Karen Webb
The Enneagram is represented by a diagram of a nine-pointed star within a circle, identifying nine ways of being in the world or nine personality types. “Ennea” is Greek for nine, and “gram” means a written symbol.
Each of the nine personality types perceives reality in a unique way, pays attention to particular things in any situation and has different strategies for relating to self, others and the world. Understanding the nine types helps us understand ourselves and the people in our lives.
I am a certified Enneagram trainer in the Narrative tradition. For more information about the Enneagram and the Narrative Tradition, please visit www.narrativeenneagram.org
Or visit https://www.enneagramalive.com to find out about everything to do with the Enneagram in Ireland and UK.
The Enneagram shows us who we are when our personality is in charge. However, the great gift of the Enneagram is how it offers us another way of being. We can learn to relax and release our limiting patterns. Using the Enneagram as a map brings us in touch with who we really are, and leads us to a more fulfilling, expansive experience of life.
We become better at noticing what is going on inside ourselves, how we react to people and situations, what triggers us. We begin to recognise our gifts as well the patterns that hold us back.
Understanding our deeper motivations brings self-compassion and self-acceptance. Seeing the world through the eyes of the other personality types helps us understand them better, bringing ease to our relationships.
As well as gaining insight into how we live our lives, the Enneagram shows us our unique potential and how to achieve it.
The Enneagram is a powerful tool to help us on our personal journey of spiritual growth regardless of religious beliefs. It helps us reconnect with who we are beyond the level of personality.
Type 1 Perfectionist/Reformer/Idealist
People with Type One patterns see the world in terms of right and wrong, correct and incorrect.
Their attention goes to what needs to be improved and to avoiding mistakes. They tend to worry about getting things right and are very sensitive to criticism.
Responsible, conscientious and self-controlled, they work hard striving for perfection.
Standards and rules are important to Ones and they have high ideals and integrity.
They can be judgemental, rigid, critical and resentful.
Ones develop by becoming more spontaneous and relaxed, learning to accept imperfection, turning down their inner critic and tolerating other points of view.
Type 2 Helper/Giver/Befriender
People with Type Two patterns see the world in terms of relationships.
Their attention goes to gaining the approval of others by anticipating their needs and wants.
Caring, helpful, generous, and empathetic they often adapt themselves in order to connect with others.
It can be difficult for them to recognise their own feelings and needs, and to set personal boundaries.
Twos want to be indispensable and it’s not easy for them to receive.
They can become intrusive and demanding.
Twos develop by learning to recognise, accept and meet their own needs and wants, and to free themselves from desiring the approval of others.
Type 3 Performer/Achiever/Succeeder
People with Type Three patterns see the world in terms of tasks, goals, and results.
Their attention goes to ensuring an image of success based on their accomplishments and achievements.
They take the initiative and adapt effortlessly to whatever situation they find themselves in.
Energetic, industrious, fast-paced and competitive they seek approval around what they do, their role and performance.
Threes like to stay busy and to achieve top results as efficiently as possible.
They can be impatient, image-driven and out of touch with feelings.
Threes develop by slowing down, tapping into their emotions and valuing themselves for who they are rather than what they do.
Type 4 Romantic/Artist/Individualist
People with Type Four patterns see the world as having abandoned them in some way.
Their attention goes to what they view as special and different, but feel is missing or unavailable. They constantly search for what is unique and idealised, especially valuing emotions and authenticity.
Fours are highly creative, empathic and passionate. They appreciate depth and genuine expression of feelings in relationships. They often feel that they lack what others appear to have and can be moody, self-absorbed and dramatic.
Fours develop by learning to appreciate what’s positive in the here and now, and to welcome all their emotions in a balanced way.
Type 5 Observer/Thinker/Specialist
People with Type Five patterns see the world as wanting too much of them.
Their attention goes to accumulating intellectual knowledge and understanding, and to maintaining privacy by creating boundaries.
Analytic, knowledgeable, perceptive and unobtrusive, they tend to observe rather than participate.
Fives fear unwanted demands on their time, energy, space and knowledge.
Privacy is very important for them and they often retreat from people to be alone.
They can be withholding, detached and uncomfortable with feelings.
Fives develop by sharing more of themselves with others, and by learning to engage more fully and energetically with life.
Type 6 Loyal Sceptic/Devil’s Advocate/Questioner
People with Type Six patterns see the world as threatening and potentially unsafe.
Their attention goes to security, and what might go wrong, making them excellent trouble-shooters. They are trustworthy, committed and loyal.
Sixes have doubting minds: they constantly question themselves and others. They have an ambivalence towards authorities, longing for a reliable authority while also mistrustful of them. They can be pessimistic, suspicious, and doubtful.
Some sixes are more overtly fearful (phobic) while other sixes respond to fear with strength and intimidation (counter-phobic). Sixes develop by learning to trust themselves and others and daring to take action despite the presence of fear.
Type 7 Epicure/Enthusiast/Optimist
People with Type Seven patterns see the world as an adventure filled with wonderful possibilities.
Their attention goes to enjoyable experiences and ideas while avoiding limitations or pain.
Energetic, enthusiastic and sociable, they like to have lots of pleasurable options and plans.
Sevens are imaginative and active and usually have many interests.
They dislike uncomfortable or difficult feelings and can be uncommitted and easily distracted.
Sevens develop by learning to stay in the present moment even when it is painful, and by accepting all of life- the boring, difficult and scary parts- as well as the happy, fun parts.
Type 8 Protector/Boss/Challenger
People with Type Eight patterns see the world as divided into the strong and the weak.
Their attention goes to power and control and to those who need protection.
They have a gusty, energetic and intense presence and insist on doing things their own way.
Action-oriented, strong, and direct they tend to take charge and assume positions of leadership.
Eights are concerned with justice, often standing up for the underdog.
They can be impulsive, excessive, and confrontational.
Eights develop by becoming aware of their intensity and impact on others, and by learning to get in touch with their vulnerability and tenderness.
Type 9 Mediator/Peacemaker/Negotiator
People with Type Nine patterns see the world as a place where they must maintain harmony in order to keep connection.
Their attention goes to the agenda of others and to avoiding conflict and discomfort.
They make good mediators because they easily see everyone’s point of view.
Agreeable, easy-going and complacent, they need life to be comfortable, peaceful and harmonious.
Nines tend to merge with others and find it difficult to prioritise what is important for themselves.
They can be self-forgetting and stubborn.
Nines develop by learning to recognise and express their own needs and desires, and by prioritising and taking decisive action on their own behalf.
Dr David Daniels
