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✳️  FUNCTIONS  — MONEY IS A:
1. store of value. If I work today and earn 25 dollars, I can hold on to the money before I spend it because it will hold its value until tomorrow, next week, or even next year. In fact, holding money is a more effective way of storing value than holding other items of value such as corn, which might rot. Although it is an efficient store of value, money is not a perfect store of value. Inflation slowly erodes the purchasing power of money over time.

2. unit of account. You can think of money as a yardstick-the device we use to measure value in economic transactions. If you are shopping for a new computer, the price could be quoted in terms of t-shirts, bicycles, or corn. So, for instance, your new computer might cost you 100 to 150 bushels of corn at today’s prices, but you would find it most helpful if the price were set in terms of money because it is a common measure of value across the economy.

3. medium of exchange. This means that money is widely accepted as a method of payment. When I go to the grocery store, I am confident that the cashier will accept my payment of money. In fact, U.S. paper money carries this statement: “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.” This means that the U.S. government protects my right to pay with U.S. dollars.

✳️  5  TYPES
☼ COMMERCIAL Bank $ = debt generated by commercial banks. This money is used as loans generated by financial institutions. When a customer deposits funds in a bank account, it is loaned out to other customers, which earns the original depositor interest.
There is always a reserve requirement – the portion of client funds that a bank cannot lend out to other customers. This money is a vital part of any financial system, as it creates liquidity for the buying & selling of other forms of asset. EXP : money for mortgages, business &/or personal loans.

☼ FIDUCIARY $ = payment on the basis of trust, such as cheques, but not on any order of the government.
This is a money substitute that is often a written statement of debt or intent of payment. It is essentially a promise of money at a later date, backed by nothing more than trust between the two parties in a transaction.

There are risks involved, as the supply of money & the promises made may not align. So, if too many individuals using fiduciary money try to convert their statements at the same time, it can create a run on the fiat system that underpins the exchanges.

☼ COMMODITY $ = Money whose value comes from a commodity which it’s made of (stocks…). Economists say the invention of money is in the same category as other great inventions of ancient times, such as the wheel & the inclined plane.
Early forms of money were often commodities made of a valuable substance such as gold & silver coins. Gold was desirable in itself, used in exchange for other goods or services, for jewelry….
Commodity money gave way to the next stage – representative money.

☼ REPRESENTATIVE $ = a certificate or token that can be exchanged for the underlying commodity. EXP : instead of carrying the metal, the gold can be kept in a bank vault , replaced by a paper certificate which could be carried more easily & safely.
The certificate could be redeemed for the gold at any time, so people grew to trust them as much as the metal.
Representative money led to the use of fiat money – the type used in modern economies today.

☼ FIAT $ = government-issued currency not backed by a commodity (gold). It does not have intrinsic value & does not represent an asset in a vault somewhere. Its value comes from being declared “legal tender”- an acceptable form of payment – by the government of the issuing country.
Modern economies use fiat money.
The term Fiat comes the Latin word “fiat”, meaning ‘determined by authority’ – because the value of currencies is set by government bodies, not in relation to another asset. It’s traded in the foreign exchange or forex markets.  (MORE….)

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PODCAST : Rogue’s Gallery – Secret History of the Moguls & Money that Made the New York Metropolitan Museum

 “MONEY is a belief that has to be shared with other people… otherwise money is useless: you can’t eat it or wear it, buy love with it (although it may help), & you don’t get to take it with you when you die.
Money can be anything you like — gold or silver, peas or paper, tiny shells or massive stones, or nothing at all but surfing on the electronic highway. But everyone must agree on what it is: we accept money because we believe others in turn will accept it too. It works because it works.” (GREENBACK, by Jason Goodwin)

✳️ 2 possible forms of money:
🐂  A cow. Cattle have been used as money at different points in history.
🏧 A stack of U.S. 20-dollar bills equal to the value of one cow.

Money – MUST BE:
◆ Acceptable — widely accepted as a medium of exchange – the cornerstone characteristic. SO – Even though cows have intrinsic value, some people may not accept cattle as money. In contrast, people are more than willing to accept 20$ bills, & the U.S. government protects your right to use it to pay your bills.
◆ Divisible — easily divided into small parts so that people can purchase goods & services at any price. SO – 20$ bill can be exchanged for other denominations (a 10, a 5, four 1s, and 4) quarters. A cow, on the other hand, is not very divisible.

◆ Durable — able to withstand the wear & tear of many people using it without easily deteriorating. SO – 20$ bills are fairly durable & can be easily replaced if they become worn. Even better, a long trip to market does not threaten the health or value of the bill

◆ Fungible / Uniformity – considered the same as another of the same value. BUT – you can get a larger variety of “things” from the cash, while only 3 things from the cow. Cows come in many sizes & shapes, each with a different value, so are not a very uniform form of money. 20$ bills are all the same size, shape & value – very uniform.

