What is the Enneagram?
You probably have heard about the Enneagram, either from social media memes, or people trying to type characters from their fave TV shows or movies, or from your cousin Alex, who won’t stop talking about the Enneagram and trying to type everyone in the family and say things like “Uncle Steve is such a Seven!” or “Eve is a classic Two!” that you think it’s borderline a cult ⎯ and it makes you wonder, what is this Enneagram thing? 🤔
I am so glad you ask, and let’s talk about it!
The Enneagram of Personality
The first time I heard the word Enneagram, my reaction was, “Excuse me, ennea-what?”
The word Enneagram is made up of two Greek words, ‘ennea’, which means nine, and ‘gramma’, which means drawing.
While social media memes are fun and all, the Enneagram is so much more than that. It is a deep and profound personality framework through which we can gain deep and profound insights into our inner world and step into the journey of self-awareness, healing, and transformation.
It’s a personality typology that helps us to not only understand what we do but more importantly, why we do what we do. The expression of that motivation can look the same, but where the Enneagram is helpful is that it helps us to understand what’s driving that behavior.
Another special element about this framework is that it’s not a static description of human personality. It is dynamic. It helps us understand how we show up in various contexts, settings, or seasons of our lives. We know that we show up differently at work vs. when we’re at home or with our closest friends. We also show up differently when things are going well vs. when life feels heavy. The Enneagram gives us so much more clarity and self—awareness about our various patterns in different areas and seasons of our lives.
The Enneagram Diagram
The Nine Enneagram Types
Unlike other personality typologies and theories, the Enneagram does not only help us understand what we do but also why we do what we do. The Enneagram focuses on individuals’ internal motivations, such as our basic desires and fears. These shape the framework of the 9 Enneagram types.
Type 1 - The Reformer
Type Ones are principled, detail-oriented, and driven by a strong sense of right and wrong. They strive for perfection and improvement in themselves and their surroundings. This striving is driven by the fear of being bad or making a mistake and the desire to be good and right.
Type 2 - The Giver
Twos are caring, generous, and nurturing individuals who often place the needs of others before their own. They desire to be needed and appreciated, sometimes to the point of neglecting their own needs. Their greatest fears are feeling unwanted, unloved, and unworthy of love.
Type 3 - The Achiever
Threes are ambitious, adaptable, image-conscious, and success-oriented individuals. They focus on achieving goals and gaining recognition. They tend to put up a 'mask' or persona to appear competent and gain admiration for others.
Type 4 - The Individualist
Fours are introspective, creative, and emotionally expressive individuals. They value individuality and often feel that they are different from others. They experience deep emotions and seek to find their unique identity and significance. They have a hidden idealized self that they so passionately want to become. They continually measure themselves against the ideal self and fall short, making them believe they are tragically flawed and defective.
Type 5 - The Observer
Fives are motivated by a thirst for knowledge, understanding, and autonomy. They tend to be analytical and introverted, often withdrawing into their minds to conserve energy. They feel like they lack inner resources and fear that life, people, and responsibilities will completely deplete their resources, and that would be a catastrophe. So most Fives are very reserved, isolate themselves from life, people, and responsibilities, hold on to their resources, and minimize their needs to protect themselves from the catastrophic depletion of their resources.
Type 6 - The Loyalist
Sixes seek security, support, and guidance. They are wary of potential dangers and often anticipate worst-case scenarios. They fear uncertainty and tend to have an inner sense of anxiety. They have an 'inner committee' that pulls them in various directions, resulting in anxiety, insecurities, and difficulty in making decisions.
Unlike other types, there are two types of Sixes: phobic and counterphobic. Phobic Sixes handle their fear and gain safety by attaching themselves to authority figures. They are more charming, compliant, and submissive. While counterphobic Sixes handle their fear head-on and gain security by challenging authority. They are more edgy, aggressive, and rebellious and often mistyped as type Eights.
Type 7 - The Enthusiast
Sevens are motivated by a desire to experience the fullness of life and pleasure! They are spontaneous, curious, playful, energetic, and adventurous. They fear being trapped in negative emotions or mundane routines. Deep down, Sevens feel like a cracked jar, where no amount of pleasure, experiences, and stimulants can truly satisfy them.
Type 8 - The Protector
Eights desire control, strength, and autonomy. They have a strong presence and are often seen as assertive and protective. They fear being controlled or vulnerable, and they strive to avoid being taken advantage of. They believe that they must control others before others control them. Think of Eights like a powerful bulldozer.
Type 9 - The Peacemaker
Nines seek harmony, inner peace, and unity. They can be easygoing and accommodating, often putting others' needs before their own because of their fear of conflict and separation. They go along and get along, while deep down, they feel that their presence, opinions, and desires are not important.
The Results of Doing Your Enneagram Work
Many people stop their journey after they find out about their main type and do a little bit of reading on the description. However, information is not transformation. Personal transformation is the natural result of doing your deep, inner Enneagram work.
Here are some of the results you can expect when you are actively doing your Enneagram work:
A profound clarity about yourself, your inner world, and internal motivation (why you do what you do).
Discovering your blind spots and unhealthy thoughts, emotions, and behavioral patterns and gaining practical tools to overcome them.
Acquiring a roadmap for your unique journey toward healing, transformation, and growth.
Become a better leader, partner, friend, parent, sibling, co-worker, and human being.
Cultivate the freedom to show up as your most authentic and healthiest self.
You gain clarity about your purpose and work that is aligned with your authentic Self.
You are able to walk and be secure in your identity, tap into your inner power, and live out your purpose!
If you want to learn more about the Enneagram and gain the practical tools to grow into the healthiest and best version of you, be sure to join the Community so you’ll never miss future posts. Glad you’re here! 😊
