The Enneagram describes nine different types of human-behavior. Each type has a characteristic mark, a feature that is special for that Enneatype. The Enneagram is a psychological tool to understand human beings.
Everybody has, to some degree, the characteristics of all Enneatypes, but there is only one type that is dominant in your personality. That’s your personal Enneatype.
Via the Enneagram you know easily your neg/pos personality
‘features’. By knowing this, you can learn to transform your negative characteristics
to more positive ones - this leads to personal growth.
Here are the nine personality types of the Enneagram.
One: the Perfectionist, the Reformer
Ones think that everything has to be done perfectly,
in the right way, not only for themselves, but for everyone!!! To show
the outside world, that they are perfect, they avoid anger.
Ones can learn to show their anger, that they aren’t more
perfect than others, that not everything should be perfect, and that an
easier lifestyle is also okay.
Two: the Helper
Twos are helpful to others. They do this to achieve appreciation,
to be loved by everyone. They are to proud to admit that their help isn’t
unselfish.
Twos can learn to conquer their pride, to admit that they
also have their own needs, and that it is okay to help not only other people,
but also themselves.
Three: the Succeeder, the Achiever
Threes are a very driven personality type - they must
have success, not failure. They find it extremely important to have a good
image, to be loved by others. In fact, mostly they cheat themselves.
Threes can learn to be honest, not only to other people
but especially to themselves, so that they can inspire easily everybody.
Four: the Individualist, the
Romantic
Fours are self-orientated, and they live in a world of
symbols and rituals. They usually have strong feelings about the real world,
the meaning of life. To be ordinary is not enough; they strive to be extraordinary.
However, they are emotionally sensitive people.
Fours can learn to control their strong emotions, to be
more in balance. To escape from their romantic dreamworld.
Five: the Observer, the Investigator
Fives think that the outside world only has to be observed.
To show their feelings is ‘not done’. Everything is analyzed to understand
what’s going on.
Fives can learn to be more emotionally connected to the
outside world.
Six: the Guardian, the Questioner
Sixes can work together with almost everyone. They tend
to have a great fear of the outside world, so they believe it’s better
not to make your own decisions, but to obey the others. Loyalty is very
important to them.
Sixes can learn to conquer their fear, to make their own
decisions, to admit their own responsibility.
Seven: the Dreamer, the Adventurer
Sevens think that everything must be enjoyed: ‘there
are no problems !!!’. They believe that to be optimistic is the best way
to live their lives. Problems are there to be solved, not agonised over.
They can inspire (with their passion) other men to new experiences.
Sevens can learn to be more realistic, to understand that
there are problems that cannot be solved, and to accept the negative sides
of their lives.
Eight: the Confronter, the Asserter
For eights there is only one lifestyle: to be strong,
not weak! In this way of life, they want to have the right impact on the
outside world, they want to do the ‘right’ things. They are the leaders
to be followed by the others, and they make the decisions, and are not
to afraid (if needed) be ruthless.
Eights can learn to show more compassion to the others,
to accept their own weakness.
Nine: the Preservationist, the
Peacemaker
Nines think that conflicts between people should be avoided,
that to make peace is much better. They are easy accepted by everyone,
because they are friendly. They believe that their own needs are often
less important than the needs of the others,
Nines can learn that the real world has conflicts and
that there will be conflicts in the future. They can also learn to be more
responsive to their own needs, in order to make life more pleasant for
them.