◆ Scarce — relatively scarce & hard for people to obtain, in order to maintain its value. While the supply of cows is fairly limited, if they were used as money, ranchers would do their best to increase the supply of cows, which would then decrease their value.

◆ Portable — easy to carry from place to place.  SO – while the cow is difficult to transport to the store, the currency can be easily put in your pocket
◆ Stable — Money’s value must remain relatively constant over long periods of time. SO – cows have a limited life span, cash usually lasts for decades.

✳️ 4 financial MINDSETS
♠︎ Scarcity – Based on negativity, this style is rooted in the lack of resources to satisfy basic needs. It can lead to making decisions out of desperation , living week-to-week, & spending most of your money on necessities as soon as the paycheck arrives.  EXP : take out loans without regard for the interest rate, or skimp on savings.

♥︎ Abundance
This is a positive outlook where you’re in the financial driver’s seat, focused on what you have rather than what you lack. You feel empowered, engaged & positive, & inspire those feelings in others.  You look for new opportunities to build wealth for Self & family.

♦︎ Consumer
It’s the “shop ’til you drop” attitude, over=buying & spending during shopping sprees, engaging in promotions like tax-free holidays & Black Friday sales. You also may feel compelled to act better off than you are. It can make you justify your spending even when financially strapped & risk getting deeper into debt. Soon, it becomes impossible to avoid delinquent bill payments, & your financial health suffers.

♣︎ Investor
You’re keenly aware of money, with a clear financial vision, dedicated to putting your money to work. Investing wisely can increase your net worth, provide a comfortable retirement, pay for college tuition, or finance your dream house. Your age, income & risk tolerance all play a role in determining the best way to invest. (Solutions for each type)  (MORE in posts re. M vs F)

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⚜️ Type 9 ENTHUSIASM – YOU CAN :
• do what you really want to do, & do it fully awake
• express your talents directly, rather than waiting for others to notice
• gently stop someone from trying to control your actions
• go inward to explore & honor what you think & feel
• honor your own abilities, talents & knowledge
• recognize that your voice matters & speak up
• share your deep feelings in safe settings

⚜️ Type 9 FLEXIBILITY  – You can step up to lead the way rather than just be a follower. Acknowledging a different point of view does not negate my own.
Self-Statement: I can step it up & assert myself, NOW!

⚜️ Type 9  GENEROSITY of Spirit – For it to come from a genuine place, not ego-based, you need to stay awake & keep a sense of a separate Self – when interacting with others & the environment. Get in touch with the embers of your volcanic anger instead of always ‘keeping the peace”. To be truly generous – not just placating – speak from your true voice.

⚜️ Type 9 GRATITUDE – Obvious idea: Be grateful for your courage & directness. Express your gratitude honestly to 3 different (safe) people for their part in your life.
Not-obvious idea: Write an advertisement about yourself, promoting all of your innate abilities & accomplishments – & post it on your bathroom mirror. If you’re artistic, make it into a visual ad.

⚜️ Type 9 INVOLVEMENT – You can get highly involved in activities that matter to you, your loved ones or teams, even someone you hardly know but find pleasant. So ASK :
* Deep down inside, what drives me to engage with others as much as I do?
* Can I tell the difference between fusing/blending and true involvement with someone, group  or project?
* What would happen if I disengaged from all involvements for just one day & seriously asked what really matters enough to be fully engaged?

⚜️ Type 9 MOTIVATION – Work at hanging on to your inner motivation even ——> when you’re tired, when there’s conflict with others that can’t be resolved, when you’re not being heard or understood, or when your integrity is challenged in some way

⚜️ Type 9 PERSPECTIVE – Too loose lenses : when you look at things so generally – you think everything in your field of vision is equally important, without boundaries or enough differences (spilled milk is just as bad as a slap in the face). You may see everything that’s there, but completely miss what’s really important for your well-being.
Remedy : Get progressive lenses so you can see the layers of reality

⚜️ Type 9 PROSPERITY – Move from calmness & self-restraint to passionate prosperity – which will benefit all.
Take courage & understand that it comes from accessing your core desire for ‘right action’, then following through on plans that let you be useful in the world.

⚜️ Type 9 RESPONSIBILITY – Having “put your anger to sleep” deadened physical instincts, which reside in the body. This led to being over-responsive to others, too accommodating to their desires ….
At the same time being under-responsive to yourself, leaving you depleted & low on the energy needed to respond to stress when most needed. Find a way to express your anger in the right way. Choose to be fully response-able to yourself first, before caring about others.

⚜️ Type 9 SPONTANEITY – To be in the present moment you need to access more parts of yourself & be fully awake to your natural instincts. Being spontaneous comes from lowered anxiety – by knowing that all of you matters, being comfortable with what you think, feel & want to do, based on your True Self.

