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The nine Enneagram types explained – What I’ve learned about life from the Enneagram

in Lifestyle on 03/13/20

Home » The nine Enneagram types explained – What I’ve learned about life from the Enneagram

I’m finally writing about something that has been HUGE in my life over the past 6 months! (my friends & fam know why I’m saying this LOL). I’ve been wanting to write about the Enneagram for a long time, but I often found myself distracted and I guess I just didn’t want to write about something this hard. Today I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about the 9 enneagram types, I dive into the 9 enneagram types explained, my favorite free enneagram tests, best books I’ve read and what to do after you found out what enneagram type you are.

This post took over 20 hours for me to write because I had to research a lot and tie together many pieces from different sources, so I hope you find it useful!

Enneagram types explained – Please pin it!

The Enneagram types explained. Everything I've learned about this amazing personality test.

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

Have you heard about the Enneagram or the 9 Enneagram types? Do you have any idea what the fuzz is all about?

The Enneagram is not just another personality test. It goes way beyond that. It helps you dig deep in your heart to understand WHY you do the things you do. It’s being used by major Fortune 500 companies, religious organizations, therapists, universities, and by us regular folks who simply want to improve our relationships with ourselves and others.

When I first found out my type, I cried like a baby. I have never in my life felt more understood. I have also never felt more vulnerable. Just by reading about it online, I learned so much about why I do the things I do and it sparked something in me. I simply needed to learn more.

So… What is the Enneagram?

I’m going to quote one of my favorite Enneagram websites on this one, because they can do a better job than me explaining what the Enneagram is. It can get a little bit complicated as you learn more about it, but here are some of the most simple definitions I found about the Enneagram:

“Is a system of personality typing that describes patterns in how people conceptualize the world and manage their emotions. The Enneagram model describes nine different personality types and maps each of these types on a nine-pointed diagram which helps to illustrate how the types relate to one another.

“The Enneagram reveals that all people belong to one of nine major personality types. The purpose of the Enneagram is not to put you into a box, but to help you identify both the strengths and the limitations of a preferred strategy and to give you guidance on how you may develop more capacity beyond it”. (Source: Truity)

Personality types – 9 Enneagram types explained

Source: The Enneagram Institute

Note: The 9 types have different names and it depends on the author. If you click on the article linked above you can read about each type. I just didn’t include it here because it would have made this post too long. Here are the 9 enneagram types explained:

Type 1: The Reformer

Generally, Type Ones are Rational, Idealistic, Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionistic.

Type 2: The Helper

The Type Twos are Caring, Interpersonal, Demonstrative, Generous, People-Pleasing, and Possessive.

Type 3: The Achiever

Threes are Success-Oriented, Pragmatic, Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious.

Type 4: The Individualist

They are Sensitive, Withdrawn, Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental.

Type 5: The Investigator

Type Fives are Intense, Cerebral, Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated.

Type 6: The Loyalist

Committed, Security-Oriented, Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious.

Type 7: The Enthusiast

Type Sevens are the Busy, Fun-Loving, Spontaneous, Versatile, Distractible, and Scattered.

Type 8: The Challenger

Type Eights are Powerful, Dominating, Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational.

Type 9: The Peacemaker

Type Nines are Easygoing, Self-Effacing, Receptive, Reassuring, Agreeable, and Complacent.

Each type relates to one another in a unique way. It’s actually beautiful to see. Also notice when you read about each number, they mention some negative traits too. It’s on purpose, because it’s easier to recognize those characteristics within ourselves, so it actually helps us determine our type.

How to determine your Enneagram type:

There are several online tests that will help you narrow your type to 2 or 3 different possibilities. Just please be aware that there are very few cases where these tests are 100% accurate. You have to do your part too.

You may have read some of the types above and at least one caught your attention, right? But remember, in order to determine your type you have to dig deep about WHY you do what you do, so here are the core desires, weaknesses and fears related to each type:

Core Motivations, Desires and Fears: (Source: Your Enneagram Coach). The Enneagram types explained:

Type 1: The Reformer

Desires: Having integrity, being good, balanced, accurate, virtuous, and right.

Fears: Being wrong, bad, evil, inappropriate, unredeemable, or corruptible

Weakness: Resentment—repressing anger that leads to continual frustration and dissatisfaction with yourself, others, and the world for not being perfect.

Type 2: The Helper

Desires: Being appreciated, loved, and wanted.

Fears: Being rejected and unwanted, being thought worthless, needy, inconsequential, dispensable, or unworthy of love.

