What Are Enneagram Types?

A couple of years back, a buddy and that i launched into a mix-country journey to Omaha, Nebraska where we attended an Enneagram workshop. We spent all day long within an art space, speaking with other people about our figures and wings and self-revelations. At night, my pal and that i required our conversation to some apparently misplaced French restaurant around the cobblestoned primary street. We spoken for hrs before the restaurant closed, eating tartines and fromages within the midwest heat and feeling alive with this newly found understanding. Finally, we’d language for that fears and feelings that we would hidden for too lengthy.

“The Enneagram isn’t the finish-all-be-all, but her capacity to point all of us towards self-awareness and healthier living.”

Since that have, the Enneagram continues to be sacred for me personally. It may sound cliché-to state it’s altered my existence-but researching this ancient tool continues to be required for self-understanding and growth it’s transformed my relationships with family members and strengthened my marriage.

Knowing my Enneagram number has additionally introduced me right into a much deeper relationship with myself, gifting me tools to thrive, even just in my shortcomings. The Enneagram, whilst not the finish-all-be-all, has the ability to suggest all of us towards self-awareness and healthier living.

Finding Your Enneagram Number

Learning your Enneagram number isn’t as simple as taking a web-based survey. While you will find tests to suggest you within the right direction (they are our favorites), most Enneagram teachers advocate for discovery through studying, self-reflection, and meditation. You have to find out about all nine figures and listen for the one which speaks most for you (sorry, there is no quick answer here). Believe me, climax well worth the journey. Even mistyping yourself is definitely an essential part of coming at the number.

“Everyone’s discovery process differs. Your number might be incredibly apparent for you, or it might take many years to reveal itself.”

A couple of tips while you research: pay particular focus on the main fears and motivations. Don’t mind the jokes and memes and social networking posts about number tendencies. Organization does not cause you to an Enneagram one much like as being a music performer does not mean you are a four. Disregard the stereotypes, and concentrate rather around the desires and rationales of every number.

Also, keep in mind that everyone’s discovery process differs. Your number might be incredibly apparent, or it might take many years to reveal itself. I’ve mistyped myself more often than once, but I’ve learned just as much about who I’m within the mistyping when i have in finding my number. Spend some time using the process, and, at the chance of sounding a little woo, let your number to speak with you when its ready.

Finally, the Enneagram isn’t all-encompassing, and it is useful to remember that while you move ahead. As the tool is useful for growth and awareness, individuals are not the sum of the their Enneagram number-or other typing system for instance. We’re unique, even individuals people with similar figures. Sort out that lens, understanding that, while your type will help you better understand your inner wiring, it’s not reductive, neither is it an entire reflection of what you are.

Dear Twos, while you crave connection and feel the world us

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Thriving inside your Enneagram Number

Finding your number isn’t the finish from the Enneagram journey it’s the start. You will know saying, “ignorance is bliss?” Sometimes that may feel true with this particular work. Unlike many personality typing systems, the Enneagram invites us to confront, explore, and sort out our fears and inner shadows, which could feel discouraging.

“Discovering your number isn’t the finish from the Enneagram journey it’s the start.”

The good thing is that growth occurs when we learn how to see and name our shadows and celebrate our unique strengths. Through honest self-reflection and conversations with family members, we are able to begin to see the problem and recognize when we’re entering unhealthy mindsets. Only then are we able to adopt tools and self-care habits to maneuver us towards wellbeing.

A fast disclaimer: I’m not an experienced teacher or Enneagram expert (a lot more like the ‘in-house Enneagram enthusiast’ ??). Although this piece includes comprehensive summaries for every number when i best understand them from my very own research, I suggest these expert sources (teachers, books, and podcasts) to understand more about a brief history, function, and offer-day utilisation of the Enneagram.

Type One: The Reformer

I wish to be good. I’m afraid being defective.

Ones would be the reformers, the builders, the fixers, and also the perfectionists the majority of us need to be. They leave things much better than they found them, and they’ve an in-depth yearning to enhance the planet and positively impact society. Ones could be incredibly judgmental of themselves yet others, and of all of the figures around the Enneagram, they’ve the most powerful inner critic. Ones carry together a harsh voice that constantly critiques their decisions and performances.