⚜️ Type 9 VISION – Your challenge is to dream bigger – as big as you actually are.  Tap into your highest longing & ambitions, & give them the attention they deserve ——> by being their advocate. Dig out what  excites you the most, what you always wanted to accomplish, & act on it. And you’ll need to get comfortable with the tension this creates.

⚜️ Type 9 WILLINGNESS – Be willing to set aside your routines & rituals in order to be more present in your body.  Allow yourself to stay awake to deal with stressful situations, especially if they may not have a positive outcome. Be willing to use your ‘voice’- to speak up for yourself at any time, any place.

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⚜️ Type 8 ENTHUSIASM – YOU CAN :
• allow yourself to feel vulnerable (which is not weakness) – go into your heart like a child
• directly ask for guidance & support
• honor your innocence by letting your deep sweetness  show
• lighten up, see the humor in life’s messes
• look for & find safe people you can rely on
• try to sit back, instead of always being the boss

⚜️  Type 8 Type 8 FLEXIBILITY  – I can go with the flow when I really want to be in control. Other people can be boss-for-a-day instead of me without losing face or being controlled. It’s only fair.
Self-Statement: Step back. Give it up, NOW!  Allow!

⚜️ Type 8 GENEROSITY of Spirit – You can be generous in many way (protecting the weak, fighting injustice, being warm & supportive to those who could benefit)…. But much of it is ego-based, (unconsciously) designed to feel tough, & important.
Instead, true generosity comes from humility & the vulnerability of open-heartedly reaching out to another – on an qual footing – and allowing others to be generous toward you.

⚜️ Type 8 GRATITUDE – Obvious idea: Name 3 things that someone else made happen (without you!) that you’re grateful about. Sit with these in your mind, heart & body for half an hour.
Not-obvious idea: Acknowledge your needs & experience gratitude for being open, flexible & gentle in allowing yourself to feel them. Do this daily for one month.

⚜️ Type 8 INVOLVEMENT – You are intense about most things, getting caught up with people, projects & causes. But ASK :
* What’s driving my intense involvement? Is this true & pure?
* Can I stick with my involvement when I’m not in charge or in control?
* Deep inside, am I truly committed to the hopes & goals of others, even when I don’t agree with their motives, or when I’m feeling competitive?

⚜️ Type 8 MOTIVATION – Hang on to your inner motivation even when  ——> you’re not in control, you feel vulnerable in some way, or when your gut tells you something’s not going in the right direction but you can’t change it.

⚜️ Type 8 PERSPECTIVE – One dimensional lenses : realize that such a restricted view of the truth & reality usually misses other available aspects that would help you cope with life more easily, & let you be softer with other people. Accept that there are many dimensions to life, & they occur simultaneously as well as sequentially.
Remedy: Get wide-angle lenses to see a wider range of options

⚜️ Type 8 PROSPERITY – Go from obsessive control to pure prosperity,  accepting that bigness & excessive action do not create prosperity. What does is – openness & surrender to what is supposed to happen, in its own time.

⚜️ Type 8 RESPONSIBILITY – You’re over-responsive to situations when taking an immediate, big action because the stress so easily sets off your anger-defense. And under-responsive to yourself. EXP : be exhausted or ill & not realize it, feel sad, anxious, or vulnerable, but cover it so fast with anger or action – that you can’t provide your true needs. And an intense drive to have a big impact can make you over or under-respond to the actual requirements of a situation.

⚜️ Type 8 SPONTANEITY – You’re quite deliberate & strategic – which is not spontaneity. But you also take what you want when you want it, which could seem like it. Actually, it’s an ego-need for the immediate fulfillment of desire.
Genuine”presence” requires that you soften the need for power & influence, & learn to manage your anxiety of feeling vulnerable or weak…. to surrender control over whatever happens, whatever you feel & ‘desperately” want, so you can truly enjoy all the good things in the moment.

⚜️ Type 8 VISION – You’re driven by your visions, thinking big & clever, but they’re not concrete enough to grasp – even by you.

What’s the meaning & impact of this vision? What does “We should do…..” mean? How can it be implemented?
Find the exact words to explain what you know instinctually. Then your vision will attract more & more people who can help accomplish it – with less & less need for you to manage all the details (which you don’t really like to do anyway!).

⚜️ Type 8 WILLINGNESS – Be willing to give up being in control of  situations that push your buttons. Carefully notice what’s in you, available in others & in the environment. Be willing to do very, very small things, rather than only ones that have a large impact. Stay present when feeling anxiety, sadness or vulnerability – to experience the total human condition, like everyone else.

