One of our greatest pursuits as humans is to understand ourselves. Have you ever had the experience of not understanding yourself, not even a bit? It happened to me! Sometimes, we think we are a certain way because we’ve acted that way since childhood. But we don’t stop to consider that maybe we are a certain way because we were made to act in a certain manner from a young age, and by constantly repeating those patterns that were necessary in our family unit, we’ve made them our own. As time goes by, we realize that we don’t even know ourselves, and this is where tools like the enneagram can come to our aid.
Do you want to know how? Let me tell you!
The enneagram is a personality system used to understand and categorize people’s behavior patterns and motivations. It’s based on a diagram consisting of nine points connected by lines, representing nine basic personality types. Each personality type has distinctive traits, motivations, and underlying fears that influence how people think, feel, and act.
These personality types are called enneatypes. Each enneatype is the personality we are born with; if you have spent any time with babies and children you will know that they come with their own unique soul expression! The development of the ego (sense of self as separate) is essential to survival. Fear is one of the triggers for the development of ego, some say that if we didn’t have fear, we wouldn’t develop the ego, which is what fights for our survival. In some ways, this ego taints that great positive personality we have in all areas when we come into the world. Now this is not to say that the ego is bad, just that it affects the way we express ourselves and sometimes in not so great ways.
The history of the enneagram is quite complex and has evolved over time. Its roots are largely mysterious and steeped in legends and oral traditions. In fact, the enneagram originated in the mysticism and spiritual tradition of the Middle East, particularly in the teachings of Sufism (a branch of mystical Islam) and the Fourth Way, a spiritual tradition developed by the Russian-Georgian mystic George Gurdjieff. Gurdjieff is often mentioned as a key figure in popularizing the enneagram in the Western world.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Oscar Ichazo, a Chilean spiritual teacher, claimed to have developed the enneagram of personality as a self-awareness system. Ichazo taught these ideas to Claudio Naranjo, a Chilean-American psychiatrist and psychotherapist, who introduced the enneagram into the fields of psychology and personal development in the United States.
Based on Ichazo and Naranjo’s teachings, the enneagram began to gain popularity in psychology and personal development circles in the West in the 1970s. Various individuals started exploring and expanding the system, leading to different approaches and schools of thought related to the enneagram.
Here’s a brief description of the nine personality types in the enneagram. You can only have one type, and it will be quite distinct, but you may have mixed characteristics from other enneatypes as well.
- The Perfectionist: Seeks perfection, has high expectations for themselves and others, and tends to be critical and self-demanding.
- The Helper: Has a strong desire to be needed and loved, often overextends themselves to care for and help others.
- The Achiever: Pursues success and recognition, is ambitious, and strives to excel in what they do.
- The Individualist: Is sensitive and seeks authenticity and depth in emotional experiences, often feeling different from others.
- The Investigator: Seeks knowledge and understanding, tends to be reserved and reflective, and sometimes prefers solitude.
- The Loyalist: Seeks security and certainty, often worries about future issues, and tends to be cautious and distrustful.
- The Enthusiast: Seeks fun, adventure, and variety in life, often avoids pain and sadness.
- The Challenger: Seeks control and power, is direct and courageous, and can sometimes be confrontational.
- The Peacemaker: Seeks harmony and peace, often avoids conflict and adapts to others’ needs.
The enneagram is used as a tool for self-awareness and personal growth, as well as in therapeutic and personal development contexts to better understand interpersonal dynamics and improve relationships.
The idea is that by knowing your type, you’ll discover your core trauma(s), what drives your irrational fears, and you’ll see your shadows and lights. You’ll also gain a better understanding of your loved ones, making it a truly fascinating tool!
To find out your enneagram type, I recommend seeking the guidance of a specialist or learning about all the enneatypes so you can choose the one that best fits you. You can find various online tests, but I advise not relying on them 100% because they may not be entirely accurate.
Finally, here are some recommendations for learning more about this useful tool!
Books on the Enneagram
“The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types” by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson
“The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery” by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile
“Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery” by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson
“The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective” by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert
“The Enneagram Made Easy: Discover the 9 Types of People” by Renee Baron and Elizabeth Wagele
“The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge” by Beatrice Chestnut
“The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships” by Helen Palmer
“Bringing Out the Best in Everyone You Coach: Use the Enneagram System for Exceptional Results” by Ginger Lapid-Bogda