteller)

Appreciating Our Secondary Creative Expression

Most individuals do not find it difficult to appreciate the contribution of the Secondary energy. Typically, we begin expressing our Secondary Creative Expression as early as our teenage years as we start our quest for independence. As a result of our childhood we have formed ideas as to what type of lifestyle we want for ourselves, to fill our needs for Survival and Success. Our Secondary Expression is the means for achieving our goals, until such time as we are ready to express our Primary Creative Expression. As previously mentioned, due to our conditioning and defensiveness, most of us do not begin to experience our Primary Creative Expression until we are at least 35 years old. The transition from “doing” our Secondary Expression to “being” our Primary Expression, can be painful. Our Secondary does not want to let go of control. We have doubts that we can even support ourselves by doing something different, or something we love. As we continue to move forward, we need to let go of our limiting stories and beliefs.

At some point, we can begin to appreciate the beauty of our design. We realize that our Secondary is perfectly suited to support how we truly want to be in the world as our Primary Creative Expression. All of our experiences in life, work, and relationships integrate so we are able to consciously direct our path with the support of the choices we have made.