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⚜️ Type 7 ENTHUSIASM – YOU CAN :
• appreciate each small step you take toward being more & more focused
• learn to be patient with people, & especially with yourself
• set reasonable limits on yourself so others won’t have to
• realize you almost always have choices. But demanding unlimited choices before acting becomes overwhelming, so nothing gets done
• recognize that your internal processes – feelings, patterns of thought, choices of behavior – are far more interesting than any external stimuli you’ve been chasing
• trust your heart as much as your head. You can have all emotions – briefly, and you can handle the unpleasant ones !

⚜️ Type 7 FLEXIBILITY  – I can sit with (rather than escape from) the discomfort or pain of a situation, accept that it’s part of life, & know that these feelings won’t last forever
Self-Statement: Sit, Be, Feel, Stay!

⚜️ Type 7 GENEROSITY of Spirit – Your enthusiasm is contagious, willing to share your ideas & listen to others’. You’ll even sacrifice your own need- for-gratification, especially to benefit the group. But these are more ego-based – to excite & stimulate yourself or to feel a little ‘better than’.
True generosity comes from accessing your own capacity for an honest, deep feeling of sensitivity & compassion for others. It means developing your ability to stay focused rather than escaping – especially when sad, anxious or stressed.

⚜️ Type 7 GRATITUDE – Obvious idea: Feel grateful for all the times you’ve been able to stay with uncomfortable feelings, rather than avoid them.
Not-obvious idea: Name one thing in your life that you care about so deeply that your interest in it is self-sustaining. Sit with gratitude for this (positive) passion – which proves you can stay focused – when something touches your heart.

⚜️ Type 7 INVOLVEMENT – You can be highly engaged with ideas, activities, individuals, & groups – that stimulate you. But ASK:
* Do I know the difference between being stimulated vs. true involvement?
* What happens when I get involved & then get bored?
* Am I focused on the desires, intentions & motivations of others – as much as on my own need for excitement?

⚜️ Type 7 MOTIVATION – Hang on to you inner motivation even when ——> what you’re doing might limit some options & choices, when no one is really listening to all your wonder-ful ideas, or when something stressful or painful has happened.

⚜️ Type 7 PERSPECTIVE – Rose-colored lenses : opposite of Type 6, but somewhat like Type 2s. Remember that everything is not nearly as pretty or amusing as you want it to be, just because you keep wanting to run from anything unpleasant. The 2s see that way to stay connected to others, you see that way to keep having fun – no matter what.
Remedy: Get lenses that do not filter out the gritty parts of life

⚜️ Type 7 PROSPERITY – Move from meaningless pleasure to grounded prosperity. Learn about & accept that there’s a real difference between temporary pleasure masquerading as prosperity, vs. solid, deeply rewarding well-being & riches that last.

⚜️ Type 7 RESPONSIBILITY – You are over-responsive to pleasure and stimulation, over-sensitive to pain (that is, by avoiding it), and under-responsive to your own interior life, being still & experiencing deeply.
It’s hard for you to focus for longer periods – out of boredom, fear, resentment…. so you don’t always live up to your responsibilities.

⚜️ Type 7 SPONTANEITY – you may think you are because you say whatever you’re thinking or do whatever excites at the moment. Impulsivity & spontaneity – are not synonyms. Being fully present “in the moment” means staying in touch with what’s happening internally, including emotional distress.

⚜️ Type 7 VISION – Thinking of creative possibilities is an important part of a vision, but not an idea anyone can easily follow. A possibility that’s not fleshed out is like a skeleton without muscle & too many possibilities will be confusing . Daydreaming a vision without a practical way of achieving it is like falling in love with the idea of a person rather than the person themself! Pick a vision you really believe in and stick with it.

⚜️ Type 7 WILLINGNESS – Be willing to do some small undramatic things that may not feel exciting very much – or at all, but are just as important. Focus long enough to do the opposite of your impulses – to forgo your desires, not just delay them. That way your ‘spontaneous’ acts come straight from your heart, offering your gifts to others or the environment.

NEXT : Type 8 – All Positives

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⚜️ Type 6 ENTHUSIASM – YOU CAN :
• accept that letting go of someone (unhealthy or not your choice) does not mean you’re disloyal
• be more discerning about who you depend on. Stay awake
• do somethings you want or need – before being fully prepared
• do something fun every day that you enjoy
• give yourself permission to not be the one to jump in & save people
• realize you have a choice to be reactively active, or reactively passive
• relax 75% more than you normally do, & still get things done
• trust your gut even more than your head

⚜️ Type 6 FLEXIBILITY  – I can take a risk rather than carry the burden of worrying about consequences. I can let mysefself trust someone who has consistently proven to be trustworthy.
Self-Statement: If I could know all the consequences beforehand, I wouldn’t be human. Just do it!

