Seeing the Good in All of The Enneagram Types

February 2021 Newsletter 

Seeing the Good in All of The Enneagram Types

With many self-assessments, personality tests, or even feedback we tend to pick up on and concentrate on the negative aspects.  When the information is 99% positive and 1% a development area we end up focusing on that 1% piece.  It is often the same with the Enneagram.  We find the areas of fault with our type and the intentions and behaviors that we don't like. 

So, instead, it is refreshing and so much more positive to take the time to focus on what is lovely about each of the types.  Each Enneagram type has what we call the Essential Qualities.  They are what is right, good, and true about each of us.   These qualities are at the core of our Enneagram type and these gifts are what each type can teach us and in return what we can learn from each type. 

Type Ones have decency, civility, and goodness.  Decency, standards, a desire for quality, and the ability to have "good taste" in things.  Civility has to do with fairness, politeness, and being courteous to others.  Then goodness, the state of being good, of high quality, healthy, and beneficial.  Those who lead with type one tend to have a personal "moral compass" and a deep sense of responsibility.  They do not make exceptions for themselves and want what is best for everyone.

Type Twos can teach us about generosity, love, and nurturing.  Being generous, going out of the way to help or provide encouragement.  Love, being aware of deep feelings of caring, empathy, thoughtfulness, and having a strong affection for and connection with one's self and others.  Nurturing is giving others what they need most, true nourishment, looking after others welfare and providing for them.  Those who lead with type two tend to focus on others and the needs of others and can have a hard time providing the same level of love and care toward themselves.    

Type Threes have value, radiance, and liveliness to teach us.  Value, being of worth, someone to look up to, someone who adds to the group or the situation.  Radiance is having a type of radiant energy, a glow, a positive influence, and the ability to bring themselves and others into all that they can become, living into their potential.  Liveliness, goal-oriented with the energy to take it (all) on, move forward, and make progress.  Those who lead with type three are ambitious, they can rally ones forces and talents into action.   

Type Fours have authenticity, depth, and meaning.  Authenticity, a genuineness, someone who holds their true nature or beliefs and honors realness and honesty.  Depth, several layers, complexity, obscurity, along with a sense of gravity and seriousness.  Then meaning, type fours want to connect through and find meaning in their lives. Those who lead with type four often seek to find what is intended to be, what actually is, what is expressed, as well as the significant and purposeful things.

Type Fives can teach us about knowledge, clarity, and discernment.  Knowledge, the acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles.  Clarity, having a freedom from ambiguity and bringing forth clearness and lucidity.  Discernment which is the ability to distinguish mentally and sensed through intellect how to recognize and distinguish the facts etc.  Those who lead with type five have a curious nature and a habit of asking why things are they way they are, eager to learn more, and understand the world.   

Type Sixes have commitment, loyalty, and awareness to teach us.  Commitment, a pledge or promise and the ability to stay true to intentions and feelings.  The giving and receiving of trust and being in charge of things for safe-keeping.  Loyalty, faithfulness, adherence to commitments, and creating an allegiance.  Awareness, being cognizant, informed, alert, and having a high level of consciousness.  Those who lead with type six are vigilant by often focusing outward and scanning for problems before they become issues.  

Type Sevens have positivity, freedom, and delight.  First the infectious quality of positivity and keeping a positive attitude.  This ability that type sevens typically have of seeing the bright side, facing the sun, and feeling that things are "doable."  Freedom, the power to determine action without restraint and the liberty to choose.  Delight, having a high degree of pleasure, enjoyment, and satisfaction.  Those who lead with type seven find joy in life, are often uninhibited, and like to keep their options open. 

Type Eights can teach us about strength, purpose, and vivaciousness.  Strength, having power, force, vigor, and courage.  It takes strength to influence others and a level of authority is often granted quite often for type eights.  Purpose, outlining what is intended, the desired results, and the reason for somethings.  Then the quality of vivaciousness, in this context means lively, having energy and spirit or passion behind actions, maybe brash, active, and full of life.  Those who lead with type eight are typically decisive, protective, and can be dominant by taking a place or a stand in social situations, using some form of self-expression.  

Type Nines have presence, unity and wholeness that they can teach us.  Presence, the sense of being there in the here and now, and quite literally, being in attendance, within proximity, and in the company of others.  Unity, the state of being one or oneness.  When their is a combination of all of the parts in totality.  Wholeness, being full, complete, in one piece, and the sense of entirety, the total, and all elements properly belonging.  Those who lead with type nine can bide their time, be patient, and not demand or require a quick resolution.  The easy-going and often neutral positioning of the type nine help all of us feel accepted.

We can all work on the areas of weakness, opportunity, or gaps within our type and therefore will increase our awareness for growth.  I would like to suggest that we also spend equal or more time honoring our gifts, the essential qualities of each type.  We have so much goodness, loveliness, and strength within us that we can share and teach others.  It is also great to remind ourselves.