PREVIOUS : Ennea-wings INTRO (#1)

SITE : The Typology Podcast, hosted by Ian Morgan Cron, 

⬅️ The radar chart shows the dimensional profile of a statistically average Type One re. 14 key personality traits.
All 9 Ennea-scales are derived from “our internal research ” (2022)
EXP: Ones score high on Perfectionism & low on Spontaneity.

BENEFITS
Each Wing influences our core type differently because they’re fluid rather than static, so we can draw from their specific strengths as we become more self-aware & intentional.

Our favorite wing widens the spectrum of possible behaviors for our type, giving us several positive options to act on. When facing a challenging situation or uncomfortable conversation, it will greatly help to draw on what we know about our stronger side-kick to successfully navigate it.
That’s why it’s so important to know the strength & weaknesses of each Ennea-#.

EXPs : 🔹 a 3w2 would focus on getting ahead, aiming to acquire a fanbase or support network // while 3w4 would mainly primarily aim for self-expression & originality.

🔹 Opposites – The 5w6 would place more value on intellectual pursuits, whereas 6w5 focuses actions on trying to eliminate their anxieties.

🔹A Type 7 with a strong 6 Wing will be more caution about making decisions, while those with a strong 8 can be more intense or urgent.
OR – a 7w6 may opt for a career in stand-up comedy to combat anxieties of the Six
AND – a 7w8 could gravitate towards travel blogging & exploring the world while keeping lots of creative freedom.

Because each of us can choose to use specific characteristics of our chosen wing, we may act differently with different people, places or things (PPT) based on whichever one we pick – consistently or at the moment.
☀︎ This helps explain why people who share the same Ennea- type can sometimes seem like different types.

Although wings are commonly referred to as ‘extensions’ or ‘helpers’, they hold great power to unlock our multifaceted personality. By understanding & using them, we can :
☆ form a clearer picture of what our inner motivations look like & how they emerge from our thoughts, emotions & actions
☆ figure out which career paths align well with our interests & talents
☆ explore potential lifestyles & environments / locations we would thrive in, to help achieve long-term career & life goals.
🌐
Ennea-Type WINGS

⭐️ 1 w 9: The Idealist / Optimist. They’re practical & meticulous perfectionists, but are kinder to themselves & others (than a ‘straight’ 1) , adding a gentler touch to their need to improve. The peace-seeking 9 wing makes 1s more laid-back & relaxed. They want to be good / right but with a touch of peace.

Also, the 9 wing tends to make 1s more introverted, more objective & more emotionally detached. They find it easier to back down, to listen & explain their ideas, & not be as resentful, but can also be more prone to isolation & procrastination.

They have a knack for catching inconsistencies in others’ reasoning & judgment, but tend to ask others for their opinions about another person before judging them, instead of following their own intuition.

Under stress, they can be impersonal & stubborn. They respond to negativity by either redirecting their feelings or by avoiding them altogether. They may push themself deeper into work (1’s defense) or withdraw from it (9’s protection).

“ATTITUDE” : My morals are better than your morals, & I’m going to nap instead of listen to your criticism. Goodbye.

⭐️ 1 w 2: The Advocate / Lawyer. They’re socially aware activists who work tirelessly behind the scenes to uphold high safety standards for others. Being more vocal, they like to accept challenges & do whatever it takes – sometimes even aggressively – to reach their goals. (↙️ Image – scroll down for all 9)

The 2 wing helps the 1 be a bit warmer & somewhat more selfless, giving them more compassion & empathy than other 1s. But it can also increase their need for control, being more manipulative by trying to turn people into who the 1w2 thinks they should be. In times of stress they can become image-conscience, with a need for approval.

They’re more extroverted, more empathetic, fiery, action-oriented, & more helpful than other 1s. Kinder & more generous toward people they love, they’re not as hard on them because of the 1’s too-high standards & ideals. They want to be good /right with a touch of being lovable /wanted. (More…)

“ATTITUDE” : I’m a self righteous moral crusader

Sources : Enneagram Institute, The Enneagram In Business

NEXT : WINGS 2, 3

PREVIOUS : Ennea-

See All  2014 POSTS : Enneagram Basics, Triads, Strengths & Weaknesses

Within the Enneagram there are two kinds of movements, each with a very different quality.
♥︎ “Dynamic Points“ are the movement inside the diagram toward the two points connected to our own type, by the straight lines. (Arrows)

♦️The “Wing Points” are the movement around the outside of the circle to the points on either side of our personality type.
Our dominant wing (EXP : 6w4 or 6w7) finds its way into our Enneagram type, acting as a sidekick to all of our inner motivations & goals. 

