Exploring the Nine Enneagram Types and 18 Wings: A Journey of Self-Awareness and Personal Development
What is Enneagram?
Enneagram is a powerful tool for self-awareness and personal development that has gained immense popularity in recent years. The Enneagram is a model of personality that describes nine distinct types of individuals and how they relate to the world around them.
The origins of the Enneagram can be traced back to ancient wisdom traditions, specifically Sufism, a mystical Islamic belief system. However, the modern Enneagram as we know it today was developed by a Chilean psychologist, Oscar Ichazo, and later popularized by George Gurdjieff, a spiritual teacher and philosopher.
The purpose of this article is to introduce you to the Enneagram, explain how it works, and show you how you can use it to improve your life. By reading this article, you can expect to learn about the nine Enneagram types, how to determine your own Enneagram type, and how to use the Enneagram for personal growth and development.
In this guide, we will explore in depth the Enneagram, its types, its history, and its applications in various fields such as personal development, relationships, and work. Furthermore, we will be sharing practical exercises and examples to help you understand the Enneagram and how you can use it to improve your life.
We hope that by the end of this guide, you will have a clear understanding of the Enneagram and how it can benefit you in your personal and professional life.
So, Let’s begin our journey of self-awareness and personal growth with the Enneagram.
Understanding the Enneagram
Explanation of the nine Enneagram types and their characteristics
The Enneagram is a model of personality that describes nine distinct types of individuals and how they relate to the world around them. Each Enneagram type has its own unique set of characteristics, strengths, and potential blind spots. Understanding the Enneagram can help you better understand yourself and others, and how to communicate and interact with them more effectively.
The nine Enneagram types are
The Perfectionist
These individuals are responsible, reliable, and hardworking. They have high standards for themselves and others and strive for excellence in everything they do.
They are organized, efficient, and pay attention to details.
They can be self-critical and can struggle with feelings of inadequacy.
Their potential blind spots include being overly critical of themselves and others, and having a tendency to procrastinate due to fear of not meeting their high standards.
The Helper
These individuals are empathetic, caring, and generous. They are often the glue that holds a group together and are motivated by a desire to be of service to others.
They are supportive, nurturing and have a great ability to understand others. They can struggle with boundaries and may have difficulty taking care of their own needs.
Their potential blind spots include becoming too involved in other people’s lives, and neglecting their own needs and wants.
The Achiever
These individuals are ambitious, driven, and competitive. They are focused on achieving success and status and are often seen as role models.
They are goal-oriented, hardworking and have a great ability to plan and execute. They can be perfectionistic and can struggle with feelings of inadequacy.
Their potential blind spots include being too hard on themselves and others, and having a tendency to compare themselves to others.
The Individualist
These individuals are sensitive, introspective, and creative. They are often seen as unique and have a strong sense of self. They are self-aware and have a great ability to express themselves.
They can be prone to feelings of loneliness and can struggle with self-doubt.
Their potential blind spots include being too self-absorbed, and having a tendency to withdraw from others.
The Investigator
These individuals are analytical, curious, and independent. They are driven by a desire to understand the world around them and are often seen as experts in their field.
They are logical, objective and have a great ability to think critically. They can be detached and can struggle with feelings of isolation.
Their potential blind spots include being too detached, and having a tendency to overthink.
The Loyalist
These individuals are reliable, hardworking, and responsible. They are often seen as the backbone of a group and are motivated by a desire to belong.
They are dependable, responsible and have a great ability to work well in teams. They can struggle with anxiety and can be indecisive.
Their potential blind spots include being too anxious, and having a tendency to doubt themselves and their decisions.
The Enthusiast
These individuals are optimistic, spontaneous, and adventurous. They are motivated by a desire for new experiences and are often seen as the life of the party.
They are fun-loving, energetic and have a great ability to enjoy life. They can struggle with impulsiveness and can be unrealistic.
Their potential blind spots include being too impulsive, and having a tendency to avoid responsibilities and commitments.
The Challenger
These individuals are self-confident, assertive, and decisive. They are motivated by a desire for control and are often seen as strong leaders.
They are assertive, confident and have a great ability to take charge. They can be confrontational and can struggle with anger management.
