Fostering An Integral Vision For The World

What’s My Type?
As you review this list, don’t worry about “nailing your type.” Just begin to read the descriptions and begin to get an overall sense. Avoid narrowing in on one single factor and determining, ‘This isn’t my type because I don’t do that!”

Once you have determined your type, the following is recommended:

• Read more about it. (Excellent Resources are found in this site. Click on Enneagram/Resources).
• Begin a meditation/contemplative practice so you can begin to self-observe and notice your patterns “on the spot.”
• Learn to breathe deeply a few times before responding in your habitual way.
• Get the support of others who are interested in self-awareness and self-development.
• Find a coach/therapist/spiritual director who is a certified Enneagram teacher. The can give you exercises, observe how your habits unconsciously “show up,” and give you support as you develop. Click on Contact if you would like to work with me.
• Do the specific exercises specially created for your type—The Essential Enneagram, by David Daniels MD and Virginia Price, PhD have good suggestions. This site will list some very soon.

Remember the following tips when trying to type yourself:

• The Enneagram types you from your motivations rather than observable behaviors. For instance, each person in my family has perfectionist tendencies—yet, none of us is a One, the Perfectionist on the Enneagram. I know Perfectionists with messy homes so we can’t make determinations from outer appearances although they are helpful data. We are looking for underlying motivations and for Ones, they are high internal and external standards of correctness.

• The motivations are often unconscious so it helps to ask those who care about you what they notice. Your biases can get in the way. With that said, they can’t decide—just use their feedback as helpful data. YOU are the only one who can determine your type. It may take time—be patient with yourself.

• Begin to self observe. Try on a type for a week or so and see if it feels right. Notice what “triggers” you. What causes you stress, annoyance, anger, fear? What hurts you? The key is learning to cultivate your Inner Observer.

• Practice “centering.” Pause and take deep, diaphragmatic breaths when you notice you feel stress (Signs of stress: sweaty palms, accelerated heart, shallow breathing, headaches, tiredness or hyper-alertness, talking too fast) Notice your thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations.

If you still can’t type yourself after reading or going to a workshop, please contact me or another certified teacher for a typing interview.

The Nine Enneagram Styles:

Type One—Perfectionist, Reformer, Visionary

Where attention goes: High internal and external standards of correctness.

• Do you have a voice that sits on your shoulder or in my head telling you how you could have done something better or different?
• Do you have high internal standards for behavior with a desire to hold yourself and others with whom you work and live to these standards?
• While you appreciate seriousness and discipline in your work, do you have a sort of “silly switch” that gets activated in your down time?
• Do you receive feedback that sometimes your standards for correctness are too high and that you tend to be critical of yourself and/or others?
• Do you tend to make mental comparisons between how things are and how they should be? (This could be in a number of areas based on your values and priorities. You may compare, for example, people’s actions, tidiness, food habits, morals, child rearing, and/or work performance. You also may compare ethics and societal values—you quickly notice what is right and wrong and how things could be better).
• Do you notice that you often say “should?”
• Do you tend to be detail oriented?
• Do you enjoy assuming responsibility?
• Do you find yourself procrastinating for fear of not doing something right?
• Do you feel resentful when things are not done the right way sometimes to the point of feeling alienated and misunderstood?
• Do you tend to think you know the ethical and moral way to behave and that you are one of the ones who “gets it?” (Some may have told you that you act as if you are ethically or morally superior)
• When you take on a task or project, do you get great satisfaction in doing things the right way?

If you answered “yes” to many of these questions, you might be a One. You also may be another type, so read on.

Type Two—Helper, Giver, Caretaker

Where attention goes:

The needs and emotions of significant others whether they are family, friends, co-workers, teachers, or anyone with whom they come in contact—Twos have a radar of physical cues like raised eyebrows, a worried expression, a brief disapproving glance, a change in vocal inflection.

• Are you sensitive to the needs of significant others, almost sensing what they need before they do?
• Do you enjoy providing support and giving advice?
• Do you often get the feeling that others are dependent on your giving?
• Do you work hard at developing good relationships?
• Do you like to think of yourself as friendly, warmhearted and generous?
• Do you tend to avoid situations where you are under or unappreciated for your giving?
• Is it difficult for you to say “no” even when your energy is low and you are over extended?
• Do you often find yourself over extended while others seem to be taking care of themselves? (This creates resentment and/or anger)
• Do you become emotional or insistent if you feel you are being taken for granted or when you are unappreciated?
• Do you have angry and spiteful side that sometimes surprises people?
• Is it hard for you to know what you need? (Some Twos report knowing the perfect gift for others, but much less certain in knowing what they want or need)
• Do you find that your sense of self is based upon how others react to you?
• Do you tend to be responsible and hardworking?
• Are you energized by motivating and empowering others to do their best?

