PREVIOUS – ORIGINS (Part 1)

SITEs : “Coins of the Bible – when money was first mentioned

QUOTE : “All wealth belongs to the Divine , & those who hold it are trustees, not possessors. It is with us today, tomorrow it may be elsewhere.” — Sri Aurobindo

✳️ Money as SYMBOL
In ancient times, money was often used ritualistically, serving as a symbolic offering to deities, representing wealth and prosperity in ceremonies, and sometimes even acting as a substitute for actual goods in sacrificial rituals, with different cultures employing various practices depending on their beliefs and the form of currency available to them.

Tithing: In religions like Judaism, the practice of “tithing” (10%) involved setting aside a specific portion of one’s income as a religious offering to the temple, often with a symbolic monetary value

• Symbolic Value : Money was often seen as a representation of abundance & power, making it suitable for rituals aimed at attracting wealth, good fortune, or fertility. James Hillman wrote
” …money brings panic, confusion, ecstasies, joys and madness, especially when we try to hold its flow with rational accounting. Taurus the Bull, rules money (the Age of Taurus – 4300- 2150 BC)  so bags, pits, vaults, temples…. have been trying to keep the life in the money under control, as do the other measures in which we pen the bull.
But money is a wild ride because it’s truly blood money, perhaps never severed from the bull…”. Hillman (Pompeii fresco ▶️ ).
So it may be easier to understand why we speak of Bull Markets. At its symbolic root, money is not rational, &, like the bull, it relates to passion & desire. Financial markets are subject to the tidal periodic rises and falls just like the Moon and just like our emotions.

• Offerings to Gods: Many cultures would deposit coins or other forms of currency in temples or sacred sites as offerings to deities, either as a way to appease them or to request favors. Hillman writes that “the ceremonial dismemberment of the bull was the origin of bits of money. The spit on which the animal was roasted (obelos) became the coin (obolos) as the piece of bull meat stuck to the spit.”

In some cases, money could be used as a symbolic substitute for actual sacrificial animals or goods, particularly when the practice of animal sacrifice was restricted or considered inappropriate.  (COIN :  Apollo <——&——> Numa Pompilius 97 B.C.)

EXP :  In ancient times (Greece, Rome….)  money had more psychological & symbolic meaning than  economic.  In ancient religious rituals money was used as a symbol in sacrificial food ceremonies. The ‘god’ received the best part & the participants the rest – according to their social rank. To be excluded from the feast meant they were a social outcast.

Coinage evolved from the ritualistic killing & eating of the divine bull.  Metal coins (gold, then, silver then bronze) eventually replaced bull meat, representing royal esteem. & proportionally to the amount of each citizen’s contribution to the state.
So – the system of commodity money eventually evolved into a system of representative money. Money as a form of commercial exchange came later.

BTW – In England this ritual continues to the present – the royal gift of 1/4 venison is bestowed on important people such as the Prime Minister, lord chief justice, archbishops of Canterbury & York….

Therefore, money as a status symbol preceded money as a means of exchange. However, the deep psychological meaning in the human mind – as a measure of social rank – has not changed, even though our rational mind only considers money as a medium of exchange for tangible goods & services.

DEF : The word money derives from the Latin word moneta with the meaning “coin” via French monnaie. The Latin word is believed to originate from a temple of Juno Moneta on the  Capitoline hill often associated with money. It was the place where the mint of Ancient Rome was located, & she was believed to have blessed the coins herself. “Juno” may have derived from the Etruscan goddess Uni, & “Moneta” either from the Latin “monere” (remind, warn, or instruct) or from the Greek “moneres” (alone, unique).

NEXT : MM – TIMELINE , #1

PREVIOUS : MM – Intro, #3

SITE : • Tragic Money” – from ancient Greek literature & tragedy plays.

💲   💲   💲
In early societies, survival was based on being the strongest & swiftest. But over thousands of years, money has become a substitute for strength & speed. People no longer compete directly for basic needs, but indirectly to purchase food, shelter ….. 

Because the ancient origins of economic systems precede written history, it has not been possible to trace the true origin of the invention of money. The use of barter-like methods may date back to at least 100,000 years ago, although there is no evidence of a society that relied primarily on barter. Historians believe metal objects were first used as money as early as 5,000 B.C. Non-monetary societies operated largely by debt & gift economy. When barter did occur, it was usually between complete strangers or potential enemies.

Many cultures around the world eventually developed the use of commodity money. The first usage of the term came from Mesopotamia circa 3000 BC, with a shekel as a unit of weight, which relied on approx. 160 grains of barley.  Their accounting documents – in the monetary system sense – showed lists of expenditures & goods received & traded.

Commodities are basic items used by almost everyone – including salt, tea, cattle & seeds. Using these items as money alleviated some of the problems of bartering. However, commodities weren’t always easy to transport , as many were perishable or difficult to store.
KNIFE-shaped commodity money were produced by various governments & kingdoms in ancient China about 2500 years ago, & circulated in China between 600 & 200 B.C. during the Zhou dynasty. They seem to have evolved in parallel with the spade money (12 different types) in the north-east of China. from 1045 to 256 B.C.

Societies in the Americas, Asia, Africa & Australia used shell  The use of shells in trade began as direct commodity exchange, the shells having use-value as body ornamentation.
Metal objects were first used as money as early as 5,000 B.C.   According to Herodotus, the Lydians (ancient Turkey) were the first people to introduce gold & silver coins, the first stamped coins minted around 650 to 600 BC.

Historical evidence indicates that money has taken 2 main forms, divided into money of exchange (tangible media of exchange made from clay, leather, paper, bamboo, metal…..) & money of account (debits & credits on ledgers).

