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What Is the
Enneagram?
The Enneagram is an ancient symbol
connected to time-tested wisdom
traditions that address the possibility and
path of human transformation. In the
modern era, it provides the framework
for an archetypal personality model that
offers deep insight into individuals and
their habitual (“default mode”) patterns
or automatic “programming” based on
early coping strategies. It is a dynamic
map of nine interconnected sets of
personality patterns—or “types”—that
helps people become more aware of (and
make sense of) their preferred ways of
thinking, feeling, and behaving.By providing accurate and detailed
descriptions of the habitual patterns
of thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and
blind spots that make up the nine
personality types (and 27 instinct-based
“sub-types”), the Enneagram highlights
how unconscious habits get enacted, so
you can see them for yourself, reflect on
them, and eventually interrupt them and
make a conscious choice to do something
different if you want to.The Enneagram map provides deep
insight into core motivations driving
behavior and associated needs,
worldviews, and interaction styles. By
providing a clear and accurate map
of the (otherwise invisible) automatic
“default” modes associated with
these nine personality styles, it is a
uniquely effective tool for enhancing
self-awareness and emotional
intelligence. As such, it can be used
to clarify a customized pathway for
self-development that can help people
to wake up to their unconscious, self-
limiting habits, so they can grow beyond
their personality and manifest more of
their full potential.Type 1
The Perfectionist
or The ReformerType One is sometimes called The
Perfectionist in that they tend to
view the world in terms of how it
matches (or doesn’t match) what
they view as perfect or ideal. Their
focus of attention is on whether
things are right or wrong, good or
bad, doing the right thing, noticing
and correcting errors, and working
hard to improve things. They have
a strong internal critical voice that
comments on the things they do, and
they can be critical and judgmental
of others. They usually conform to
rules and standards and tend to be
idealistic reformers. They are often
people of high integrity. Central
challenges include managing their
own anger and self-criticism.Type 3 The Performer or The Achiever
Type Three is sometimes called The Performer, and they tend to view the world in
terms of tasks, goals, and achieving success. Their focus of attention is being perceived
as successful and getting a lot done. They are good at matching the ideal model of
how something should be done in terms of material success and cultural ideals of
achievement. They usually focus on doing at the expense of feeling (emotions) and
being. They can have a difficult time slowing down and knowing what they are feeling,
but they are very good at getting a lot done in the most efficient way. Their main
challenges are knowing what they really think and feel (and not just what looks good to
think and feel) and slowing down and moderating their level of “doing.”The 9 Types
Type 2
The Helper
or The BefrienderType Two is sometimes called The
Giver or The Helper, but an even
better title might be The Befriender,
as Twos want to create rapport and
connection with people. They usually
give strategically in that they can
be afraid to ask for what they need,
so they give to others as a way of
making themselves important and
implicitly inviting others to meet
their (unspoken) needs. They tend
to be friendly, upbeat, and generous
(to a fault). Their focus of attention
is on other people, on important
relationships, and what other people
think and feel about them. They pay
a lot of attention to whether or not
others like them, have the sense they
can make others like them, and strive
to be approved of by (or indispensable
to) others. They are very empathic with
others, but they can be out of touch
with their own feelings and needs and
overgive compulsively to others to the
point of exhausting themselves.The 9 Enneagram
Personality Types
The 9 Enneagram
Personality Types
The 9 Enneagram
Personality Types
The 9 Enneagram
Personality Types
The 9 TypesThe 9 TypesThe 9 Types
Beatrice Chestnut, PhD, is the co-author of The Enneagram Guide to Waking Up
Instagram: @beatrice.chestnut | beatricechestnut.comType 1 Type 1 Type 1
Type 2Type 2
Type 3Type 3Type 3
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