Ennegram of Personality

[Jonp219]

Anyone ever heard of the Ennegram of Personality? It's a tool used for personal transformation. Each Enneagram type has a different pattern of thinking, feeling and acting that arises from a deeper inner motivation or worldview.

 

I bought an Ennegram book a couple of years ago because I got so interested in the subject. The accuracy in which they describe each personality type is incredible.

 

I'm currently re-reading "The Essential Ennegram" by David Daniels and Virginia Price and it literally predicted my break-up and why it would happen. Irt sucks looking at it now knowing I could of put a stop to it, but you live and you learn

Edited July 16, 2015 by a LoveShack.org Moderator
Commercial link redacted

[cerridwen]

Helen Palmer's The Enneagram in Love and Work is sitting on my bookshelf right now.

 

I'm touching it with my bare toe...

 

In the past, I've used it to help inform me how best to work with certain personality types on my assembled teams.

 

I enjoyed pigeon-holing them.

[Jonp219]

Helen Palmer's The Enneagram in Love and Work is sitting on my bookshelf right now.

 

I'm touching it with my bare toe...

 

In the past, I've used it to help inform me how best to work with certain personality types on my assembled teams.

 

I enjoyed pigeon-holing them.

 

That's the first one I read!

 

My best friend's father gave it to him in high school. And one day we just randomly took a look at it and started reading the personality types. We were just in awe lol.

[StalwartMind]

Someone did ask me a few days ago what my enneagram type was, I didn't get to spend as much time reading about it as I wanted to, but I'm type 2 "The Helper". Probably many reasons as to why I ended up that way, including my parents, upbringing and possibly country to some degree. In addition to that and according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, I also belong to the INFJ personality type, which seems to go hand in hand with enneagram type.

 

It's not something that interest everyone but it can be a fun journey to discover new about yourself, or perhaps just to have things be "confirmed" that you've long thought and felt anyway. As with anything, I do believe all of this is more like a guide/indicator, as there will always be people who display cross traits, and even change their behavior/reaction according to different situation.

[regine_phalange]

Interesting. I did a Test and Im a 5 (the investigator). Pretty spot on. And if I remember correctly from a past test, Im an INTJ Myers Briggs Personality. Which is kind of similar.

[Jonp219]

I'm an Ennegram four, which kind of sucks because it's rare for a male to be a four. I tend to be emotional, romantic, depth seeking, creative, and irritable. There aren't too many compatible matches out there for me, and when I fall in love I fall hard. I have a hard time connecting with others unless it's on a creative platform (writing). I don't know how I became a four, I guess it's the soothing love of my mother mixed with the egotistical aggression of my father.

[cerridwen]

I'm an Ennegram four, which kind of sucks because it's rare for a male to be a four. I tend to be emotional, romantic, depth seeking, creative, and irritable. There aren't too many compatible matches out there for me, and when I fall in love I fall hard. I have a hard time connecting with others unless it's on a creative platform (writing). I d't know how I became a four, I guess it's the soothing love of my mother mixed with the egotistical aggression of my father.

 

Fours are awesome!

I know because I used to be one!

 

I had quite a few 4s on my teams because they're so creative and expressive.

They also handled the abrasive 8s on the sales teams with ease; an added bonus.

Everyone hated the sales guys...

You would too...

 

In the area of relationships though, yes, in all honesty, fours can be difficult.

Getting caught up in emotions leads to a lot of misery for all concerned.

Plus, it's so pointless.

 

It wasn't until I toned down my volatility that I began to have better romantic relationships.

The difficulty wasn't finding partners, it was straightening my **** out so *I* could be a better half.

The enneagram just pointed out my **** (in a gentle way).

 

So, while I understand your curiosity about the hows and whys of how this came to be, I say use the enneagram for self-awareness and going forward.

There is precious little to be gained by looking backward.

I say focus on integration and emotion management/regulation.

The latter can lead to big, big gains.

 

Btw, this enneagram is a gauge of how you are right now; not a life sentence, since types change with time and growth, just like the Myers-Briggs.

I'm largely a different person now, and my number reflects that.

So does my life, and I'm better for it.

Edited July 16, 2015 by cerridwen

[Jonp219]

Fours are awesome!

I know because I used to be one!

 

I had quite a few 4s on my teams because they're so creative and expressive.

They also handled the abrasive 8s on the sales teams with ease; an added bonus.

Everyone hated the sales guys...

You would too...

 

In the area of relationships though, yes, in all honesty, fours can be difficult.

Getting caught up in emotions leads to a lot of misery for all concerned.

Plus, it's so pointless.

 

It wasn't until I toned down my volatility that I began to have better romantic relationships.

The difficulty wasn't finding partners, it was straightening my **** out so *I* could be a better half.

The enneagram just pointed out my **** (in a gentle way).

 

So, while I understand your curiosity about the hows and whys of how this came to be, I say use the enneagram for self-awareness and going forward.

There is precious little to be gained by looking backward.

I say focus on integration and emotion management/regulation.

The latter can lead to big, big gains.

 

Btw, this enneagram is a gauge of how you are right now; not a life sentence, since types change with time and growth, just like the Myers-Briggs.

I'm largely a different person now, and my number reflects that.

So does my life, and I'm better for it.

 

Really? I thought each personally has a wing which makes them seem like they're different at times, but deep down will always be the one they originally scored as.

 

That's what I read on one ennigram site. That if you're a four, you can become a healthier four, but you'll always be a four because these traits are deeply rooted within us.

 

Hopefully you're right because my emotions get the best of me, it killed my relationship. However, my ex was a 9 I don't know if 4&9's mesh well. I use to get paranoid because I didn't know what she was thinking half the time. Even if she would tell me the problem I felt there was more to it.

