Thoughtful Thursday & The Enneagram

Have you ever taken a personality test?

I have taken quite a few over the years.

Do you remember the color code?

I am a blue.

My husband is a yellow.

Recently, I have been studying the Enneagram.

The Enneagram ("Ennea" + "gram" = "nine" + "drawing or diagram" in Greek) is symbolized with a circle that has nine numbers spaced evenly around and lines that connect them.

It is a system of personality typing, and it has been so fascinating to me.

It's made up of ancient spiritual teachings as well as modern psychological research.

There are nine personality types: The Perfectionist, The Helper, The Performer, The Romantic, The Investigator, The Loyalist, The Enthusiast, The Challenger, The Peacemaker.

The thing I love about Enneagram personality typing is that it describes patterns in how people interpret the world and how they manage their emotions.

It describes the key motivations and fears that in a large part guide each type's behaviors and decisions.

Understanding our personality can be a powerful tool for greater self-awareness and self-improvement in all areas of our life.

Now, am I saying that the Enneagram is the end-all, be-all?

No.

But I am suggesting that when we take the time to learn about what makes ourselves and others tick, we can begin to understand our differences, offer compassion, strengthen relationships, and find meaning in our lives.

Enneagram experts Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile have said it like this, "There is great wisdom in the Enneagram for people who want to get out of their own way and move closer toward becoming the person they were created to be."

They go on to say, "The point of learning your type is so you can relax your grip on those parts of your personality that are holding you back from living a fuller life, not so you can resign yourself to them."

Self-knowledge and self-awareness take work.

Hard work.

But I believe it is work that is worth doing.

The effort we put in to understanding ourselves and others will help us live more authentically and connect with the people in our lives from a place of kindness, compassion, and love.

I thought it would be fun to take a journey with you.

An Enneagram journey.

Over the next little while, we are going to learn and explore the different personality types of the Enneagram.

The Enneagram isn't magical, but it can give us a glimpse into another's heart and can help us see them as a person.

A child of God who is trying to navigate this human experience the best that they can.

A personality test isn't a box we put ourselves or others in.

It isn't a weapon we use against ourselves or others.

It isn't a shield that we use to justify or excuse our behaviors.

No personality is better than another.

We are each amazingly unique and different.

A personality test isn't the gospel truth but a tool to gain insight and awareness about ourselves and others. 

This understanding allows us to live on purpose and to grow beyond the habits and patterns that block us from being the person we were created to be.

If you want to go on this Enneagram journey with me, click [HERE] to take the test to discover your type.

It is a free test.

This website does offer a paid report, but you don't have to do that part to learn what your type is.

If you want to read a fascinating book about the Enneagram, I suggest The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile.

This is going to be fun!

Click HERE to grab my Pause Principle Mini Course.