Weakness: Pride —denying your own needs and emotions while using your amazing intuition to discover and focus on the emotions and needs of others, confidently inserting your helpful support in hopes that others will say how grateful they are for your thoughtful care.

Type 3: The Achiever

Desires: Having high status and respect, being admired, successful, and valuable.

Fears: Being exposed as or thought incompetent, inefficient, or worthless; failing to be or appear successful.

Weakness: Deceit —deceiving yourself into believing that you are only the image you present to others; embellishing the truth by putting on a polished persona for everyone (including yourself) to see and admire.

Type 4: The Individualist

Desires: Being unique, special, and authentic.

Fears: Being inadequate, emotionally cut off, plain, mundane, defective, flawed, or insignificant.

Weakness: Envy—feeling that you’re tragically flawed, something foundational is missing inside you, and others possess qualities you lack.

Type 5: The Investigator

Desires: Being capable and competent.

Fears: Being annihilated, invaded, or not existing; being thought incapable or ignorant; having obligations placed upon you or your energy depleted.

Weakness: Avarice—feeling that you lack inner resources and that too much interaction with others will lead to catastrophic depletion; withholding yourself from contact with the world; holding onto your resources and minimizing your needs.

Type 6: The Loyalist

Desires: Having security, guidance, and support.

Fears: Feeling fear itself, being without support, security, or guidance; being blamed, targeted, alone, or physically abandoned.

Weakness: Anxiety—scanning the horizon of life and trying to predict and prevent negative outcomes (especially worst-case scenarios); remaining in a constant state of apprehension and worry.

Type 7: The Enthusiast

Desires: Being happy, fully satisfied, and content.

Fears: Being deprived, trapped in emotional pain, limited, or bored; missing out on something fun.

Weakness: Gluttony—feeling a great emptiness inside and having an insatiable desire to “fill yourself up” with experiences and stimulation in hopes of feeling completely satisfied and content.

Type 8: The Challenger

Desires: Protecting yourself and those in your inner circle.

Fears: Being weak, powerless, harmed, controlled, vulnerable, manipulated, and left at the mercy of injustice.

Weakness: Lust/Excess—constantly desiring intensity, control, and power; pushing yourself willfully on life and people in order to get what you desire.

Type 9: The Peacemaker

Motivations: Having inner stability and peace of mind.

Fears: Being in conflict, tension, or discord; feeling shut out and overlooked; losing connection with others.

Weakness: Sloth—remaining in an unrealistic and idealistic world in order to keep the peace, remain easy-going, and not be disturbed by your anger; falling asleep to your passions, abilities, desires, needs, and worth by merging with others.

As you can see there are a lot of deep, dark feelings listed above. I wasn’t joking when I said you’ll have to do your homework and start digging deep into your soul and heart in order to determine your type. However, don’t feel overwhelmed! There are many online tools that will help you narrow down your options.

Best FREE Enneagram tests to help you discover your type

I did many tests. They all clearly stated I was a Type 1. And I really am. It took me a while to accept it, but I am a Type 1.

Here are the 2 tests I think are the best ones:

  • True Self.
  • Your Enneagram Coach.

These are both amazing resources. I encourage you to take them both because they are very different. Each takes like 10-15 mins and you only have to click and not write, but you should be fully focused and thinking about your answers, so the results are more accurate.

Very important things to remember about the Enneagram: (this goes for all enneagram types)

  • You can only be one type. One. Just one. Read that again. Just one.
  • It’s not about the things you do… It’s about WHY you do them. What is the core motivation or fear behind every decision you make.
  • No type is better or worse than another.
  • Use it only for yourself. I know it’s tempting to start trying to figure out which type everyone is, but instead of doing that, share with them the tools so they can find their type on their own. As I mentioned before, to figure out your type you need to know your core longings, fear and motivations and you don’t know that by looking from the outside in.
  • It might take some time to figure out your type and that’s perfectly normal. Why? Well, you’ll be surprised… You might not know very well who you are. It took me a couple of months to find out and confirm it. It took G around 3 months. I had to do a lot of soul searching, but I’m so happy I did it. As I said before, I have never felt more understood and I feel like now I have all the tools to growth in certain areas of my life.
  • You don’t have to be a Christian to understand it. The Enneagram is used in a lot of Christian settings with the belief that God created us a certain way and the Enneagram is a tool to truly see ourselves the same way God sees us and in order to have a better relationship with God, we have to know ourselves better. Isn’t that so beautiful? However, you can still use it if you are not a Christian. There are many Enneagram coaches that do not mention the Gospel at all. The Enneagram itself is not a religious thing. It’s just a tool churches are using to guide people through self discovery and to improve relationships.