When instinctual variants / SUBTYPES (six possible stackings) are taken into account, this leads to 108 possible combinations  = 18 types with wings x 6 instinctual stackings. (More in future posts)

REMINDER : Everyone has their own unique personality. We’re born with a strong preference for one core type, which gets developed & / or twisted – based on our upbringing.
The description of each is a helpful summary of a person’s True Self, but there will always be variations in how each of us function, even if we share the same basic number with others.  (Free 60 min. class – re shadow side)

Each of the 9 personality types has 2 different possible wings, 18 total.
WINGS are the numbers on each side of your core type. It’s as though they’re our close neighbors, so it doesn’t take much to lean over & adopt their point of view or personal style.
EXP : #5w3 or #5w4 //  #9w8 or #9w1 …. They add nuances to our own style, helping to further understand our complexities.

Wings are like ‘seasoning’ which influences our decision-making, complimenting or contradicting our basic Self. They can affect thinking & behavior – to help or hinder – because we identify with some of their basic qualities. Your ability to monitor how our wings’ motivations impact you is based on how self-aware you are.

A recent study from the American Journal of Psychiatry says that “Individuals are generally more influenced by one wing than the other, although traits from both may emerge in response to different environments.” In that way, wings can be seen as options people can toggle between, depending on their context & health level.

NOTE that whichever wing you usually rely on most can temporarily shift to the other one, based on fluctuating life events.
However, if a person ages or matures, they can gradually move to the opposite wing more permanently – when the earlier number no longer suits their personal development.

EXP : A gentle, insecure 9 who leans too much on a 1 wing – trying to be perfect —> with growth, can drift into using some of the more assertive (not aggressive) qualities of the 8, to a be stronger 9w8.

ALSO –  It’s rare-to-impossible to draw on both sides & be equally balanced, just as it’s hard to find a perfectly balanced ambivert who scores 50/50 on the Introversion–Extraversion scale.

CONFUSION : Wings can make the same Ennea-# seem like a different core type, depending on how much of our wing numbers we pick up, as well as current life circumstances.
Naturally, adding qualities from a wing to our basic Self will affect how we think & act, because the dominant Wing & dominant Type have different motivations. So it’s important to understand them, to maximize or limit the influences coming from each.

EXP: Over time a healthy 4 can use qualities from both the 3 & 5. When in public, they can express the outgoing & entertaining qualities of the 3. And in their own space, they can access the thoughtfulness & focusing qualities of the 5 to get chores done & regenerate.

Enneagram coach Myrna Cervetti suggests that wings can be thought of as using salt & pepper to flavor a dish. The main one doesn’t change, but adding varying degrees of the 2 condiments affects the taste. So too with wings – too much of either number can make even the healthiest type inedible (unbalanced), while the right proportion can significantly enhance our life
Sometimes the dominant wing can have too much influence if:
🌧 you don’t know who you are very well (core #)
🌧 are living mainly in the False Self, or
🌧 don’t YET have internal permission to inhabit & express the person you know you really are & want to be. This will make it hard to be clear about our True Type.

NEXT : Intro #2, + Type 1 Wings

PREVIOUS: Ennea – Arrows Type 9, + Qs

SITE : SOUL CHILD
(Michael SHAHAN, Kansas City, MO for each type)

♥️ The Soul Child theory uses the standard Enneagram teaching about the arrows going out from or toward our core Type, which is about taking on characteristics of the higher side of one number when we’re healthy, & the lower side of another number when stressed.
EXP: 8 takes on the best of a 2 when growing, & the ‘worst’  of a 5 when regressed.

The wounds we received in our most vulnerable early childhood years cause us to developed defenses & coping strategies that pushed us directly across the stress line & landed us permanently at the number we are now.
BUT the Soul Child theory suggests that we *were actually born more like the number we move towards in growth.*

The idea is that as we work at & improve self-development, we actually become more like the Type we were to begin with. So personal growth is both healing the wounded self, & actually reclaiming the True Self! (Michael SHAHAN, Kansas City, MO for each type)

SUGGESTIONS from Sandra Maitri :

NEXT : Enneagram WINGS

PREVIOUS :
Enneagram ARROWS (TYPEs 7, 8)

💟 Type 9 under STRESS
As 9s experience stress, you start to act more true to your type – withdrawing & trying to numb yourself to the problems. You may distract yourself with fantasies or console yourself with platitudes & proverbs. You hope that if you can numb the pain you’re in you can  survive to soon see the brighter side of life.

If stress continues – when motivated by or pressured to respond to external events –  having to step out of your comfort zone to deal with problems or conflicts you can’t avoid – you’ll disintegrate to the unhealthy version of the 6. You feel anxious, insecure & overwhelmed, even paralyzed – not having enough skill or resources to handle situations well.

Instead of being tolerant & nurturing, you become rigid & over-committed, while doubt your ability to handle anything, which can make you panicky. Shifting from a typically calm demeanor TO unusual displays of temper & resentment (that can feel for you like a volcanic eruption), shocking yourself & others – OR becoming defensive & passive-aggressive.

