The Enneagram is an ancient personality system with nine different types. It is similar to other personality typing tools, but while other systems explain what you are, the Enneagram also tells you why you have the traits you do. It explains what motivates your behaviors, how you deal with conflict, and how you act when you’re stressed or in growth.
No one is certain what the origins of the Enneagram are, though many modern Christian circles have adopted it. However, we do know that it was brought to America in the 1960s by Claudio Naranjo, a student of Bolivian-born mystic Oscar Ichazo. Ichazo formed a school in Chile where he taught the concepts of the Enneagram.
The 9 Types
Rational, Idealistic, Principled, Perfectionistic
Key Desire: To be virtuous, balanced, accurate, and right
Key Fear: To be bad, wrong, corrupt, and unredeemable
Key Longing: You are good
Strengths:
- Truthful
- Ethical
- Responsible
- Purposeful
- Organized
- Hardworking
- Practical
Challenges:
- Inflexible
- Perfectionist
- Overly critical
- Represses anger
- Impatient
- Resentful
- Doesn’t want to accept own flaws
Caring, Generous, People-Pleasing, Possessive
Key Desire: To be appreciated, loved, and wanted
Key Fear: To be rejected and unwanted, and unworthy of love
Key Longing: You are wanted and loved
Strengths:
- Generous
- Empathetic
- Warm-hearted
- Unconditional love
- Altruistic
- Helpful
Challenges:
- Possessive
- Codependent
- Prideful
- People-pleasing
- Intrusive
- Manipulative
- Self-serving
Success-Oriented, Pragmatic, Driven, Image-Conscious
Key Desire: To be valuable, wanted, and successful
Key Fear: Failure and feeling worthless
Key Longing: You are loved for simply being you
Strengths:
- Ambitious
- Energetic
- Charming
- Hardworking
- Competent
- Highly driven
- Enthusiastic
- Practical
Challenges:
- Image-driven
- Competitive
- Out of touch with their feelings
- Always “on”
- Impatient
- Self-deceiving
- Workaholics
- Need outside validation
Sensitive, Introspective, Self-Absorbed, Tempermental
Key Desire: To be unique, special, and authentic
Key Fear: Not having an identity and being inadequate
Key Longing: You are seen and loved for being uniquely you
Strengths:
- Self-aware
- Imaginative
- Expressive
- Highly Intuitive
- Creative
- Tenderhearted
- True to themselves
Challenges:
- Highly sensitive
- Self-absorbed
- Temperamental
- Irrational
- Self-hating
- Envious
- Dramatic
Cerebral, Perceptive, Innovative, Isolated, Secretive
Key Desire: To be competent, autonomous, and capable
Key Fear: Being helpless, dependent, and incapable
Key Longing: Your needs are not a burden
Strengths:
- Cerebral
- Insightful
- Perceptive
- Intellectual
- Objective
- Innovative
- Dependable
Challenges:
- Withdrawn
- Intense
- Obsessive
- Arrogant
- High-strung
- Detached
- Stingy
Committed, Responsible, Suspicious, Anxious
Key Desire: To have support, security, and guidance
Key Fear: Being without support, security, and guidance
Key Longing: You are safe and secure
Strengths:
- Reliable
- Trustworthy
- Loyal
- Courageous
- Observant
- Witty
- Perceptive
Challenges:
- Anxious
- Pessimistic
- Defensive
- Reactive
- Suspicious
- Contradictory
- Hypervigilant
Spontaneous, Versatile, Enthusiastic, Acquisitive, Scattered
Key Desire: Having freedom, contentment, and being fully satisfied
Key Fear: Being in emotional, physical, or mental pain
Key Longing: You will be taken care of
Strengths:
- Foresighted
- Energetic
- Quick-thinking
- Spontaneous
- Practical
- Flexible
- Enthusiastic
Challenges:
- Impulsive
- Irresponsible
- Unrealistic
- Impatient
- Scattered
- Insensitive
- Undisciplined
Powerful, Self-Confident, Decisive, Confrontational
Key Desire: To protect yourself and your inner circle
Key Fear: Being harmed, controlled, or manipulated
Key Longing: You will not be betrayed
Strengths:
- Assertive
- Protective
- Independent
- Leadership
- Influential
- Generous
- Vitality
Challenges:
- Vulnerability
- Controlling
- Quick to anger
- Intimidating
- Confrontational
- Excessiveness
- Dominating
Easygoing, Receptive, Agreeable, Stagnant, Conflict-Avoidant
Key Desire: To have inner peace and stability
Key Fear: Conflict and losing connection with others
Key Longing: Your presence matters
Strengths:
- Patient
- Optimistic
- Easygoing
- Agreeable
- Understanding
- Genuine
- Supportive
Challenges:
- Stagnant
- Too conciliatory
- Passive-aggressive
- Conflict-avoidant
- Stubborn
- Indecisive
- Averse to change
Wings
Each personality type is supplemented by whatever type is next to it. It’s what gives your personality a little flair. For example type 9s are next to type 1s and 8s. We typically have one dominant wing, but both influence you to a degree. So you can either be a 9w1 or 9w8, and so on with all other types.
Wings are what influence your personality, but your primary type is still what motivates you. So, if you are struggling with discovering your type and your wing, try to think about what key desires and key fears motivate you most as you explore the enneagram more.
Security and Stress Points
Every personality type has its positive and negative traits. We alternate between these traits regularly. However, at times of stress or security (deterioration or growth), we’ll move to different types. When we’re feeling more secure and like our best selves, we’ll grow into the positive traits of another type. When we’re stressed and deteriorating, we’ll spiral into the negative traits of a different type.
In the section above, the diagrams shows each type’s security and stress points. All pictures are attributed to The Enneagram Institute.
Still unsure what your Enneagram type is? Click Here to take the test!
The Human Connection 