Best Enneagram books (that I’ve read)

I have read 4 different books and I loved them ALL! Here they are in case you want to dive in. They are all on Amazon.

  1. The road back to you. By Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile. I recommend starting with this one. It covers all the basics and describes each type in a very detailed way. I personally read through every single type because we are all connected and we have certain characteristics of each type. I also asked everyone I love to figure out their type so I could learn how to love them better and just be a better friend in general, but that’s just me being a 1 LOL.
  2. The path between us. By Suzanne Stabile. Great read! I absolutely loved this one too because after figuring out my type and everyone else’s in my life, this book served as a great tool to learn how to navigate relationships in a much healthier way. I loved that it helped me understand other numbers better and to have more empathy towards the people I love the most. It’s game changing to try to see life and situations through other people’s perspectives.
  3. Becoming us. By Beth & Jeff McCord. This is the one I’m reading right now. I’ve only read a third and I really like it. It’s mostly about relationships, but there’s a lot of useful advice and it has open my eyes to see things differently and understand how a healthy relationship works and how to get there.
  4. The Enneagram collection. Type 1. By Beth McCord. This one is specifically for my type, but there’s one for each type and after you find out which type you are, I strongly recommend you to get your hands on one of these. You can find yours on Amazon.

Best Enneagram Instagram accounts to follow:

There are so many online tools to learn more about the Enneagram and some of the bets ones are on Instagram. Here are some of my faves in no particular order:

  • Lindsay B – @lindsay_b_talkin_enneagram
  • Gina – @ginagomez.co
  • Beth McCord – @yourenneagramcoach
  • Josh & Liz – @justmyenneatype
  • Enneagram Explained – @enneagramexplained
  • Sarajane Case – @enneagramandcoffee
  • Enneagram Enthusiast – @enneagramenthusiast

So…. Now you know your Enneagram type… What comes next?

The million dollar question. To be honest I’m still working on this. It’s a lot of information and it requires a lot of internal work and growth, but it’s 100% worth it. I’m going through the books and doing some journaling. It’s been really hard for me to figure out how I feel about every little emotion that’s inside me, because I’ve suppressed them for so long that I think I forgot how to deal with them. Before learning about the Enneagram, as sad as it is to admit, I didn’t really know or understand myself and my actions very well, so it’s been a journey.

I’ve seen a lot of the IG accounts I mentioned above have one on one sessions, workshops and online courses. Maybe I’ll try that later, but I’m not sure yet. Whatever you decide to do after, for now, I just encourage you to figure out your type and start learning about yourself. I think that’s a great way to start!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below. I know this was long and I swear I tried to keep it simple, but there’s so much to learn about this powerful tool. I’m hardly an expert, but I’m here to help in any way I can :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hope you all have a great weekend and please stay safe out there.

XO,

Aimara

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About Aimara

Hi! I’m Aimara and I’m the voice behind Ways of Style.

I created this Blog as a space to express my thoughts and life experiences while wearing cute outfits of course! What started as a hobby is now my full time job and I’m here to encourage you to always be yourself, work hard and to always show up until your dreams come true. Read More…

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I have a million photos to post! Trying to catch u I have a million photos to post! Trying to catch up here but somehow I never seem to sit down and share stuff in this account. I guess I like our travel account better! 😜 @waysoftheworld_ 

I’ve been trying to stay active with travel outfits and styling tips on the @shop.ltk app, so if you are interest you can check them all out by clicking the link in my bio. This dress was one of the best pieces I packed this time! It’s so cute for photos with any background basically!

We are currently on day 53 our of our 70 day trip through the Yucatan Peninsula 🤯 We’ve been to Cozumel, Punta Allen, Bacalar, Campeche, Merida and today we made it to Valladolid. We have one more stop before spending a week in Mexico City with family and then off to a new country we go! This lifestyle comes with its unexpected challenges, but we wouldn’t change it for anything!! 💕

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Never stop pursuing what sets your heart on fire. Even if it’s scary. And if you don’t know what that is yet, I encourage you to make the time to find out 💙

PS: this photo was taken on a scuba dive trip while in Cozumel a couple of weeks ago. If you ever find yourself there, do yourself a favor and do it with @scubatonycozumel 🤿 You will not regret it!