⚜️ Type 6 GENEROSITY of Spirit – You can be very considerate & generous, showing loyalty & friendship by being protective in different ways. But it can come from your ego-based need for safety & protection.
For your natural “giving spirit” to emerge, there has to be a shift from being vigilant or reactive to relaxing, calming yourself & spontaneously letting your true warmth emerge.

⚜️ Type 6 GRATITUDE – Obvious idea: Express gratitude for the role of caution & concern play in your life. “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear” (Ambrose Redmoon).
Not-obvious idea: Think of all the times you’ve shown moral courage & be grateful for your integrity.“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world & moral courage so rare” (Mark Twain).

⚜️ Type 6 INVOLVEMENT – Whether phobic or counter-phobic, you can pursue ideas you’re passionate about, such as getting highly involved in fighting for underdogs, & supporting others, especially those in your group. But ASK :
* What’s really driving my involvement – fear & reactivity or conscious choice?
* Do I believe in myself as much as I want to have faith in others?
* Beside too easily listing all the possible risks, can I also honestly identify potentials & positives with equal gusto?

⚜️ Type 6 MOTIVATION – Hang on to your inner motivation even when ——> you’re scared, don’t know what to do, or feel that something is dangerous beyond your ability to handle it.

⚜️ Type 6 PERSPECTIVE – Gray lenses : you can become safe enough so that not everything has be as clouded, confused, or complex as you imagine, especially when you’re anxious. You can practice trusting yourself by listening to what people & situations actually tell you about themself – which they do all the time.
Remedy : Change the senses to clear glass with a clear protective film so you can see but also feel safer.

⚜️ Type 6 PROSPERITY – Move from false fear to reality-based prosperity.  Give up self-doubt, always relying on authority, & needing to show strength. Instead, trust your own judgement & ‘the process’, which is the road to prosperity

⚜️ Type 6 RESPONSIBILITY – Whether phobic, counter-phobic, or a combination – you respond to just about everything – often strongly & quickly. You have a deep sense of loyalty, duty & fear of reprisals, so don’t let yourself get over-committed­ – as if your stability, security, & well-being depend on it. You also under-perform or don’t deliver what was expected. True response-ability requires you to pick & choose what to focus on – trusting yourself to judge what’s safe & what’s not.

⚜️ Type 6 SPONTANEITY – Being very reactive is not the same as spontaneity that comes from a calm, still, centered place of pure instincts. Claudio Naranjo suggests you need to put down something –  Armor /guns (1-to-1 subtypes), Rules (social) & Self-doubt (self-preservation). Then you can rely on your True Self & your deepest instincts to be in-the-moment.

⚜️ Type 6 VISION – Let yourself dream big without worrying about being disappointed or that some obstacle will show up to stop what you most want to happen. Whatever vision you choose needs to move toward something positive, rather than stifling progress. Own your vision & go for it without needing external validation or confirmation from an authority.

⚜️ Type 6 WILLINGNESS – Let yourself relax enough to simply do spontaneous acts of contribution. Let go of your fears & uncertainty enough to take both small & large steps, even without knowing what might happen as a result. Be willing to take actions that benefit others & the environment = but not done as supporting underdogs, challenging authority or proving your loyalty & goodness.

NEXT : Type 7 – All Positives

PREVIOUS : All POSITIVES = Type 4

POST : Enneagram Strengths

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⚜️ Type 5 ENTHUSIASM – YOU CAN
• act as if there is actually abundance in the world – for you !
• expect the kind, healthy people to fulfill some of your needs
• give away something you’ve always thought you needed to keep, & see what happens
• do something spontaneous & silly each day, just for yourself, even in front of others !
• put yourself in new situations where demands may be placed on you – & if you have what’s asked – you can do it without depleting yourself
• share more of yourself with increasing numbers of people – gradually

⚜️ Type 5  FLEXIBILITY  – I can give the best answer I have, even when I think I don’t have enough information
Self-Statement:  I probably have more facts & wisdom than anyone else! I’ll go for it!

⚜️ Type 5 GENEROSITY of Spirit – You can be generous in many ways: sharing information you know a lot about & believe will be useful. But to be genuine – your ego-based fear of scarcity as a world-view needs a shift to “realistic abundance”.  You get depleted by putting so much energy into conserving & guarding, Instead – relax, stop holding yourself in. Without over-spending, you can to learn that the more one shares or gives, the more resources that are generated.

⚜️ Type 5 GRATITUDE – Obvious idea: Think of 3 things (objects, people, ideas, or events) you feel extremely grateful for. Every day, add to this list & continue for a full week.
Not-obvious idea: Make a list of everything you like very much that’s in your life & in the world – things that are never depleted, which are abundant & automatically replenish themselves. Think about this list for at least 3 days.

