Over the years I have talked (and talked and talked) about the Enneagram. It has been a personal growth tool that has helped me make such positive changes in my own life!

I love it so much that I also use it with my life coaching clients.

 

I've been asked by different people to share some info on the basics to help people get started with learning their own Enneagram type.

 

So I shared this video on Facebook and wanted to give it a place on my site where you could listen to it in podcast form, watch the video, or read through it. Whatever you prefer, it is a content smorgasbord! 

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

WATCH THE VIDEO

 

READ THE POST

Type 1 - The Reformer/Perfectionist

Concerned with good wholesome, right and wrong. Motivated by the desire to ‘be good’, the need to live life ‘the right way’

At their best: Ethical, reliable, standards, self-controlled

At their worst: Judgmental, dogmatic, critical

They may not be a perfectionist in the traditional sense of lining up their environment,  but struggle with this internal critic causing anxiety of things they 'should do'

They are probably unaware that they push people away with judgements about what the world should look like and how they or others should behave.

When they are healthy they move to the traits of a Type 7 (this is called the direction of integration). When they are stressed they move to the traits of a Type 4Healthy 7 (the direction of disintegration)

We need 1s because they are our moral compass and remind us to maintain healthy standards in our lives

 

Type 2 - The Helper

Motivated by the need to be needed, need to feel they are lovable and valuable

At their best:  loving, generous, enthusiastic, warm, giving

At their worst: martyr, over-accommodating, indirect

A two may not realize that they are putting themselves in a service role to others as a way to feel valuable. They may not even realize that through all of their serving they are creating a relationship where they are needed and hoping to also be served in return. When they feel taken advantage of they can feel a lot of anger and resentment which shows up as martyrdom. 

Because they are so busy helping and supporting others, they often put themselves on the back burner.

Healthy move towards type 4

Stress move towards type 8

We need 2s because they remind us that those around us are in need and we can serve them and show up for them in many different ways

 

Type 3 - The Achiever/The Performer

Motivated by the need to be successful, believe that their value lies in their achievements

At their best: optimistic, practical, efficient, they get things done

At their worst: narcissistic, workaholic, deceptive in times where their ability to succeed is at risk or to maintain their image

A struggle the three will have is identifying who they are from what they do. They have difficulties getting in touch with their own thoughts and feelings - success comes at the expense of your feelings.

In Stress move to type 9

In health move to type 6

We need 3s because they remind us that setting and accomplishing our goals is a rewarding and worthwhile thing

 

Type Four – The Individualist/The Romantic/The Creative

Motivated by the need to be themselves, to understand their feelings and be understood

At their best: warm and heart-centred, introspective, they want to contribute something unique to the world, they are willing to deal with the hard stuff to find the deeper purpose

At their worst: depressed, self-conscious,