The Enneagram is everywhere right now and while some people have a good grasp on it and what it means there are those of us out there with more questions than answers. According to The Enneagram Center of the Ohio Valley, the Enneagram is a powerful and dynamic personality system that describes nine distinct and fundamentally different patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting. In short, it’s a type of personality system that tells you the in’s and outs of, well, you.
The Enneagram consist of 9 Types:
Type 1: The Perfectionist
Type 2: The Helper
Type 3: The Performer
Type 4: The Romantic (my personal type btw!)
Type 5: The Investigator
Type 6: The Loyalist
Type 7: The Enthusiast
Type 8: The Challenger
Type 9: The Peacemaker
These type terms are just umbrella statements. On top of that, The Enneagram also has what are called “Wing” types showing where you share characteristics of types next to you on The Enneagram map, as well as Sub-Types that are deep-rooted characteristics that can match you from any of the types on the map. I’m pretty sure I’m a subtype 9 but I’m still researching that. (I am by no means an Enneagram expert. I’m just starting to dive into what my type means for me and dabbling in wings and sub-types as they are presented to me.)
If you are curious about your type, there are TONS of free test out there, as well as some paid ones. There are also amazing Instagram accounts that offer information in fun but productive ways, my favorites are @enneagramandcoffee and @yourenneagramcoach (this account features a FREE test) currently. There are also a lot of podcasts out there right now covering the topic.
All and all, The Enneagram is a fun tool to help you understand why you act the way you do, why you feel so strongly about certain topics, or why you react to various situations. It can also help you understand why you get along with some people and why you don’t with others. The information surrounding The Enneagram seems endless and could easily turn into a full-time hobby for some people.
For me, I just like seeing what makes me tick. In the short time I’ve spent researching, I’ve learned quite a bit about myself. Some of the things have been fun, but others have been a hard pill to swallow. However, at the end of the day knowing myself better helps my marriage, my parenting skills, and my relationships with others.
If any of you out there know your Enneagram type please share in the comments, I’d love to hear what you’ve discovered so far!