It gets harder & harder to make decisions, so you hope that others will handle things so you can get back a peace of mind. You complain, blaming other people for you insecurities & trouble. Scrambling for something to hang on to, you may look for security in religion, institutions, authorities or friendships.

♥️ At their best, Type 9s pick up positive characteristics of a healthy 3, moving into a much more active feeling center (2,3,4). This can sometimes be overwhelming, leading you to wonder “Who am I really?” Even so, adding the best of 3 helps you take command of your life, making  better decisions.

You exchange the role of “passive passenger” to “engaged activator”,  motivated & inner-directed. With a stronger sense of their feelings, opinions & desires, you express them regularly rather than shoving them down & then exploding later.

You find energy & drive from inside, wanting to express your interests using natural talents & learned skills, You go after your dreams by setting & achieving goals, greatly benefitting from 3-ish routines that keep you on track & in motion.

You feel more self-confident & autonomous, & take constructive actions. Not selling yourself short, you accept that you can deal with emotional upsets during periods of growth. You know the difference between destructive impulses vs. the healthy ones that can to be trusted – as you develop a steady sense of self-awareness. ⬆️ Full art explanation

Using a tennis metaphor : when you’re connected to 3 energy & you hit the ball to the 9’s side of the court (toward others) – you stop waiting for the return by hang out with it, thinking it over, ‘communing’ with the surrounding environment …. Instead, the ball comes right back because you’re more direct, & so others know who to respond to. There’s less delay & more back & forth in relationship.

Instead of living through other people, you know in your gut (9) that your presence in the world not only matters but is welcomed by others. You have a  quicker, more involved style of relating to others, able to assert yourself properly. With a greater sense of purpose & meaning to your life, you look for ways to inspire self & others. It means you can be a world-changer – connected with your vitality & authentic values.

» GROWTH Inventory :
🔺The 3 arrow-line indicates an unapologetic ambition & intense need to take action leading to results. So as a 9,
— what do you do with your own ambition that slides below the surface
— and how do you fulfill your desire to be recognized for the actions you take?CHECK-IN : Once you’ve read through all the Types & their arrows, answer the following Qs & consider which TYPE fits you the best :

NEXT :

PREVIOUS : Enneagram ARROWS (types 5, 6)

💟 Type 7 under STRESS
As you experience stress, you initially act more true to type – excessive pleasure-seeking & looking for distractions – to protect against underlying pain. Anything that stands in the way of your need for a positive outlook is fought against, acting more impulsive, reckless & rebellious.

If stress continues, you disintegrate to unhealthy Type 1s.  You flip from being positive & having fun (“I’m OK, you’re OK”)  TO critical & perfectionistic, progressively argumentative, judgmental & resentful, with black-&-white thinking.

Realizing you have to focus your energies if you want to accomplish anything, you impose limits on yourself & others, defending your beliefs, trying to “buckle down” to stay on track & get ‘unpleasant’ thing done. You’re brusque, grim, impatient & rigid. Judging self & others harshly, you scold & nitpick, making condescending, sarcastic comments.

You’ll also force others to get out of your way & just “do what you’re supposed to” so you can get back to the exciting, fun life you crave. You  can’t imagine how anyone would exchange fun for stillness, so you miss the emotional & mental richness of your experiences by constantly rushing from one activity to the next.

However, you might also pick up some of the structure & responsibility of Type One to step out of ‘endless options’ & focus on practical action.

♥️ #7 – At your fullest potential, you exchange an insanely fast pace for a slower, more peaceful one, experience life on a deeper level. You access the 5’s natural ability to be quiet & reflective. This is not always easy for a 7, as you may connect with some fear, or find it boring or lonely at first.

However, you do realize there’s a huge advantage to withdraw, at least temporarily, from your normal busy flow of activity & stimulation, to be able to think clearly & perceptively.

As you center yourself, you stop fearing the loss of happiness & start focusing in-depth on your interests. By sitting with your experiences, you find stability & security – inside. Not satisfied with just being in the world, you want to understand it (5).

You find peacefulness in sometimes being alone with yourself, connecting with a deep gratitude for what you already have, & enjoy living in the present, rather than always looking for future pleasures.
You hang on to meaningful  things, people & events, seeing the world as something to take care of instead of just something to use.

Grounded 7s stop consuming & start contributing more originality to the world around you, like healthy 5s. Rather than shoving more events into your bucket –  hoping it’ll fill a longing for satisfaction – you create space to value & be fascinated by what’s right in front. ⬆️ Full art explanation

» GROWTH Inventory :
a. The 5 arrow line indicates a rich shadow of stillness.
So as a 7,
— how does it feel to be still? what do you do to sill yourself?
b, And what about the 5’s ability to conserve their resources for the future?
— Are you willing ? have you been working on conserving energy, finances, relationships…. for the long term?

