September 07, 2025

Navigating Midlife with Enneagram Insights from Suzanne Stabile

1 hour 12 minutes

About the Guest:

Suzanne Stabile is an esteemed Enneagram teacher and author, widely recognized as an Enneagram master teacher and known as the Enneagram Godmother. With over 35 years of experience studying the Enneagram, Suzanne has authored several influential books including "The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery," "The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships," and "Journey Toward Wholeness." She is also the host of the acclaimed podcast, "The Enneagram Journey." Suzanne's work focuses on helping individuals discover personal growth and improve their relationships through a profound understanding of the Enneagram.

Episode Summary:

In this enlightening episode of Life After Kids, Drs. Brooke and Lynne sit down with Enneagram master teacher Suzanne Stabile to explore the intricate world of the Enneagram and its profound impact on midlife women and mothers dealing with the empty nest transition. A specialist in personality typology, Suzanne offers her vast wisdom and experience to help the audience understand their behavioral motivations, offering insights into each Enneagram type and how they shape a woman's journey into midlife. The rich discussion encompasses how understanding one's own Enneagram type can foster better self-awareness, deepen familial relationships, and guide mothers into a purposeful, fulfilling second chapter of life.

Throughout the conversation, Suzanne delves into the distinct motivations and challenges faced by each Enneagram type, especially in the context of motherhood and self-discovery. Drawing on her extensive research, she details practical ways to identify and work with emotional defaults such as shame, fear, and anger. Suzanne expertly illustrates how these core emotions influence behavior and how tapping into Enneagram wisdom can transform self-awareness into a tool for growth, allowing women to embrace new roles and find relevance beyond parenting. The episode concludes with Suzanne sharing personal anecdotes and practical advice for women aiming to build stronger connections with themselves and their adult children.

Key Takeaways:

The Enneagram determines personality by motivation, not behavior, and understanding this can help women navigate midlife transitions and parenting adult children.

Recognizing your dominant Enneagram number can enhance both personal growth and parenting strategies, allowing a nuanced understanding of family dynamics.

Connecting with women from different generations extends perspective and wisdom, equipping mothers to better handle transitions in their lives and relationships.

Embracing the idea of life phases as a 'second third' instead of a beginning of the end can reframe a midlife transition positively and hopefully.

The Enneagram provides a framework to address the default emotions of shame, fear, and anger, supporting emotional balance and healthier relationships.

Resources:

Website: Life in the Trinity Ministry

Instagram: @suzannestabile

Facebook: EnneagramSuz

Books by Suzanne Stabile:

The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery

The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships

Journey Toward Wholeness

Additional Reading Recommended by Suzanne:

"Consolations" by David Whyte

"Ambiguous Loss" by Pauline Boss

"The Myth of Closure" by Pauline Boss

"Between Two Kingdoms" by Suleika Jaquad

Discover the full depth of Enneagram insights and transformative guidance offered by Suzanne Stabile in this episode. Dive deeper into understanding yourself, your family, and how you navigate life's changes by listening to the entire conversation. Stay tuned for more enlightening content from Life After Kids.

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Summary