Thriving Strategies for Enneagram Ones Practice silencing your inner critic by remaining skeptical of their claims, and counter negative self-talk to gentle facts and affirmations. Invite family members into this journey and rely on them on your hardest days. Believe others once they say: You’re good.

Try These Practices:

Look for lighthearted & irrelevant activities-have some fun!
Use to-do lists to obvious your mind & time blocks to split up work and rest.
Begin a morning meditation practice & use breathing apps.
Have a gratitude journal & use sticky notes for visual affirmations.

Type Two: The Assistant

I wish to be loved. I’m afraid being not worthy of affection.

Twos are genuine, warm, not to mention-intuitive. There is a sincere eagerness to assist and take care of others. Sometimes, though, they permit their demands to visit unmet. Self-care can be tough on their behalf because Twos fear that, when they aren’t needed, they are certainly not worth love.

Thriving Strategies for Enneagram Twos You’re loved and worthy it doesn’t matter how much you need to do for other people. Lean into this truth, and create space for uninterrupted YOU time like a regular practice (listed here are 99 free self-care ideas!). Be greedy about this! Don’t enable your fears or negative ideas obstruct of self-care.

Try These Practices:

Yoga, dancing, and/or stretching for physical self-care.
Prepare a more sophisticated meal on your own-splurge in your favorite ingredients!
Take your self on a solo date. Give yourself a break how you would a buddy.
Type Three: The Achiever
I wish to be enough. I’m afraid being useless.

Also known as The Performers, Threes are success-oriented, image-conscious, and motivated by affirmation. In their best, they’re driven, productive, focused, and fast-paced individuals. Threes have a tendency to overwork themselves and frequently get up to date in tasks because they would like to look effective. Nicknamed the form-shifters, they’re professionals at adjusting to become whomever they feel others would like them to become.

Thriving Strategies for Enneagram Threes Make time to explore activities you really enjoy, especially ones which go undetected and therefore are exclusively for you personally. Social networking breaks will also be required for wellbeing.

Try These Practices:

Set work & screen-time limitations-particularly if you are working at home.
Try non-competitive & non-performance-based hobbies.
Journal, meditate, and exercise slowing lower. Resist the need to remain busy.
Acknowledge and vocalize your feelings and requires.
Type Four: The Individualist
I wish to be understood. I’m afraid insignificance.

Learning I’m an Enneagram Four helps me create a language for lots of my unnamed feelings (and Fours have numerous feelings). I have learned how you can recognize my triggers for moodiness and withdrawal, along with the need for flowing myself into creative projects. I have also discovered how you can be suspicious of feelings and get myself hard questions, for example “How do my feelings vary from reality, from things i know to be real versus. the way i feel?” Frequently they are opposing solutions. I might feel misinterpreted or like I do not belong, however a chain of texts from family members say otherwise.

Thriving Strategies for Enneagram Fours Feelings can acquire the better of us, so use activities to remain embodied and grounded. Pour your time into art, volunteering, and relationships-these practices will gift the significance you crave while directing your attention outward.

Try These Practices:

Start your morning with embodied activities: stay hydrated, eat breakfast, stretch.
Get free from your mind through getting outdoors. Choose regular walks.
When feeling withdrawn, write lower your emotions alongside measurable facts to combat false narratives.
Create! Funnel all individuals feelings into hands-on activities. Make art, plant an outdoor, build furniture, etc.

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Type Five: The Investigator

I wish to be all-knowing. I’m afraid incompetence.

Enneagram Fives are visionaries, curious explorers, and seekers of understanding. Generally, they’re private people and feel quite comfortable when alone. Fives may also have a problem with detachment, sometimes feeling the necessity to choose from social relationships and also the journey towards discovery and understanding.

Thriving Strategies for Enneagram Fives Invest in a hands-on project this season (preferably one with accountability), and become intentional together with your relationships. Remember that you could still ask big questions while being physical and offer on the planet. Make a move every single day to ground yourself.