💟 Type 8 under STRESS
At first when 8s feel threatened, you act more true to type – confrontational, direct, & hostile. People have to walk on eggshells so they don’t set off an explosion.

If stress continues, you disintegrate to a negative 5, withdrawing from the world, becoming even more disconnected from your feelings. Brooding over all the problems & threats -real or imagined – you get stiff & cold, convinced others are out to get you.

Your big fear is losing power & feeling incompetent. To compensate, you hoard facts & information, looking for answers to protect yourself. You white-knuckle your ‘position’, refusing to entertain differing ideas, & act secretive but high-strung, while at the same time worrying about how you affect the people around you.

8s tend to be over-invested in everything, so some amount of detachment & distance can be helpful. BUT IF you stay too long in the 5’s energy, or are forces into it by overwhelming conflict or upset, you can become very shut down, leading to deep depression.

♥️ As a strong, powerful 8, you have direct access to your emotional center at the arrow-point of the healthy Type 2. At first this can be uncomfortable if you’re worried about being taken advantage of or controlled.

Emotions, even if well hidden, supply energy & create motivation in daily life. Spending time in this heart point makes you more accessible for caring contact, & better at extending empathy (which 2s are so good at). It also provides a different, yet important ‘intelligence’ for making good decisions. Emotions, even if well hidden, supply energy & create motivation in daily life

While many 8s do have a generous & caring side, it’s not easy for you to be vulnerable or receptive (both are 2-ish). Used to being assertive in the face of a world filled with conflict, it takes courage to open up & be seen as having a tender side. At your best, you can reach out to people, because you understand that vulnerability with safe people is courage, not weakness.

Having courage is a great way to use your power. By not always being on the defensive, you learn who’s trustworthy & who isn’t – by their behavior. When needed, you let others take care of you without feeling weak or at risk, which is a gift not only for you but also to those who care about you.

As you use your strength to nurture instead of fight, you influence positively, experiencing the heroism you’ve dreamed of. You relate to others as individuals & equals, being kind, compassionate & forgiving. ⬆️ Full art explanation

When comfortable in your skin, you’re more open & accepting of others’ perspectives, able to give up the need to always be right & in charge. Other’s opinions are simply that – a different opinion – not a betrayal of you.

» GROWTH Inventory :
a. The 2 arrow-line indicates a large capacity for generosity, as well as a deep concern for how others react to & are impacted by you. So as an 8,
— how are with being purely generous – without a reward?
— admit you do care how others experience you & think of you?
— admit you do care a lot about your impact on others ?

NEXT : Arrows for Type 9

PREVIOUS Arrows
(Types 3, 4)

💟 Type 5 under STRESS
With stress, you take on characteristics of the unhealthy Type 7.  One way that shows up is that you can feel pressured to relate & talk to people, while on the inside you’re  counting the minutes until you can escape & retreat to your own private space.

Another version is for the 5 to be scattered, frantic, even clingy – trying to feel safe. Your usual calm presentation becomes tight & stiff, as you try to manage functioning while being distracted, disorganized & disoriented.

As you become more fearful you’ll  white-knuckle everything in your life – resources, time, energy…. becoming harsh & condescending toward others, maybe even frivolous, often selfish & self-focused – truly hurting those you care about.

It might also show up as the frantic 5 – instead of your usual reserve – distorting the 7’s outgoing, gregarious style by compulsively being the life of the party, talking up a storm when you get exited about something.

♥️ 5s, at your absolute best, you find energy, inner strength & the confidence of the healthy Type 8. But the shift may be quite dramatic. As a quiet & somewhat withdrawn 5 you become more body-based, more assertive, even intense in the way you express yourself.

How wonderful for a somewhat detached, mental type to access the instinctual gut vitality & (potential) grounded-ness of the 8.
You trade the role of Observer for Engager in social situations & start to share more of who you are. While this surprising change can be quite a challenge for the friend or partner, showing up this way is a gift to those around you who long to know the parts you generally hide. ⬆️ Full art explanation 

The 8 helps you trust that you have enough info, plus the guts & energy to make it through tough times, rather than operating from scarcity. You focus on positive changes, supporting the efforts of others & making a difference in the world.
8 provides a lot of good energy, if managed well. Some 5s use this arrow-line regularly in physical activities such as sports, martial arts, or a committed outdoor lifestyle.