⚜️ Type 5 INVOLVEMENT – You can be quite passionate &  sometimes extremely involved with concepts, & higher ideals. But ASK:
* Is it realistic for me to be fully involved only using the mind?
* What would involvement of the heart look like, feel like, be like – for me?
* How I be fully involved and also be fully engaged with other people?

⚜️ Type 5 MOTIVATION – Hang on to your inner motivation even when —–> you feel that demands are being place on you that could potentially drain your energy & resources, when you have a strong emotion, or when you’re with someone else in pain.

⚜️ Type 5 PERSPECTIVE – Too far lenses : when you create too much distance, you’re too far away to really pick up things in finer detail, including yourself & how you interact with a person or situation. Don’t be so remote that you miss the nuances that allow you to connect – but still keeping boundaries.
Remedy  : Get new lenses that have a magnifying portion so you can see details that will make you more” rounded”

⚜️ Type 5 PROSPERITY – Move from false scarcity to real abundance.
Recognize that there is more than enough of everything in the world, so you can count on yourself & others to provide things you might need

⚜️ Type 5 RESPONSIBILITY – You’re under-responsive to the outside world, experiencing it as a relentless intruder, which makes being constantly vigilance imperative to prevent your energy being depleted.  You’re also under-responsive to yourself, detached from your immediate emotions so automatically – that retrieving them later changes the nature of these emotions

⚜️ Type 5 SPONTANEITY – Being disconnection from your emotions & detached from body sensations – dramatically reduces our ability to be  spontaneous. To be fully present in the moment, you need to be aware of emotions as they surface (breathing fully into chest areas) & reconnect with the body (walking, paying attention to physical sensations). To be willing – requires that you want to be a whole person, having courage to trust yourself, safe others & environments you’re in – more than just your mind.

⚜️ Type 5 VISION – When you dream of a possibility, recognize that you are not alone. Communicate your ideas to others, get feedback, revise & explore, then move forward. It’s in the nature of visions that one can never have all the information or anticipate all the possibilities. Enjoy the risk & uncertainty.

⚜️ Type 5 WILLINGNESS – Be willing to give something of yourself -without worry that more will be expected, or too much will be extracted from you. Let yourself engage from the heart & body – as well as the mind. Pay more attention to everything that’s around you, & be willing to offer small comments of gratitude to those who bring joy into the world.

NEXT : Type 6 – All Positives

PREVIOUS : All POSITIVES = Type 3:

POST : Enneagram Strengths

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⚜️ Type 4 ENTHUSIASM – YOU CAN :
• acknowledge that even frivolous things can be fun to experience
• believe you can get your needs met – by the right people
• let yourself uncover your real emotions, not just the ones that instantly surface or are over-the-top when the situations doesn’t warrant it (EXP : no house fire, no parental death…. )
• look for all the simple joys in the world & have fun. Not everything has to be serious or ‘deep’
• realize that not every moment lasts forever, since everything is impermanent, so there’s space for new or even better things
• take time to relax every day, every hour, & shed your constant anxiety

⚜️ Type 4 FLEXIBILITY  – Recognize that your unique ideas are just as amazing as other people’s. Admit & accept that you are not unique – not more special than other Ennea-Types, but very similar to other 4s.
Self-Statement: I really created that! “This is Me” (song) Wow!

⚜️ Type 4  GENEROSITY of Spirit – You can be very supportive, empathetic & generous, which is usually emotion-based. But“generosity of emotion” is not the same thing. Generosity of spirit” has to also include generosity of mind & action.
Watch out for your ego-based need to feel connected by sharing deep feelings. A true act of the spirit is being totally there for another person, by setting your own distress aside for the moment.

⚜️ Type 4 GRATITUDE – Obvious idea: Spend just as much time thinking about what’s already available in your life , as with what’s missing. Appreciate what’s right in front of you.
Not-obvious idea: Make a list of what you have to offer as a person – then shorten it to 3 items. Draw a picture, create a song, write a poem, or take a pic that represents each item. Then put them someplace special in your home or work – to look at them every day.

⚜️ Type 4 INVOLVEMENT – You  can get passionately, intensely involved with activities that fit your values, or with people you feel deeply connected to . But ASK :
* Do I know the difference between intensity/passion and involvement? Is it possible I get overly-involved?
* Can I get fully involved if I don’t relate completely relate to all parts of a situation, don’t feel listened to or understood?
* Can I focus just as much on the hopes & drams of others as on my own needs & drives?

⚜️ Type 4  MOTIVATION – Hang on to your inner motivation even when ——> you feel someone is demeaning or rejecting you, when you have to do what you consider to be a mundane or boring task, or when you’re are stressed & upset with someone or something

⚜️ Type 4 PERSPECTIVE –  Too close lenses : don’t get so up-close & personal, paying too much attention every nuance of the other person & your emotional responses, that you can’t be objective about the whole person & how they fit to don’t fit with you.
Remedy: Use a refined zoom lens that allows for range flexibility & a conscious compass to know when to use it!

