Ever since I discovered the enneagram several years ago, I've been in love. I've studied all sorts of personality tests over the years, but this one is by far my favorite. I think it's because it's quick and easy to remember the 9 temperaments and their order, their wings, and their strengths and weaknesses. I wish I'd learned about this personality indicator sooner, but it wasn't difficult to make the transition from the far more complicated Myers-Briggs model to this one.
I use the enneagram a lot in both writing and coaching. When I'm developing a character for a story, I often think of people I want to fashion my characters after, cross reference their personalities with the enneagram and use their enneagram numbers to hone in on specific traits, feelings, emotions, actions, motivations, etc. Or I'll start with the enneagram and map out the various numbers I want to include to make a more well-rounded and even humorous story. Because the enneagram is all about what motivates people to think, feel and act the way they do, this personality analysis system helps me get inside the heads of my characters and show why they do what they do.
In coaching, the enneagram is amazingly helpful for me as a coach to understand my clients. It also helps clients to become more self-aware as they realize why they think and feel the way they do--and why they often get stuck in the same habitual patterns. Knowing what makes people tick can help people get unstuck, make wiser decisions, and move forward in life with greater ease, discipline, and joy.
Ultimately, knowing one's enneagram number helps us realize who God created us to be. It encourages us to be ourselves--unafraid, unashamed. And then we can appreciate and love the uniqueness that God created in others.
I'm tempted to write more about the enneagram in this blog today, but I'm excited to continue a blog series on my understanding of each enneagram number. I forgot to mention that I'm no enneagram expert. I'm just someone who enjoys studying people and this is just one tool that helps us understand ourselves and each other.
For more information on the enneagram and how it works, I recommend "The Road Back to You" podcast hosted by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile. I also recommend reading their book by the same title, The Road Back to You: Looking at Life Through the Lens of the Enneagram. I've also been greatly blessed by the musical work of Ryan O'Neal and his band, Sleeping at Last. Ryan wrote songs for each of the nine enneagram types that are really wonderful and insightful. You can find them on YouTube, iTunes, and other places on the internet. Ryan put together a podcast on the enneagram and his music on the nine personality types. Also highly recommended.
So here's my favorite online enneagram test: https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test-exp and here's one of many websites that give you a quick rundown of the 9 personality types: https://www.integrative9.com/enneagram/introduction/.
So go dabble in the enneagram if you haven't already. Be blessed. Enjoy!
P.S. I identify as an enneagram 4.
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