If you answered “yes” to many of these questions, you might be a Two. You also may be another type, so read on.

Type Three—Performer, Succeeder Achiever

Where attention goes: How many tasks you can get done, trying hard to keep up and ahead of the pack—as a goal seems like it is in sight, your pace quickens and you notice which people support your forward movement and who is holding it back.

• Do you like to project an image of confidence, optimism and success?
• Are motivated by being the best at what you do?
• Is it important for you to have concrete goals and do you tend to achieve them?
• Do you have an almost sixth sense when it comes to determining how to change tactics if things are not going well as you move towards your goal?
• Do you tend to avoid situations in which you might fail?
• Do you set aside feelings in order to get the job done?
• Do you work hard to distinguish yourself so others see you as an outstanding person in whatever arenas you have chosen?
• Do you get impatient with people who move at a slow pace or who do not use your time well?
• Have you been told by others (or noticed yourself) that you are highly competitive?
• Do you find yourself occasionally bending the rules if that is what it takes to accomplish your goal?
• For you, is one of the biggest “F” words, Failure?
• Do you lose energy and feel almost lethargic when you cannot succeed at a task or goal?
• Do personal relationships inadvertently get pushed to the backburner when you are working towards a goal?
• Do you tend to be naturally entrepreneurial?

Type Four—The Romantic, Individualist, Artist

Where Attention Goes: To the past and what is missing or elusive in experiences, jobs, and relationships, physical appearance.

• Do you consider yourself a sensitive person who finds depth and richness in meaningful conversations, relationships and experiences?
• Are you bored by people, places, things or experiences that seem pedestrian or run of the mill?
• Do you experience yourself as unique and special?
• Do you often replay feelings, thoughts, conversations and events over and over again in your mind?
• Are you attracted to a sense of melancholy which feels deeper and richer than more ordinary feelings?
• Do you often feel misunderstood and react with anger or sadness when feeling this way?
• Do you have a side of yourself that is bossy, judgmental, and self-righteous?
• Do consider yourself creative and expressive?
• Are you often concerned that you will be rejected?
• Is it difficult for you to receive criticism or negative feedback and/or do you often find yourself critical of others?
• Have you been told you are moody, aloof and superior acting?
• Do you tend to live at extremes of emotional existence—high highs and low lows?
• Is authenticity and non-conformity one of your greatest values?
• Are you often attracted to what is distant or unavailable?
• When you feel vulnerable, do you tend to withdraw into your shell?
• Do you have an active imagination that creates a world of fantasy?

If you answered “Yes” to many of these questions, you may be a Four. You may also be another type, so read on.

Type Five—Observer, Thinker, Investigator

Where attention goes: Disengaging from feelings in order to observe, to what may demand my time, energy and resources.

• Are you focused on facts, analysis and knowledge?
• Do you find that feelings are best experienced when you are alone in order to sort them out safely?
• Are you often good in crisis because of your ability to separate from the emotions of the moment?
• Are you fascinated with information in your fields of interest?
• Do you need more time alone than most in order to recharge your batteries?
• Do you tend to value self-control (almost to a fault)?
• Is predictability important to you in order to ensure you know what will happen ahead of time?
• Do you tend to compartmentalize your relationships in which people from one area of interest know little or nothing about the people in another area of your interest? (ie. College friends may know nothing about work friends who know nothing about sporting friends)
• Are you often overwhelmed by the emotional demands of loved ones and/or significant people in your life?
• Do you tend to perceive things about the world that others ignore giving you some deep insights?
• Do you have an unusual ability to concentrate on a task to the point of being oblivious to anything happening around you?
• Do you tend to prefer communicating by e-mail, letters, or memos so you can limit face to face interactions?
• Do you have a sort of hidden side of yourself that aggressively drives, curses referees, or condemns stupid politicians, TV anchors and talk show hosts?
• Are your ideas so complex that you sometimes lose others as you try to convey these thoughts?
• Do you tend to be impatient and/or critical with people who cannot understand things as deeply or quickly as you?

If you answered “yes” to many of these questions, you may be a Five. You may also be another type, so read on.

Type Six—Loyalist, Questioner, Skeptic, Devils Advocate

Where attention goes: to the worst case scenario, to doubt in order to be prepared.