 

Anyway, you're right I need some emotional management. Im trying to meditate daily so my emotions can stay on point. It's awesome that you made so many changes hopefully I won't stay a four forever

[cerridwen]

Really? I thought each personally has a wing which makes them seem like they're different at times, but deep down will always be the one they originally scored as.

 

That's what I read on one ennigram site. That if you're a four, you can become a healthier four, but you'll always be a four because these traits are deeply rooted within us.

 

Hopefully you're right because my emotions get the best of me, it killed my relationship. However, my ex was a 9 I don't know if 4&9's mesh well. I use to get paranoid because I didn't know what she was thinking half the time. Even if she would tell me the problem I felt there was more to it.

 

Anyway, you're right I need some emotional management. Im trying to meditate daily so my emotions can stay on point. It's awesome that you made so many changes hopefully I won't stay a four forever

 

People are incredibly malleable and capable of great shifts.

 

From experience, I can confidently say this sort of personality typing is subject to change.

I still retain some positive qualities of the 4, but my development has been so drastic, the 4 descriptor no longer reflects my core identity.

 

So, good luck, OP! Lose the painful parts but for God's sake, KEEP THE CREATIVITY!!

[Haydn]

Just did the online one. Type 4.

 

Need to do more research. Really interesting.

 

Better half is type 9.

[Jonp219]

Just did the online one. Type 4.

 

Need to do more research. Really interesting.

 

Better half is type 9.

 

Awesome! Another 4 lol

 

Where did you take the Haydn?

[Haydn]

Awesome! Another 4 lol

 

Where did you take the Haydn?

 

Similarminds. But i realise there is a lot i need to read up on regarding this.

 

Is there a link you could provide that is better? pm?

[cerridwen]

Just did the online one. Type 4.

 

Need to do more research. Really interesting.

 

Better half is type 9.

 

That's a great combo.

9's patience comes in handy for dealing with you mercurial 4s.

[Haydn]

That's a great combo.

9's patience comes in handy for dealing with you mercurial 4s.

 

She`s telling me now.

 

I`m tidying.......

 

 

But i really want to know more about this.

[Jonp219]

That's a great combo.

9's patience comes in handy for dealing with you mercurial 4s.

 

I saw a diagram earlier about some research done years ago. They found out that 4 Males and 9 Females are a rare combo, but 9 Males and 4 Females is 4x more likely to happen/work. I don't know why, but yeah I thought it was interesting.

[Jonp219]

She`s telling me now.

 

I`m tidying.......

 

 

But i really want to know more about this.

 

I'll PM you a good link.

[StalwartMind]

I'm an Ennegram four, which kind of sucks because it's rare for a male to be a four. I tend to be emotional, romantic, depth seeking, creative, and irritable. There aren't too many compatible matches out there for me, and when I fall in love I fall hard. I have a hard time connecting with others unless it's on a creative platform (writing). I don't know how I became a four, I guess it's the soothing love of my mother mixed with the egotistical aggression of my father.

 

Romantic, emotional, depth, seeking, creative are all things I share as well. I do place a heavy emphasis on especially depth with any type of relationship and friendship. Anything temporary doesn't really interest me all that much, I typically need to absorb things to get a deep and meaningful experience. It can make things more challenging if you hard a have time connecting with people outside of writing, but thankfully there are more opportunities today compared to say 15 years ago. There are some decent places around the web, where you can write with people who are similar to yourself, this of course may not be for everyone, but it's still nice to feel and see people who share and appreciate the same values.

 

There is a lot of interesting information which I'd encourage anyone just a bit curious to have a look at, especially with MBTI. I did search this forum some weeks back to see if there ever was a post about personality types and I believe the only one, dated back to like 3 years ago. No matter how anyone wish to use and think of all this, it's really up to each individual, but it is fascinating (at least to me), how a lot of it seems to be pretty spot on.

 

While some people may shift a bit, especially as they mature, I'm fairly certain that 10 and even 50 years from now, I'll be the same as I am now. I've always been drawn to helping others as well drawn to things that lasted. INFJ type people, like myself, typically never have many relationships, and this seems to go well with my past and current situation. Hopefully I've met the person who's going to be with me for the rest of my life, much like you as well when I fall in love I do it hard as well and it feels great when it's reciprocated, especially beyond your own expectations.

 

From my own experience, there do seem to be a lot of people who really appreciate thoughtful writing, we all have different ways to express ourselves in, but I believe that anyone who can relay their thoughts like yourself, as well as many other people on this forum, they have a really good chance of finding someone who they can connect with. Communication is crucial in any healthy relationship, both in written as well as spoken, but even if one prefers written there are others who do too, including myself.

 

Anyway I'm possibly just rambling a bit at this point I do tend to write long messages in general, even if often fewer words can do, there are those who appreciate both. I most certainly need to read more in depth about enneagram, I'm fine with links left in this post or private messages. Whatever anyone feels like would be worth a look, even for others who may be reading this thread as well.

[Tayla]

Took the test and decided I am split personality LOL!!

 

It stated the results as 5w6. (Am I a motor oil??).

 

The problem when I take a test is that I mostly answer possibly or probably.Because at any given time I can be a risk taker or conservative, quiet or boisterious, analytical or compassionate.

 

years ago a gal at work said- well dear you are a private person. And I took that as such an insult, that I do not share or give feedback to encourage others. When I reckon she meant that I reserve opinions or wait things out til further solid evidence avails itself.

 

Thanks for this topic, interesting to read where other folks faired in this test.