» GROWTH Inventory :
a. The 8 arrow line also indicates a deep shadow of enormous personal power & the ability to take up a great deal of space, even more than most people can inhabit. So as a 5,
— how do you use the amount of deep and rich power that is potentially yours?
b. And what about the 8’s ability to move into a larger space & fill the territory?
— what would it look like if you could be big, rather than keeping yourself small?
💟 Type 6 under STRESS
As you start sliding downward, you start to look like the low side of Type 3s. You either become completely passive, blindly following authority, or arrogant & competitive, in frantic action or anxious striving. You may present the image of having it all together – while over-doing everything. Afraid of not being successful, you won’t try new things unless you’re sure you can pull it off.

You’ll work hard to manage the increasing anxiety by controlling, restricting &/or obsessively working.  When you notice pushing yourself too much, pause, breathe & actively finding ways to calm you mind. Work on managing anxiety, rather than being consumed by it.

However, the 3 anergy is responsive & adaptable, letting you quickly get into action & achieve results directly. It can be a great relief as a 6 to “just do it”, leaving behind over-thinking & doubting. In business, 6s are often pulled, or pushed, into the 3 position. You can do this up to a point, but will eventually find it quite stressful. To avoid burnout or getting sick, you’ll need to get back to home base.

♥️ At your best, move towards the high side of the Type 9 by being more optimistic & relaxed. You’ll notice this shift when you  drop your center of gravity from head (5,6,7) down to the belly (8,9,1), literally relaxing into you body & a wider consciousness.

You’re less concerned with figuring things out, & more accepting of whatever happens, trusting the universe.  Being more emotionally open, receptive & peaceful – you stop constantly scanning the environment for danger.

You become more easy-going & light-hearted by quieting the scared “inner committee”, seeing life from many different angles. You’ll be able to get in touch with your gut when making decisions, trusting yourself more than the authority figures in your life. You intuition is sharper than you realize most of the time. ⬆️ Full art explanation

Many 6s develop their bodies through exercise or athletics, & If you over-do things you an end up with inertia & indiscrimination. It’s also imperative for 6s to relax the mind, allowing “big-picture thinking & going with the flow” of the 9.
Joining the best of  Types 6 + 9  has the great potential of combining perceptive intellect & instinctual grounded-ness.

» GROWTH Inventory :
a. The 9 arrow line also indicates a vast shadow of peace & flow. So as a 6, — how do you express peace, flow & relaxation?
b. And what about the 9’s ability to be ok with the uncertainty that comes with multiple perspectives but without clear answers?
— Can you? How do you handle that?

NEXT : Arrows 7, 8

PREVIOUS :
ARROWS (Types 1, 2)

💟 Type 3 under STRESS
At the early signs of stress you become more true to type – extra competitive & eager to prove yourself. You try ways to stand out from the rest of your peers, but not so much that you get isolated. Working on a variety of projects becomes a way to ‘manage’ the stress, ending in exhaustion.

As you disintegrate you slide towards the low side of Type 9, you’re overwhelmed by doubt, losing interest in your own ambitions, your natural confidence & optimism slip away, losing motivation. You’ll be forced into that point by overwork & other stressors, wasting energy in unproductive busywork or totally zoning out of life & laze around – very uncharacteristic for 3s.

You can become extremely people-pleasing & begging for attention, at the cost of your integrity. It can get so bad that you turn the 3’s competitiveness & aggression on yourself, being self-neglecting, even self-destructive, looking disheveled & unkempt.

Alternatively – it’s also possible at Point 9 to slow down a bit, following more body-based rhythms of activity & rest. If you can move to the 9 before getting overwhelmed, you can benefit from the grounding & harmonizing qualities available there.

♥️ As 3s move towards the health arrow line to the high side Type 6, you become more focused & engaged with the people around you, rather than obsessed about the work that “need to get done.” You’re warmer, closer in touch with your emotions, & have a strong desire to connect with loved ones.

You commit to something outside of tasks, allowing yourself to lean on others, & accept that you’re part of a greater whole. Doing volunteer work, asking for advice from a trusted friend, or seeking wisdom from someone you admire – is encouraging.

As you’re more in touch with worries & let others to know about them – this vulnerability actually build stronger relationships. You start accepting that you’re loved for who you are, not what you’re doing or producing. This allows you to admire other people – instead of feeling pressured to always be the “best.”

You’re less competitive, not focused on impressing others, using your talents to serve the community – championing others, doing what’s best for the group, believing that we’re better off together. Through this process, you’re more connected to self & others, so feel safer.

It’s a good time to re-evaluate what success truly means to you – getting lots of things checked off the list? having thriving relationships? others’ constant approval? being your authentic self?  Your answers say a great deal about how you show up in life, relationships & at work. ⬆️ Full art explanation

» GROWTH Inventory :
a. The 6 arrow line also indicates a deep shadow of anxiety & fretting. So as a 3,
— how are you anxious & uncertain, even when you are trying to hide the angst inside, even from yourself?
b. And what about the 6’s incredible insight & depth?
—  how can you integrate this keen ability to experience, analyze & understand the complexity of the world around you? 💟 Type 4 under STRESS
When a 4 begins to slip into a less healthy space, you become more negatively 4ish – physically withdrawn, mentally confused, & emotionally sad & depressed, feeling disconnected from the rest of the world.