The history of accounting shows that “money of account” pre-dates the use of coinage by several thousand years. Money as a unit of account was invented when the unquantifiable obligation “I owe you one” transformed into the quantifiable notion of “I owe you one unit of something”.

TALLY  – As “money of account” depends on the ability to record a count, the tally stick was a significant development. Tallies have had many uses, such as messaging & scheduling, especially in financial & legal transactions, to the point of being currency.

It was an ancient memory aid used to record & document numbers, quantities & messages. They first appear during the Upper Palaeolithic as animal bones carved with notches (notable example = Ishango Bone).
Historical reference is made by Pliny the Elder (AD 23–79) about the best wood to use for tallies, & by Marco Polo (1254–1324) who mentions the use of the tally in China. 

INSET : Medieval English split tally stick (⬇️ front & back) – notched & inscribed to record a debt owed to the rural dean of Preston Candover in Hampshire – of a tithe of 20d each on 32 sheep, amounting to a total sum of £2 13s. 4d (UK).
MANY types: Single & split tallies from the Swiss Alps, 18th to early 20th cent.

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There are two principal forms : the single & the split tally. A comparable example of this primitive counting device can be found in various types of prayer beads…..The split tally became a prevalent technique in medieval Europe to document bilateral exchanges & debts – a time when there was a scarcity of coinage & widespread illiteracy. (MORE….)

NEXT : MM – Money ORIGINS, Part 1

PREVIOUS : MM – Intro #2

✳️ MEANING of money
1.  Society has placed a cultural significance on money. It conveys intelligence, fame, power, status…. to people who have it. In reality, money is just a tool that can create opportunities for those who use it correctly. It allows us to buy necessities, invest in others, travel, & build bridges to new ideas.

2. A very personal relationship
What money means to us is a complex web of experiences with friends & family, the communities we live in, & what our culture say about money & wealth. These all affect our attitudes, beliefs & values re. money, which form the basis for the meaning we place on it. 💲Money💲 is :
🔸 part psychology (how we think about it)
🔸 part utility (how we use it)
🔸 part subjectivity (personal choices we make)
It allows us TO  :
☼ Impact & Service – be active in our communities
☼ Love – take care of family
☼ Security – feel more comfortable
☼ Power – help achieve effectiveness

Power of Choice : While history has attributed much significance to money, we still hold the power to define its meaning of in our life. The best way to live life is to feel in control, to have the ability to do what we love, & spend time with those that matter most to us. This includes the power to choose what meaning we give our money.

It reflects our beliefs & values. It’s not what we have – it’s what we do with it – that matters.  The meaning of $$ comes from the ROLES we choose to give it. With the right mindset, we can use it as a tool to help us live well.

Freedom from anxiety
Famed psychologist Abraham Maslow may be right that we re all searching for what he calls self-actualization – the best version of ourself – but we can’t satisfy the higher levels of our human needs if we can’t provide the basic necessities first. Money can provide the essentials in life, giving us the security to strive for more.
(From “FACETS”, 2021)   (see Pyramid info expanded)

✳️ Broad ATTITUDES
Our “Money personality” is affected by them, impacting how we interact with money – ours & others»
🔻 Avoidance == A negative association w/ $. This is a coping mechanism to avoid emotional distress & can be a trait across generations.  Often the outcome is spiraling debts.
Behaviors can include :
•  Avoiding making budgets • Procrastination on bills or taxes
• Not keeping records of finances, opening banking apps & checking credit card statements.
Some reasons  
✎ Short-term comfort : spending can provide temporary comfort in times of stress
✎ Survival instincts: our brain os geared toward wanting rewards & away from anything painful. 

🔻 Status == keeping up w/ the Jones, they equate self-worth w. net worth. Wanting to be a celebrity living like a star,  they buy things to be part of a social experience & be seen in a certain way. SIGNS : they believe —
• they’re only as successful as the amount of money they earn, & without a lot of money, they’re not worth much
• if something is not considered the best, it’s not worth buying
THEY :
● are financially dependent on others
● are prone to excessive gambling
● hide spending from their spouse
● prioritize outward displays of wealth
● spend more than they can afford

🔻 Vigilance == often in the wealthy & self-made. It’s important to them to feel they have enough money so they’re alert, watchful & obsessed about their financial health. But they’re not waiting for a financial windfall & tend to downplay how much they have.

🔻 Worship == $ is put on a pedestal- more will make me gappy, solve all my problems . The person ics obsessed with the idea that getting more money is necessary to make progress in life, but at the same time, convinced they will never have enough money to fulfill their needs or desires.  (More….). 

SITE :
“5 attributes iof  money LEDGERS :
◆ Anonymity
◆ Centralization
◆ Openness
◆ Limit of Supply
◆ Physicality.

 NEXT : $ Origins, #1

PREVIOUS : MM- Intro, #1

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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….)

NEXT : MM- Intro, #3

PREVIOUS : Enneagram positives, Type 9

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)

 NEXT : Intro (Part 2)

PREVIOUS : All POSITIVES = Type 8

POST : Enneagram Strengths

See “POSITIVES in us ALL – Definitions” post for meanings

⚜️ 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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PREVIOUS : All POSITIVES = Type 7

POST : Enneagram Strengths

See “POSITIVES in us ALL – Definitions” post for meanings

⚜️ 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.

NEXT : Type 9 – All Positives

PREVIOUS : All POSITIVES for Type 6

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See “POSITIVES in us ALL – Definitions” post for meanings

⚜️ 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

PREVIOUS : All POSITIVES = Type 5

POST : Enneagram Strengths

See “POSITIVES in us ALL – Definitions”

⚜️ 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

See “POSITIVES in us ALL – Definitions” 

⚜️ 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