Try These Practices:

Train for any race or attempted to accomplish an actual task through the finish of the season.

Create space to recognition your intellect and large questions. Enroll in a virtual book club, have a journal, or begin a blog to funnel your ideas.

Spend some time every week purchasing your relationships. If it is safe in your town, use a socially distant hike having a friend or prepare meals over Facetime with a family member.

Type Six: The Loyalist

I desire security. I’m afraid abandonment.

Enneagram Sixes are calculated, driven by responsibility, loyalty, and want a safe and secure atmosphere. Those are the ‘go lower using the ship’ number, even though this has a hefty dose of skepticism. Sixes have a problem with trust, and they’re especially distrusting that belongs to them instincts. Fear has a tendency to immobilize them, keeping them motionless forward and selection.

Thriving Strategies for Enneagram Sixes You have to feel safe and warranted inside your steps prior to making decisions-and that’s okay. But don’t allow fear to prevent you from taking necessary risks. Learn how to trust yourself and hang reasonable timelines to make decisions. Ask your loved ones and buddies to keep you on track.

Try These Practices:

Keep the living & work environments organized to prevent unnecessary chaos.
Routine and routine is required for your stability. Embrace them.
Write lower your lengthy-term goals & the sensible steps you have to decide to try make it happen.

Type Seven: The Enthusiast

I desire contentment. I’m afraid discomfort.

Enneagram Sevens are pegged the enjoyment number. They’re passionate about existence and understand how to have fun. Additionally they enjoy being busy and encircled by individuals. Sevens also have a problem with embracing harder feelings, plus they have a tendency to avoid acknowledging much deeper feelings. Despite being ‘life from the party’ figures, they are able to easily put on discomfort avoidance and emotional detachment.

Thriving Strategies for Enneagram Sevens Direct all of your energy and enthusiasm into merely a couple of tasks, and exercise not doing anything (like stretching alone) for any couple of moments every day. Whenever you feel yourself fighting off your emotions, take out a diary and write them lower.

Try These Practices:

Allocate regular time for you to journal, meditate, or speak with someone regarding your feelings.
Spend a couple of hrs per week anyway & solitude. Be protective of the time, even if spontaneity attempts to creep in.
Direct your time & enthusiasm right into a couple of tasks rather of claiming ‘yes’ to everything.

Type Eight: The Challenger

I desire control. I’m afraid being injured.

Enneagram Eights lengthy for authenticity and honest conversations. Eights are incredible leaders they fight for that underdogs and love challenging systems. This will make them especially useful for social justice and human legal rights positions. Eights could be confrontational and cynical, plus they fear losing control or just being uncovered as weak (this could manifest as anger). To assist using these feelings, Enneagram teachers recommend Eights spend some time helping others, practice intentional listening, and delegate tasks.

Thriving Strategies for Enneagram Eights Spend some time on your own doing a task you like, and a gratitude journal for reflection. Take heed to when you are speaking over people, and exercise intentional, judgment-free listening.

Try These Practices:

Use breathing exercises to center yourself when feeling angry or cynical.
Resist the need to take control constantly. Invite others to talk & lead.
Funnel your leadership skills into volunteering for charitable organizations & political causes.

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Type Nine: The Peacemaker

I desire stability. I’m afraid separation.

Nines are peacemakers. As optimists and supporters, those are the number that may recognize everybody else around the Enneagram-apart from themselves. Nines frequently explore this mixture and forgo their desires and needs, similar to Twos. Self-care is challenging on their behalf because they are centered on the wellbeing of everybody else. This leaves Nines feeling depleted and without a feeling of identity.

Thriving Strategies for Enneagram Nines Even peacemakers need time alone. Create here we are at self-care every week. Make choices (gasp!) with self-curiosity about mind, and advocate for the needs and wants (they matter). If somebody requests your opinion, speak up.

Try These Practices:

Spend some time exploring your passions, desires, & needs. Create ‘you’ time.

Set firm limitations to ensure that you aren’t always helping others & playing mediator-even when which means (lightly) turning away a buddy.

Instead of choosing the flow, practice voicing your thinking & selection in group settings.