Their potential blind spots include being too controlling, and having a tendency to be aggressive or intimidating towards others.
The Peacemaker
These individuals are easy-going, supportive, and peaceful. They are motivated by a desire for harmony and are often seen as the mediator in a group.
They are diplomatic, patient and have a great ability to resolve conflicts. They can struggle with passivity and can have difficulty setting boundaries.
Their potential blind spots include being too passive, and having a tendency to avoid conflicts and avoid standing up for themselves.
It’s important to note that no one type is better than the other, and that everyone has the potential to exhibit traits of all the types.
Also, it’s also common for people to have a dominant type but also having traits of the wing type. Furthermore, the Enneagram is not a box to put people into, it’s a tool to help people understand themselves better.
How the Enneagram can be used for personal development and self-awareness
The Enneagram can be used for personal development and self-awareness in a number of ways.
By understanding your Enneagram type, you can learn about your strengths, potential blind spots, and how to communicate and interact with others more effectively.
Additionally, by understanding the Enneagram types of others, you can improve your relationships and work more effectively as a team.
In addition, the Enneagram can be used for personal development by helping you to identify and overcome limiting beliefs and patterns of behavior that may be holding you back in life.
By understanding your Enneagram type, you can gain insight into your motivations, fears, and desires, which can help you to make more intentional and fulfilling choices in your life.
Traits of the wing type
The Enneagram symbol is made up of 9 types arranged in a circle, with each type adjacent to two other types.
These adjacent types are known as “wing types.” So each of the 9 Enneagram types can be paired with one of the two adjacent types, resulting in a total of 18 wing types.
They are:
- Type 1 with a 2 wing (1w2)
- Type 1 with a 9 wing (1w9)
- Type 2 with a 1 wing (2w1)
- Type 2 with a 3 wing (2w3)
- Type 3 with a 2 wing (3w2)
- Type 3 with a 4 wing (3w4)
- Type 4 with a 3 wing (4w3)
- Type 4 with a 5 wing (4w5)
- Type 5 with a 4 wing (5w4)
- Type 5 with a 6 wing (5w6)
- Type 6 with a 5 wing (6w5)
- Type 6 with a 7 wing (6w7)
- Type 7 with a 6 wing (7w6)
- Type 7 with a 8 wing (7w8)
- Type 8 with a 7 wing (8w7)
- Type 8 with a 9 wing (8w9)
- Type 9 with a 8 wing (9w8)
- Type 9 with a 1 wing (9w1)
It’s worth noting that not everyone identifies with a wing type but for those who do, it can provide a more nuanced understanding of their personality and tendencies.
It’s also important to remember that these wing types are not as distinct as the main 9 Enneagram types, and people can have traits of both wings.
How to Determine Your Enneagram Type?
Determining your Enneagram type can be a valuable tool for personal development and self-awareness. While the Enneagram is not a scientifically validated tool, there are a number of assessments and tests available online that can help you identify your type. Here are a few tips for taking an Enneagram test and interpreting your results.
- Take multiple tests: While there are a number of Enneagram assessments available online, it’s important to take multiple tests to ensure that you are getting a consistent result. This will give you a more accurate understanding of your type and will also help you to identify any potential blind spots.
- Consider both your head and heart: The Enneagram assesses both your cognitive and emotional tendencies. It is important to consider both your head and heart when interpreting your test results. This means that you should pay attention to both your thoughts and your emotions when determining your type.
- Read about all the types: Before you take an Enneagram test, read about all the nine Enneagram types so that you have a better understanding of the characteristics of each type. This will give you a better idea of which type you might be.
- Reflect on your results: Once you have your test results, take the time to reflect on them. Look at the characteristics of your dominant type and wing type, if you have one. Think about how these characteristics align with your own personality and tendencies.
- Seek guidance from a professional: If you’re having trouble interpreting your test results or determining your type, consider seeking guidance from a professional Enneagram coach or therapist. They can help you to understand your results and provide you with personalized guidance for using the Enneagram for personal development.
It’s important to remember that the Enneagram is not a definitive tool for understanding your personality and should be used in conjunction with other self-awareness practices.
The most important thing is to use the knowledge about the Enneagram to understand yourself better, to be more compassionate and accepting of yourself and others.
