The Enneagram

WHAT IS THE ENNEAGRAM?

Many of us ask ourselves ‘Why do I do things the way I do? How can I shift some things?’

The Enneagram is an assessment system of personality types situated around the enneagram symbol offering profound insights into the way people think, feel, and behave. It lays out distinct personality types and the patterns and habits that characterize them. Its great power lies in the accuracy and depth of the personality descriptions and the transformational path it offers those who wish to grow to reach their fullest potential

It describes three centres of human intelligence, the head, heart, and body, nine interconnected personality types, and 27 subtypes — three versions of each of the nine types, based on whether a person has a predominant drive toward Self-Preservation, Social interaction in groups, or One-to-One bonding. The subtypes offer a more detailed view of the possible manifestations of the human personality, shedding light on our most automatic functioning so we can become more self- aware

THE NINE ENNEAGRAM TYPES:

1 THE REFORMER

The Rational, Idealistic Type: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionistic – Ones focus on noticing errors, discerning between right and wrong, and display a reliance on rules and structures

2 THE HELPER

The Caring, Interpersonal Type: Demonstrative, Generous, People-Pleasing, and Possessive – Two’s focus on gaining approval, relationships, and unconsciously ‘seducing others’ through helpfulness as a way to get their own needs met

3 THE ACHIEVER

The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type: Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious – Three’s focus attention on tasks and goals to create an image of success in the eyes of others, they can over identify with their work and wake up to their unconscious masks

4 THE INDIVIDUALIST

The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type: Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental – Fours focus attention on their own feelings, the feelings of others, interpersonal connection and disconnection. They seek idealised experiences and often compare themselves to others

5 THE INVESTIGATOR

The Intense, Cerebral Type: Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated – Fives believe knowledge is power, like to observe what’s going on around them without getting too emotionally involved, and accumulate information to unconsciously manage anxiety

6 THE LOYALIST

The Committed, Security-Oriented Type: Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious – Six’s focus on thinking of what might go wrong and prepare for that, they have an adaptive strategy centering on detecting threats, and are very loyal