You think nobody understands you, you’re on an island alone & everyone’s entirely out of reach. Fantasies take over, but you get more & more depressed as you realize your fantasy world is so different from real life.

As stress increases, you fall to the unhealthy 2. Like them, you feel deeply unstable & unsure of who you are – on your own. Desperately trying to find a connection, you reach out to others to be helpful & generous, but are needy & overly-attentive – wanting to be needed as well as supported.

You hope others will realize how gifted or talented you are, & see you as a unique individual. Envy surfaces as you become even more convinced you’re defective & missing something essential.

Ironically, many 4s report that it can take too much effort to stay long in the 2ish ‘nice’ attitude. OR it can feel false, as if they’re giving up their individuality to win approval & make connections.

However, if you can choose, or at least accept, that – to be in the external environment of relationship – you’re leaving your comfort zone, you’ll handle ‘having to meet & greet people with more grace.

♥️ During periods of growth & security, 4s will begin to take on positive qualities of 1s. Feeling secure & well appreciated, your center of gravity tends to shift to the belly center (8,9,1), becoming more physically grounded & emotionally calm. 

You want to put things right & can take principled actions, rather than being sad & worrying about what’s missing. Instead of feeling victimized, or having volatile, angry outbursts, your instinctual energy is steadied & you can consistently stand up for yourself.

You have clarity about who you are & where you’re going, so become less dependent & obsessed about the past. Instead, you live in the present, experiencing it fully, staying aware of your emotions & needs.
This allows you to have a healthy understanding of & separation between identifying but not being those feelings – able to control emotions, not always needing to act on each one.

You can think more positively & feel joy, living in the present moment. The discipline of the #1 allows you to follow through & reach 4’s creative ideas & dreams. Remember – the identity you long for is already part of yourself, not something to be manufactured.  ⬆️ Full art explanation

» GROWTH Inventory :
a. The 1 arrow-line also indicates a deep shadow of judgment & resentment. So as a 4,
— how are you critical, deeply angry & resentful?
b. And what about the 1’s sophisticated discernment & ability to exert self-control?
— how can you be more discerning, better at holding your boundaries & more self-regulated?

NEXT : ARROW (Part 3)

PREVIOUS : ARROWS – INTRO

💟 Type 1 under STRESS
AT FIRST, when you sink into a less healthy place, you become more true to your type –  overzealous in proving you’re right. You’ll see things more in B & W black, suppress anger through gritted teeth, clenched fists, & possibly workaholism.

As stress increases, you become moody & irrational like unhealthy 4s, getting lost under the brutal judgment of your inner critic.  You’re weighed down by negative thoughts, assume you’re unlovable, & so become more sensitive to any criticism, however well-meant.

Tired of being responsible and trying to live up to their ideals, stress frees you to admit being upset. After holding it together for so long, now it spills out in a disorderly, even hurtful, way.
OR –
you internalize anger even further, getting more judgmental of self & everyone else. Resisting any sort of fun or an offer of connection from others, you end up resenting people who are enjoying life – sinking further into misery.

♥️ Type 1 in GROWTH
During periods of growth & security, you take on some of type 7’s best qualities, become more forgiving, spontaneous & joyful. Being more optimistic, you’re able to see the good things in the world, letting yourself have fun & be spontaneous. Self-acceptance will be easier. ⬇️  Full art explanation

At your best, you realize that part of being a responsible person means taking good, tender care of yourself. You’ll want to try new things & be open to many new & exciting opportunities. Recognizing that life is a journey to be enjoyed, not a goal to be accomplished, you can pause to enjoy the little things that show up along the way . 

Adding type 7’s creativity to come up with positive options, you use
your clear sense of what “perfect” looks like by enjoying the benefits of sticking to reasonable rules, structured plans & time commitments, to make your idea a reality.

When you succeed integrating these two points (1 + 7), the enthusiasm & positive spirit of the 7 will infuse the responsibility & hard-work of the 1. Flexibility & spontaneity are joined with integrity & purposefulness.

Warning : If the 7 point is not well integrated, you can “act out” now that your usual self-control is gone – overdoing everything.
» GROWTH Inventory :
a. The 7 arrow line also indicates a deep shadow of licentiousness & hedonism. So, as a 1 :
— how are you licentious (decadent) & hedonistic?
b. About the 7’s spontaneity & ability to innovate?
— how often do you dare to think & act outside conventional rules of engagement?

