I wanted to share this sketch about Enneagram type 7, and give you some of my favorite resources about it!
I know there are many articles about the Enneagram, and I don’t claim to be an expert AT ALL. I just wanted to give you the above sketch regarding type 7, share some of my favorite resources, and let you hear from some of my friends regarding their Enneagram journey! After reading “The Road Back to You,” by, Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, and listening to many podcasts about the different types, I wanted a visual way to remember the things I learned. That is why I sketched the above visual of what stuck out to me about being type 7. Like many others, this has been a tool to help me identify my positive and negative patterns and how I can grow to be a healthier version of myself.
Example, in the sketch you'll see "seek vs. savor." For me that means I am always on the look out instead of looking at the moment I am in. "Seek" and "more" go hand in hand because the idea of missing out or something exciting being just around the corner keeps us going. So dead on, the Enneagram identifies and calls out your core desire, how you act when you're stressed, and what your afraid of. In case you are a 7 or you know someone who is, this visual short version of type 7 could be handy to you! For those that are unfamiliar with what I am talking about, here is the bottom line: “The Enneagram is an ancient personality type system with an uncanny accuracy in describing how human beings are wired, both positively and negatively” (Theroadbacktoyou.com).
To learn more about the Enneagram:
-The Road Back to You, read their book and listen to their podcast
-Typology, listen to the podcast
-The Enneagram Institute, Browse their website, take the test, and watch their videos
-Suzanne Stabile, listen to her podcast
-Sleeping At Last, they created an album of songs that represent each type
-Sarah Jensen, a book review video from my friendI want to hear about your Enneagram journey. What were the top three most impactful discoveries for you?
Here are some wise words from my friends!
Sarah Jensen-Type 4, "When I first read through my number, it made me angry. It made me feel exposed in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I think the most eye-opening things the enneagram has done for me is: 1. Given me language to some of the emotions I constantly feel. It’s helped me to articulate some aspects of myself that I might not have understood before. 2. It’s taught me to recognize my patterns. I can be a bit self-sabotaging and the enneagram has helped me recognize when I’m heading down that path before it’s too late so I can work on correcting course. And 3. It’s taught me how to relate to myself and how to relate to others. Learning how other people operate, and more importantly why they operate that way, has been incredibly impactful in my friendships. Instead of being angry because I feel like someone wronged me, it helps me step back and recognize why they reacted that way and maybe how I wasn’t as innocent as I originally thought.
"Taylor Kalmikov-Type 1, "Being a one, I am continually hearing my inner critic. It is second nature to me to find anything that can be improved. One of the biggest things I have learned is that not everyone has an inner critic that is watching their every move. I thought everyone experienced that and that I was just hard on myself. But, I am learning to realize I don’t have to listen to my inner critic all of the time. I’m learning not to give it as much power in my head and heart
."Kyle Frost-Type 6, "The Enneagram has allowed me to put into words the truths about myself that I inherently knew but didn’t know how to express in completes thoughts. It has also opened my eyes to tendencies and patterns that I was unaware of. This new understanding has given me the ability to both change thoughts and behaviors to be a more healthy me and to confidently stay true to to my own personality."
Kassidy Dietz-Type 7, " It’s wholistic. It doesn’t focus on just the positives, and it doesn’t focus on just the negatives but rather, encompasses an inclusive image of a person at their best and their worst. It’s not as reductionistic as other personality tests, and what I like about it is that we are all of the types - and that they preface that! There is a lot of encouragement to remember to use this as a handy tool for productivity rather than say, a crowbar for destructive thinking. It helps me to see that we should take people's personalities as they are and that one is not better than the other. Rather, we see the person as a holistic being and are able to relate to each other in specific ways. I also value the childhood message and trauma reflections used in the enneagram because it can be a helpful tool in reflecting on how distant memories or even unconscious ones can shape who we are, and that we don't have to be victims to it
.Kalli Davis-Type 4, "1. A new understanding that some of the the themes that have weaved throughout my life are not failures to move forward in certain areas but are pieces of my unique person and will most likely be a part of my story forever in some capacity. 2. I have found new insight to why and how I relate to God3. New insight that led to more grace for myself and my spouse in our unique feelings, viewpoints, and ways of reacting/behaving. And it’s fun to keep learning new things about someone you know so well."