• Do you feel a strong sense of duty to a group, cause or person?
• Are you a good troubleshooter who has a sixth sense for what could go wrong in a situation or project?
• Are you responsible to people and commitments?
• Do you have a strong ability to persevere especially under challenging circumstances?
• Do you notice that your mind is often finely tuned with a real strong ability to be insightful?
• Do you appreciate clarity and dislike ambiguity?
• Has your tendency to worry and imagine a worst case scenario often led to procrastination on tasks that feel as if they might go wrong?
• Have you noticed that you focus on the behavior of authority figures and whether or not you trust them?
• Have you found that you either comply or challenge authority figures more often than most?
• Do you find yourself wondering about the motives of others and whether or not they can be trusted?
• Have you been told or noticed that you have a strong sense of loyalty to a group?
• Do you find that your tendency to thoroughly analyze all possible scenarios often leads to a sort of paralysis in action and forward movement?
• Have you noticed that you are unusually calm when things actually go wrong because you have been imagining the scenario in your head for a period of time?
• Do you especially identify with underdog causes or people?
• Have you been told you have a funny, offbeat and/or sharp wit?
• Do you tend to be a good strategic thinker?

If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, you may be a Six. You also may be another type, so read on.

Type Seven—Enthusiast, Epicure, Visionary

Where attention goes: to planning for pleasurable possibilities, multiple options

• Are you a big picture thinker who likes to put different ideas together in an interesting synthesis?
• Are you an optimistic person who brings energy to interesting projects and people?
• Do you have a hard time sticking with a task if it becomes boring, unchallenging, or unrewarding?
• Do you feel like a day is so full of possibilities and ideas that it is hard to put all of them into action?
• Do you tend to line up activities back to back?
• Do you have a quiet, bookish side that some may not know about?
• Are you able to distract yourself from sad feelings with a new idea, friend, project, phone call or activity?
• Do you get impatient and frustrated if someone obstructs your plans or tells you “no?”
• Do you like to share what you believe to be interesting and compelling stories and ideas with others?
• Do you prefer a work situation in which the authority and support staff are equals and resist situations where there are enforced hierarchies?
• Do you sometimes realize you have hurt another’s feelings as you have shared an interesting story or anecdote?
• Do you let go of anger and grievances faster than most people you know?
• Do you tend to have positive memories of the past and even if things are sad or bad, decide, “I won’t let it get me down and depressed?”
• Do you sometimes feel superior and other times feel very inferior?
• Are you at ease in groups and able to entertain others with a quick wit?
• Do you have a positive vision for how the world could be?

If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, you may be a Seven. You also may be another type, so read on.

Type Eight—Boss, Protector, Leader

Where attention goes: to assessing what and who has power, to control, action and assertiveness

• Are you direct, assertive and straightforward?
• Do you place a high value on honest, dependability and truth?
• Is it easy for you to express anger when you feel something needs to be said?
• Do you have a difficult time tolerating weakness in other people?
• Do you tend to be excessive in your pursuits?
• Do you find that you end up being the leader and in charge?
• Do you prefer to be your own person—individual and nonconforming?
• Do you quickly defend and come to the aid of family, friends, colleagues and others who you feel are being treated unfairly?
• Do you have an almost intuitive ability to determine when someone is not telling the truth or behaving manipulatively?
• Do you have a vulnerable and soft side that many people might not know about?
• Do tend to have trust for people who can hold their ground in an argument?
• Have you ever been told you approach life excessively or in an “all or nothing” way?
• When you tire of challenges, strong positions and power struggles, do you become reclusive and emotionally withdraw in order to strategize and assess the right course of action?
• Do you prefer control over your space, physical possessions, and people in your life?
• Are you a resourceful self-starter, preferring to take action on your own initiative?

If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, you may be a Eight. You also may be another type, so read on.

Type Nine—Mediator, Peacemaker, Collaborator

Where attention goes: to other people’s/group’s positions, priorities, actions and conversations

• Do you resist/avoid conflict to the point of delaying decision making or taking a position?
• Do you tend to be affable and accepting?
• Are you a natural mediator, able to see many sides of an issue or point of view and able to help friends and colleagues resolve their differences?
• Does your anger tend to be delayed, almost surprising you when a week or two later, you realize that something bothered you more than you knew?
• Do you tend to be easily distracted with other activities, especially when you have something important to do?
• Do find yourself saying that everything is fine even when you are bothered or annoyed?
• Do you ever feel like your anger “went to sleep” and then you find yourself exploding which surprises others?
• Do you have a side of yourself that can be goal oriented, assertive and independent with a desire to invest your time in worthwhile pursuits that mean a lot to you?
• Have you been told you are self-effacing to the point of dismissing/erasing your valuable input and contributions?
• When things get overwhelming or you are forced to take an action, do you find yourself becoming doubtful and pessimistic?
• Do you tend to be unpretentious and practical?
• Have you ever been told that your grounded manner has a calming influence on people?
• Have you ever noticed that you have a quiet strength that reassures others that things will be okay?

If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, you may be a Nine. Read more about type Nine in the suggested resources to determine if you think this is your style.

For type specific growth practices, go to http://www.enneagramworldwide.com/explore-the-enneagram/practices-for-growth/

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