This week, I’m excited to introduce a new series, My Authentic Code. Your authentic code is your core essence. Your code defines the values that make up who you are and dictates what should be filling all of your time. In this series we will interview some of our favorite manifesters on how they’ve identified and live by their Authentic Code.
This week, I’d like to introduce Entrepreneur and TBM Brand Strategist & Designer Grace Abbott. Grace made the leap from corporate life to being her own boss about a year ago. Since then, she’s doubled her income and created a life of travel, curiosity, and following her intuition!
Can you tell us a little bit about your chart?
I’m an Aries Sun / Virgo Moon / Gemini Rising and a Manifestor in Human Design.
What do you do for a living?
I’m a freelance brand strategist and designer. My work varies from client to client, but I do anything from brand positioning and social strategy, to website design!
What is your Authentic Code?
Self Improvement, Freedom, Work. Entrepreneurship
What do each of these values mean to you?
Self Improvement: For me, self improvement means feeling like I'm constantly growing and never staying stagnant. I spend a lot of time reading books, listening to podcasts and doing things to better my life.
Freedom: Freedom is probably the most important pillar in my design. I hate to feel boxed in; I need to have the freedom to move around, take on new challenges and clients, and create a life that feels good to me without any limits. Over the last few years, I’ve moved every few months! From Boston to Chicago to St. Louis, my location is always changing.
Work & Entrepreneurship: I’m always thinking of new business ideas! This fuels me and makes me feel excited. For me, I’m excited by the work I do. As a manifestor, I am really lit up when I have a new idea.
How have you created a lifestyle to match your code?
Since working for myself and identifying my code, my lifestyle has changed dramatically. I don’t work my best when hustling at a 9-5. I’m both more efficient and more creative when I can dictate where and when I work! I’m really flexible in my work style and just try to listen to my mood. Some days, I’m grinding for 10 hours a day and producing great work; other days, I work just a few hours. Everything is dictated by how I’m feeling.
For me, this also means a lot of travel. I spend a lot of days working remote from new cities, between exploring and trying new restaurants.
I try to focus on variety; I have a range of projects I’m responsible for, but I also fill my life with travel and new hobbies. I’ve learned that I love to try things for the sake of trying them; more recently, I’ve tried making candles and growing an herb garden.
What challenges have you faced in incorporating these values into your day to day life?
The world is designed to be distracting! It's so easy to convince yourself that you "need something" or "need to do something" to fit in, be an adult, care for yourself, be in your worth, keep up with trends etc., but knowing my Authentic Code has helped to be my compass.
For instance, shopping for clothes and dressing up is not something that's important to me. I honestly barely need to dress up for meetings or going out. Most of the time I just like to wear comfortable clothes while I’m around the house, running errands, traveling, etc. But it's so easy to get sucked into spending money on the idea of a perfectly curated wardrobe, even though I have nowhere to wear the clothes. For me, this is not something that provides value, even though sometimes I get sucked into spending my money here.
What has changed since you aligned your life with your values?
Since identifying my code, I’ve learned to say no to opportunities that aren’t a good fit for me. For instance, I recently had an opportunity for full time work at a company I really admire. While this job looked perfect on paper, they wanted me to work a typical 9-5 workday. Even though this is the standard American workday, even though this structure works for so many people, I know that I need freedom and variety in order to thrive.
You can connect more with Grace on her website or Instagram @agraceabbott
curious about your authentic code?
When you’re living in authenticity, you become truly magnetic. The list you’re calling in seems to be drawn to you, effortlessly. You can learn more about your Authentic Code here or by working through Next Level in the Pathway.
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