⚜️ Type 4 PROSPERITY – Move from waiting for prosperity to engaging in prosperity-based action.
Believe you really can & will get needs & desires met. This happens as you let more positivity into your life, along with limiting negative self-talk & other false beliefs.

⚜️ Type 4 RESPONSIBILITY – Being complicated , you’re both over-&-under-responsive to yourself and to others. For you – ‘over’ means too focused on you immediate feelings, but ‘under’ is not knowing for sure what your deepest emotions are. About others – too easily taking an ambiguous response as a slight, or someone’s negative comment taken personally. On the other hand – you don’t absorb or don’t even hear a compliment or expression of gratitude from others.

⚜️ Type 4 SPONTANEITY – You think you’re spontaneous by being in-touch with feelings & desires, trying to follow as inner vision & daring to be different. You tend to live in the past or an idealized future.  These do not represent spontaneity – being in the moment.  ‘Immediate responsiveness’ require being in the present, accessing your truest level of awareness in the Now. The most important step is paying attention to your breathing & checking what you’re experiencing. Then find what feels good in the ordinary & mundane.

⚜️ Type 4 VISION – Explore & trust what you believe about manifest your vision into reality. Find the words that communicate this possibility to others, & don’t get deterred if they don’t understand. Absorb constructive feedback as ideas & useful information – not criticisms – & then digest it. Enjoy when others do get it & support your vision.  Remember : you are not your vision, rather a person with a vision. This helps to not take suggestions or critiques personally.

⚜️ Type 4 WILLINGNESS – Be willing to hear & absorb compliments from others, rather than discarding them as if they hadn’t been said. Be willing to find every-day things – where you can make a difference – instead of dismissing them as not important. Allow yourself spontaneous acts of small kindnesses, rather than expecting everything you do to be deep & purposeful.

NEXT : Type 5 – All Positives

PREVIOUS : All POSITIVES = Type 2

POST : Enneagram Strengths

See “POSITIVES in us ALL – Definitions” 

⚜️ Type 3 ENTHUSIASM – YOU CAN :
• be around good people who aren’t ‘successful’ by society’s standards
• have internal permission to spend time getting to know your deeper self
• identify what you really want & enjoy, rather than what you think you should
• share more of your personal information with some people around you
• try something new each week that you’re afraid you’ll fail at. But maybe not & so what! You may even enjoy it.

⚜️ Type 3 FLEXIBILITY – Acknowledge the contribution others have made to your achievements, rather than hogging the limelight. Be able to tolerate occasional disagreements or being overlooked.
Self-Statements: I’m not alone.  I notice everyone around me!

⚜️ Type 3 GENEROSITY of Spirit – Genuine giving comes from inner most identity, rather than from image. To be truly generous, not ego-based “looking good”, first take introspective time to considering who you really are, “being” instead of “doing”. Spend a little time each day on something pleasant that has nothing to do with being useful, an obligation or having a practical outcome.

⚜️ Type 3 GRATITUDE – Obvious idea: Let yourself be grateful for what you actually have, not what you think you need to gain – to be accepted.
Non-obvious idea: Feel the deepest gratitude for letting yourself do something you really wanted to do, not for success or respect, but because you simply enjoyed the process of doing it, not the result.

⚜️ Type 3 INVOLVEMENT – You are highly driven & focused, so already have a high level of involvement. but ASK :
* Am I mainly involved with tasks & projects, but not enough with people & relationships?
* Am I may only “doing” engagements rather than “being” my True Self ?
* Any time I get involved, ask “Is this something I really want to accomplish, or is it something expected of me?”

⚜️ Type 3 MOTIVATION – Work at being the main source of your inner motivation, even when ——> others don’t think you’re being effective, don’t treat you with respect, or if your confidence is shaken for some reason.

⚜️ Type 3 PERSPECTIVE – Narrow focus lenses : When your peripheral vision is blinded by over-focusing only on details of a situation, or on the results of a goal, you’ll miss important elements which you need to prosper
Remedy: Change your lens prescription to appreciate & observe the ‘big picture’ in any situation

⚜️ Type 3 PROSPERITY – Move from external (false) to internally-driven prosperity. Rather than chasing what you think should want, that comes from external pressures, identify what suits your True self. Your prosperity is based on your personality needs that may not suit the image you’ve been pursuing.

⚜️ Type 3 RESPONSIBILITY – You are over-responsive to the reactions of others, especially those you admire & respect, & you choose goals you think will make you look successful.
True response-ability starts with facing who you are at your core, so you’re not just playing roles to look good. To prevent burnout from over-work, only be responsible for your portion of task & projects, know when to rest, & focus on what’s right for you, apart from your social environment. 

