enneagram: fad or fact?

My husband and I recently took the Enneagram test. You may have heard of this test as it is grown exponentially in popularity over the last couple of years. You can now look up Instagram accounts dedicated specifically to your "number" on the Enneagram scale. You can also find playlists, movies you should watch, quotes, the list goes on. What is the Enneagram exactly? Good questions! The version we took is the RHETI v2.5. It is only $12 and you get about 20 pages of reading material on your top 3 personality types. In the exam you answer 144 questions and it will determine what number you are on a scale of 1 - 9 along with your "wing" or your second highest number. I promise it is much simpler than it sounds. Here are the types of personalities according to the Enneagram:

1) The Reformer

2) The Helper

3)The Achiever

4)The Individualist

5) The Investigator

6) The Loyalist

7) The Enthusiast

8) The Challenger

9) The Peacemaker

I scored a 2 (helper) wing 6 (loyalist). After reading about my personality type further, it is pretty spot on. Your top scores are broken down into how to recognize your number and others like you, relationship issues, levels of development, personality dynamics and variations as well as personal growth recommendations. It dives pretty deep into each (like I said, 20 pages worth) and helps you get a better understanding of how you operate at healthy and unhealthy levels. You then get the same information for your wing and then your third highest scoring type. With that being said, more about me!! As an #enneagram2 I am characterized as generally being caring, empathetic, warm, thoughtful, appreciate, generous, other-oriented, tactile, affectionate, well-intentioned and demonstrative. Twos get into conflict by being people-pleasing, flattering, ingratiating, clingy, worried, possessive, insincere, seductive, self-important and self-deceptive. At their best, two are encouraging, loving, self-nurturing, constant, joyous, humble, forgiving, gracious and compassionate. My wing is #enneagram6 and am characterized as generally being reliable, hard-working, organizing (THERE IT IS) vigilant, dutiful, evaluating, persevering, cautious, anxious, believing and doubting, conservative and liberal. Sixes get into conflicts by being pessimistic, defensive, evasive, negative, worrying, doubtful, negativistic, reactive, suspicious and blaming. At their best, sixes are courageous, cooperative, disciplined, grounded, secure, faithful, self-expressive, funny and affectionate. If you know be well, then you would know that this is very much ME! I go back and forth on whether or not I should be a 6 wing 2 instead. I have heard that it is important to take a variety of versions, or at least two, so that you don't mistype yourself and spend time learning about someone you are not. Ideally you want to reflect on the truest version of yourself.

I may be biased, but I have always been very interested in learning more about myself and others that I am in relationship with. The more you understand about yourself, the better you can develop and grow. The more you learn about others, the better you can navigate the world and have better interactions with humans. No matter how social or anti-social you may be, we could all use a little more knowledge of how to better interact with people. We can never avoid interaction completely and I think that understanding another person is more than half of the battle in communication. This is a huge reason why I took it along with my husband. We wanted to better understand one another and appreciate the other person for who we are rather than trying to change each other. It's easy to see things through your own eyes and wonder why/how anyone could see things any differently. It's also very hard to see things from another perspective if you don't fully understand them or that it could simply be because of how they were created. It's who they are. Now, I will note that you should not use your number as a crutch. Even though no number is better or worse than another, we all have unhealthy levels and can improve. This is one of the reasons that I am an advocate for this personality test specifically. It breaks down who you are and who you are created to be. It also shows you how to leverage the cards you were dealt. Once we accept who we are then we can truly start to work on ourselves and love ourselves at the same time.

Is it possible that you need to be introduced to yourself again? Are you wanting to challenge yourself in the area of personal growth? Do you have relationships with anyone that you find difficult? I would strongly recommend taking the Enneagram and getting whoever you are in a close relationship to do the same. I'm sure that as I learn more about the Enneagram, I will have more to share.

More to come!

xoxo,

Kaley