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Yesterday we had a full day of exploring different Yesterday we had a full day of exploring different places and I needed different outfits but I didn’t have space to bring a whole new look. That’s when button down shirts + sneakers come handy! 

In the morning we went to the beach to snorkel and in the afternoon we explored Mayan ruins and had drinks and dinner. I needed sun protection and sneakers because they don’t recommend to walk the ruins in sandals (uneven terrain). I was able to change the wet bathing suit at the beach restaurant and didn’! get sunburn! Win win!!

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This little device has made a huge difference in how I travel! I barely have to worry about shaving thanks to laser hair removal 🙌🏻 And today, I’m teaming up with @silknsolution to give one away to one of YOU! 🌟

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Winner will be announced this weekend!! Good luck everyone ❤️

Giveaway not associated with Instagram or Facebook. US or CAD residents only.
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Back home after spending the best 3 months of my l Back home after spending the best 3 months of my life in Turkey 🇹🇷❤️

We definitely left a piece of our hearts there, but we also learned so much and we know we will be back many times! And it feels good to be with family this time of the year.

I know I didn’t do a good job at posting in here. Honestly, I thought it was going to be easier, but starting a new Instagram, blog and YouTube channel from scratch for @waysoftheworld_ took a lot more time than I ever thought it would! So now, I’ll try to share some of my favorite photos from this trip in here because it’s never too late 🙃

This one was taken in a small mediterranean town called Kas. It was one of our favorite places in all of Turkey! It’s the perfect vacation spot to just enjoy life 💕

Feels good to be back! Hope everyone has a great week ahead and thanks so much for being here!!
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Sharing 25 travel outfit ideas I created with the Sharing 25 travel outfit ideas I created with the best 7 pieces I packed! 🙌🏻

I believe these 7 pieces are not only good for traveling, but to add as part of your capsule wardrobe if you are thinking about starting to live with less things. I promise you won’t regret it!

I hope you find it useful and that you feel inspired to recreate any of these looks with pieces you already have in your closet. If you have any questions, let me know! I’m always here to help 🙂

Happy Monday ❤️
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Turkey has been incredible. We are blown away by h Turkey has been incredible. We are blown away by how beautiful it is, all the different landscapes, the food, and above everything, the people ❤️

Looking back to a few weeks ago when I was really afraid of going on this trip, thinking about all the things that could go wrong, being a little upset with myself in a way for not wanting the traditional life path I always thought was my only choice; get married, buy a house, have kids, save money and travel when you retire. That’s not for me. 

I’m very happy I followed my heart 💕 I wrote a letter to myself on the blog: “What’s the best that can happen if the worst happens?” You can check it out by clicking the link in my bio. I hope it inspires you to think about what YOU really want in your heart, make a plan and go after it (but be patient). I promise that if I did it, so can you.

You have everything it takes ❤️

Link in bio to read.
…
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I basically only wear olive green and white now 😂 

Our days in beautiful Kas are almost over. I’m leaving a piece of my heart in this cute little town and we will definitely be back! Now it’s time to hop on a 6 hour bus to Pamukkale and see what that place is all about! 

Honestly, the only reason we are going there is because of me. G is not too crazy about it, but I’ve seen it on Instagram so much that I wanted to see for myself what the buzz was all about. So I’ll keep you posted on what it actually is!

If you are interested in knowing more about Kas (and all the amazing places we are visiting) we share a lot more on @waysoftheworld_ 💞 
We talk about useful tips, costs, best things we do, where we stay and so much more. I also update those stories daily! So I hope to see you there 🙃

Until next time friends 👋🏻
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I was brave 💙 This was the most amazing experi I was brave 💙

This was the most amazing experience. I was SO nervous and anxious before but somehow I managed to push through and tried this very scary thing for the first time. And you know what I learned? That I loved it! I would do it again a million times! It wasn’t scary at all. It was all in my head and it wasn’t real. Also, they had the sweetest dog at the shop named Lucy that really help me not to think about it (swipe to see her 😍)

We didn’t do any crazy tricks like G did and it was a very peaceful flight. It’s up to you how you want to do it.

I can see why Ölüdeniz is one of the top places in the world to go paragliding. If you only want to do it once to cross it off your bucket list, this is the place you go to. We shared a post about with useful information in case you are interested. Link in bio + stories.

Would you do it? 🙃
Make sure to follow our adventures around Turkey on @waysoftheworld_ 🙏🏻
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