⚜️ Type 3 SPONTANEITY – You may seem spontaneous because you’re generally optimistic & have effective interpersonal skills. But genuine spontaneous is not about an impressive self-presentation or having a  positive impact. Pure instinctive responses requires knowing that you actually feel & need, by having more access to your interior life, rather than living by ‘shoulds’.

⚜️ Type 3 VISION – Identify your personal vision, what ever it is – not what you think is expected of you.  Only pursue a vision that comes from deep inside you, even if the direction doesn’t fall within societal guidelines about what successful people should do. Search your mind & heart – go back to early life to recapture your vision for yourself –  then follow your path.

⚜️ Type 3 WILLINGNESS – Be willing to try something new you may not be good at.  Do something for others or the environment without anyone else knowing or seeing. Find little things you can do that bring satisfaction simply in the process, not because of the result.  Be willing to follow your own heart.

NEXT : Type 4 – All Positives

PREVIOUS : All POSITIVES = Type 1

POST : Enneagram Strengths

See “POSITIVES in us ALL – Definitions” 

⚜️ Type 2 ENTHUSIASM – YOU CAN:
• have needs of your own & not always take care of others
• identify your own wishes & dreams, and chase down/ act on them
• let yourself express your own thoughts & feelings as they emerge
• let people you care about know you’re upset with them & everyone survives!
• permit yourself to do one thing each day simply because you want to
• tell yourself that it’s fine just to be yourself.

⚜️ Type 2 FLEXIBILITY  – It can mean letting others care for you when you’d much rather look after them. It also means accepting things from others you may not actually need, want or like ! because it’s being given with love, appreciation, or even from their co-dependence. It’s OK.
Self-Statements: I will ask someone, let someone, surrender to support!

⚜️ Type 2 GENEROSITY of Spirit – You’re already generous, but how much of it is ego-based “giving to get”?  Generosity of spirit requires “Clarity of spirit”, so check your deepest motivation. Before giving, ask what you honestly want in return – for yourself ! Once you know, then be sure you’re actually capable of it and really want to DO this ‘something’ . If yes, tell the receiver why you’re offenring to help.

⚜️Type 2  GRATITUDE – Obvious idea: Allow yourself to be grateful for your growth & how you’re better able to handle what previously were very stressful situations that  made you angry or self-recriminating.
Non-obvious idea: Write down 3 positive things about yourself that you feel deeply grateful for. Say these out loud & stick them on your bathroom mirror so you can read them every day.

⚜️ Type 2  INVOLVEMENT – You already put too much your attention on everyone else. So ASK  :
* Am I involved with people-places-things because it’s something I really want to do, or mainly for others?
* While helping others express their intentions & talents, am I also acting on my own deepest dreams?
* Can I be fully involved – in anything – when not focused enough on myself ?

⚜️ Type 2 MOTIVATION – Hang on to your inner motivation instead of always deferring to someone else to be your motivation. You can stay on your own side even when ——> being criticized, someone’s being “mean spirited”, or if your advice or suggestions are ignored.

⚜️ Type 2 PERSPECTIVE – Embellished focus lenses : remember that the idealistic false-abundance you assume is only potential – or fantasy – not actual reality. That rose-colored tint is pretty but deceptive & unsafe.
Remedy: Chang your prescription so you can see less of what you imagine & all of what’s truly there! 

⚜️ Type 2 PROSPERITY – Move from false abundance to true prosperity – by fully appreciate both what’s in front of you, & what’s inside. It comes from a well-developed inner-anchor that tells you that you have a right to any prosperity you create.

⚜️ Type 2 RESPONSIBILITY – Find a balance between your 2 extremes
OVER : too focused on your perception of others’ needs, & on how others respond to you
UNDER attentive : to yourself, your own needs, wants, hopes, feelings…..
Instead, be caring & helpful to others without overextending yourself at your own expense.

⚜️ Type 2 SPONTANEITY – True spontaneity (not people-pleasing agreement) is easier when anxiety is greatly lessened, which requires:
— noticing & rejecting the harsh “invisible audience” in your head by disagreeing with its constant judging comments
—  undoing the emotional habit of repression, your defense mechanism.  Connect to your deep emotions, so you have a choice about when, where & how to express them spontaneously.

⚜️ Type 2 VISION – You are already very, very good at helping others identify & implement their visions. Get clear about what you aspire to – apart from them – what you really care about & have a passion for. Don’t compromise your vision because of the false belief that to pursue it is selfish or not altruistic enough.

⚜️ Type 2 WILLINGNESS – Be willing to try many things that are opposites to your normal behavior (even ways you consider selfish). When doing something for others or the environment, do it without even a subtle hint of self-inflation. Be willing to ‘risk’ letting yourself be free of obligations, even for a few moments each day.

NEXT : Type 3 Positives