💟 Type 2 under STRESS
When you start to experience stress, you immediately behave more 2ish – repressing unacceptable emotions & focusing on serving others. You hope that if you do enough – then maybe you can ask for something in return.

However, many times you just don’t ask for what you really need, so when people don’t read your mind you feel taken for granted & used. So when you don’t get the affection longed for, you can take on some of the harsh qualities of the 8.  You become more controlling, demanding & manipulative, shifting blame for difficult situations on to others

You may lash out at others, feeling justified in going after the attention that’s been missing for so long. You might gossip, point out the things you have done, & act arrogant & self-righteous. It can go so far that you become bitter, vengeful, fueled by hatred. You may obsess about & point out ‘old wrongs’ you’re still upset about. Stress makes you possessive in relationships, which can leave others feeling smothered & inadequate.

♥️Type 2 In GROWTH
At your best, you pick up the healthy qualities of Type 4 – you can shed some of  the pressure to “love everyone”, focusing more inward. It’s vital to look at yourself squarely, dark side & all, so you can move towards self-knowledge – to realize your repressed emotions, needs & motives.

Spending time in quiet introspection & creativity helps you be more self-accepting, so life feels more profoundly meaningful. You can spend time with people who benefit & encourage, & invest effort in things you truly enjoy doing, by yourself, just for yourself.

⬅️ Full art explanation

Remember : you’re loved for who you are, even when you’re not serving. Your needs are worthy of their own attention, & you have to provide many of them, along with asking for the support & help you have a right to.
Also, your natural generosity becomes more powerful because you’re deeply in tune with the human experience as a whole.

Warning : The drawback of the 4 is that you may get stuck in sadness or melancholy, ‘helped’ by seeing only what’s missing in work or in relationship.
» GROWTH Inventory :
a. The 4 arrow line also indicates a deep shadow of anger – for not being seen & not getting your needs met, AND despair about feeling hopelessness about it all.  So as a 2,
— how are you angry & despairing, even as you’re hiding behind a smile?
b. And about the 4’s creativity & ability to be different from others? — how could you be more creative, more daring to be yourself even when these defy societal norms?

NEXT : ARROWS (Types 3, 4)

PREVIOUS :

SITE : “History of the Arrows”

BASICS: The Enneagram is expressed as a series of lines of movement or influence, which indicate the interactions between the Types, patterns of energy movement or flow.  It seems there’s some inherent, organizing intelligence in the diagram itself.

In this way the Enneagram is different from other personality systems. It’s more than a simple list – it’s a holistic system based on the symmetry & mathematics of this ancient diagram. Apparently the lines indicate the ways that energy moves in repeated patterns, & regarding humans, the lines seem to carry important information about our psychological patterns.

This design provides 4 visible options to enrich each Type, by offering specific development stretches :
— the wings (the number on each side) that provide more gentle growth steps (in future posts)
and
— arrow-line points that provide more radical movement.
Each ennea-type has two lines of influence emerging from it, connecting to two others – indicating patterns of energy flow between the types. They suggest how we’re likely to act in different situations.
💛 Various NAMES of the 2 directions :
“Growth vs Stress” , “Integration vs Disintegration” ,  “Stretch vs Release” , “Development vs Tension”

★ The Direction of Growth arrow represents ideas & behaviors we incorporate into our type during personal growth, generally positive responses that will lead to psychological / spiritual improvement over time.

For each type, this arrow-point highlights the inner talents & learned skills we need to develop in order to remain cool under pressure. Those characteristics are a checklist of things we can consciously do to integrate those abilities.

Moving along this line allows us to explore the higher aspects of the connecting type, opening a doorway to increased health, self-actualization, & release of stress.
AND
★ The Direction of Stress can be seen as the direction of stretch or challenge, thought to represent how we’re likely to act when
overwhelmed – mainly a course of downhill behaviors, a doorway to potential neurosis.

What defines as stressful will depend on your primary type.
EXP: a 3 will feel frustrated when not having enough work to do
— a 5 can feel overwhelmed when too many people want to talk to them at the same time
— a 7 may feel pressured when having to create something that will be judged by others…..

While our core type remains ‘home base’, we can travel or even be pulled along these connecting lines, taking the number at the other end of the arrow as either a polarity or a paradox to be experienced.  .

📍 The usual understanding has been that when we add information from the “good” arrow’s type, we’re becoming more ‘developed’, but when traveling in the “bad” direction, we’re undermining ourselves.

More recently, it’s become clear that we actually need both to develop into a balanced, functional person. Both arrow-point numbers provide an important option for expanding our type, so both can help to create positive, sustained behavioral changes.

Arrows are a roadmap for growth, indicating the resources & strategies available for tackling the built-in challenges our personality type naturally struggles with.
OPTION:  a deliberate use of the higher side of our ‘stress’ type may combine positive stress with stretch, balancing the less-effective tendencies or reactions of the core type.

