Enneagrams of Personality: An Intro

I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort, where we overlap.

It would be impossible for most of us to spend a day without coming into direct or indirect contact with dozens of people. Like it or not, we could not deny that our relationship with others are the most changeable, infuriating, pleasurable and mystifying elements in our lives.

In this ancient system of Enneagram, one would be able to enjoy more satisfying and fulfilling relationships in all areas of life by finding out which of the nine basic personality types fit them. It is just like any other personality test we found online, but speaking from experience, it carries much more depth into the context of finding and figuring ourselves out. It is a new calling card for self-love and awareness.

The Enneagram is a personality typing tool that breaks down the patterns of human behavior into nine distinct types. Each type has a specific motivation, along with basic fears, levels of health, and so forth. It’s particularly helpful in showing us our blindspots and coping mechanisms. Along with the fact that our culture is going through a revolution which emphasizes on the desire for more self-awareness and inclusion, the Enneagram is a great way for us to create dynamic and open relationships with ourselves and others.

And why it’s gaining popularity, particularly now, is because once you dig into it, it goes way deeper than just a personality test. It’s a personalized roadmap for self-growth, relational health, and more. There’s a lot of hope in the Enneagram because it’s all about the freedom to change and grow. It’s not about labels. Instead of just speaking to who you are right now, the Enneagram teaches you about who you have the potential to be.

But it doesn’t stop with learning your type. This is just the start of the Enneagram journey. Once you get into it there are lots of ways it can help you reflect, develop, and evolve your thinking, behaviors and relationships. To help you get started, we’ve broken it down into nine things to know about the Enneagram, or — if you’re already an Enneagrammer — some new ideas from true Enneagram experts.

 THE TYPES

The Enneagram describes nine different types — nine different ways of seeing the world. Personality quizzes and assessments often deal with surface behaviors and traits, but the Enneagram speaks to deeper parts of who you are. It doesn’t just teach you about your strengths, it brings light to your shortcomings too. 

So, when used mindfully, it has the power to set you on a path toward the healthiest and most whole version of yourself.

The 9 Types are commonly known by the following names but these can differ slightly:

1. The Perfectionist — The Rational, Idealistic. Type: principled, purposeful, self-controlled, and perfectionistic.

2. The Helper — The Caring, Interpersonal. Type: demonstrative, generous, people-pleasing, and possessive.

3. The Achiever — The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic. Type: adaptive, excelling, driven, and image-conscious.

4. The Individualist — The Sensitive, withdrawn. Type: exressive, dramatic, self-absorbed, and temperamental.

5. The Investigator — The Intense, Cerebral. Type: perceptive, innovative, secretive, and isolated.

6. The Loyalist — The Committed, Security-Oriented. Type: engaging, responsible, anxious, and suspicious.

7. The Enthusiast — The Busy, Fun-Loving. Type: spontaneous, versatile, distractible and scattered.

8. The Challenger — The Powerful, Dominating. Type: self-confident, decisive, willful and confrontational.

9. The Peacemaker — The Easygoing, Self-Effacing. Type: receptive, reassuring, agreeable and complacent.

_____________________________

Once you find your type, you’ll likely know. Reading the description of your type can feel a bit like reading your own journals back to yourself. It is tempting to take a test and get a quick answer or to rely on someone else to tell you your type. I want to challenge you to take the time to research yourself.

You are so worth the exploration.