EXP : Type 8 (arrows to #2 & #5) works hard to keep things running & to champion the underdog – everywhere. The qualities from type 2 can be used to soften the 8’s ‘natural’ harshness when interacting with others . And the 5’s studious nature can be used to quiet the 8’s busyness so it can take private time to contemplate or study.

When we move along the lines there’s a rich potential for exploration with a valuable shift in perspective – that lets us step out of our typical style & reactions, to create new ways of responding to our world. Ideally, the goal is to be fluent in using our two lines as tools to form a Whole Self.

Ultimately, the goal is to “move around” the circle, integrating what each type symbolizes, gaining the healthy potentials of all the types.
Each Enneagram number expresses a variety of important qualities we need to live well. The ideal is to become a balanced, fully functioning person who can draw on the power (from the Latin “virtue”) of each type – as needed.

IMP : The personality type we start out with is less important than how well (or badly) we use our number as the staring point for development & self-realization.

NEXT : ARROW (Part 2)

PREVIOUS: Subtype Stacking – SO

SITE : ALL ABOUT LAZINESS

DEF: “A failure to act or perform as expected due to conscious, controllable factors — namely a lack of individual effort.

ACoAs have been trained to be human DOings, instead of human BEings. So, taking time out to relax is considered worthless, even a ‘sin’. We believe everything has to be done the hard way, no matter how much it stresses or harms us.

This is based on some of the Toxic Rules we were raised by:
“Life is an endless struggle / / Down time is wasted time / / No playing until ALL my work is done / / I’m supposed to always suffer / / I have to keep tying BUT never get ‘there'”
We assume that relaxing means we’re not being productive – not ‘producing’ an object or a function (cleaning, writing….).

However – resting, doing something pleasant or something fun is actually a very real need of our body & mind.

Modified from Kayla Matthews’ article “You can be lazy”:

• When your mate wants to spend time with you
Mentally positive & emotionally fun time spent with your  significant other (S.O.) can have a positive & dramatic impact on the relationship, so make sure to put it higher on your priority list than paperwork or household chores

• To NOT miss the little things
Watching the sun set, or making time for other small pleasures as often as possible (every day?), can have a number of medical & emotional benefits. It can also be a great source of inspiration & motivation for future productivity. SO – take a few minutes to watch the sky change colors & then get back to work.

• When you feel a cold coming on
When the seasons change, we may feel tired & achy. Handle the early signs of a cold with more self-care, taking a lazy day off to sleep, take vitamins, cleaner food, play….

Some people actually try to work harder, assuming they’ll get it all done before they start to feel truly awful. Usually this adds stress tp an already compromised body. So the best thing to DO is nip your cold in the bud to max health & productivity

• When aggressively over-doing
Unexpected things to deal with can crop up throughout the year, and certain times are extra stressful, like end-of-year holidays.
So it’s best not to wait to the last minute to prepare for the ‘onslaught’ of activities.
On the other hand, don’t drive yourself crazy trying to plan & organize everything – perfectly – in advance. Do a little at a time, spread out what you can, AND take small breaks – often. You’ll feel stronger & get more done.

• When not being ‘productive’
Sometimes we confuse productivity with busy-ness. Just because you’re working on something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s moving you toward a valid goal .
If you’re no longer interested in the task or project you’ve been sweating over, or you have mental-block — you’re better off stopping to take a nap, grab a healthy snack, read something non-related to the work…..  That way your mind has time to unwind, recharge, maybe even letting your unconscious work out a problem while your conscious mind is focused elsewhere

• When emotionally stressing out
If you’re worrying about something about work or in your home life, take an hour or two to quiet yourself – whichever healthy way works best for you.
New ideas or Improved motivation come more easily to a quiet & rested (lazy) mind — than to a frantic, overactive one. When you go back to your tasks or creative project, you may be able to focus on them more calmly & be more productive.

• When spending too much 
While soup & sandwiches might not be ideal for dinner every night, they can definitely be the answer if you’ve been eating out too often. Having a lazy meal at home can be a nice change of pace, for both you & your wallet.

• When ‘burnt out’
There’s a difference between simply not wanting to do something & actually being exhausted. It’s very wise (healthy, loving….) to listen to what your body is saying:
— If it’s physical, take an evening to veg out with your favorite escapism
— If it’s mental, just the opposite may be true – do something physical. Exercise release endorphins that make you feel better

• When you’re done
Our society places a lot of value on the number of hours we spend working every day. But that shouldn’t matter nearly as much as quality of output.

🌱  If you can turn out great work in less time than the next guy, that’s your plus.
🌱  If you need more time to do things right & well, that’s what’s best for you.
🌱   If you’re done with your to-do list, you’ve earned lazy time.

NEXT: Enneagram ARROWS – INTRO