basic fear

Ennea – LEVELS of Development Outlined (Part 3b)

dmtorbi 12-step, ACoAs, al-anon, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, mental health, Psychotherapy, recovery, self growth, self-help , , , , , ,

levels 3bI HATE BEING “AVERAGE”
but I’m working my way up!

PREVIOUS: Levels of Development #3a

BOOK: “Personality Types “~ Riso & Hudson (excerpt pages)


MEANING of the 3 Mental Health GROUPINGS (cont.)
AVERAGE (4-6) – ALL Types
LEVEL 4 – Imbalance
♦︎ External Behaviors – We are non-conforming, dilettante or expert, we acquire technique, collect, delay closure, practice, prepare, study, withdraw
♦︎ Internal Attitudes – We are acquisitive, abstracting, encyclopedic, knowledgeable, uncensored, uncertain. We analyze, build models, conceptualize & ‘fine tune’

♦︎ Desire is To – feel safer & more confident by retreating into our mind & imagination (like a Tinker Toy)
♦︎ Basic Fear of this Level – That others will demand too much of us, & then our inner world will be threatened.

At Level 4, we become more attached to / identified with a self-image we’ve created, & tend to reject any of our qualities & actions not consistent with that ‘picture’. Protecting our self-image comes at the price of limiting our options.
● We now believe that by striving for the qualities listed at Level 2, we’ll be able to meet our needs.
● Dissatisfied with reality, we become high-minded idealists, thinking it’s up to us to improve everything, so can become crusaders, critics, advocates. We get into “causes” & try to explain to others how things “ought” to be.
* * * *
LEVEL 5 – Inter-personal Control
♦︎ External Behaviors – We are flighty, high-strung, impractical, mis-interpreting, offbeat, preoccupied, secretive, speculative. We create fantasy worlds, compartmentalizing ourself into parts
♦︎ Internal Attitudes – We are agitated, absent-minded, detached, distant, indiscriminate, intense – complexifying, minimizing & ignoring our needsrigid anxious

♦︎ Desire is To – shut out intrusions (be more ‘in their head’)
♦︎ Basic Fear of this Level – That others are attacking our niche or our competency

At Level 5 we’re afraid of making a mistake, so everything must be consistent with our ideals. We become orderly & well-organized, but emotionally constricted, impersonal & puritanical, rigidly keeping feelings & impulses in check. Often workaholics, can get anal-compulsive, fastidious, punctual & pedantic.

●  In personal relationships we are manipulative & controlling, insisting that people accept our self-image. Unfortunately they don’t always respond the way we want, leading to tension & conflict.
● At this Level, we start to see the Shadow Issue of each type – the hidden elements of our personality that represents the major defect each type needs to correct in order to grow.
* * * * *
LEVEL 6 – Over-compensation
♦︎ External Behaviors – We are contentious, far-fetched, insensitive, prickly, scornful, submissive. We argue antagonize, provoke, rationalize
♦︎ Internal Attitudes – We are cynical, extreme, greedy, impatient, intellectually arrogant, pessimistic, stingy. We are distrusting & jump to conclusionsuptight anxious

♦︎ Desire is To – scare off anyone who threatens our niche or inner world
♦︎ Basic Fear (red flag) – That we’re never going to find our place with people or in the world

Throughout the Levels, the strategies we use are a way to ‘manage’ underlying anger, shame, or fear.
At Level 6 we over-compensate for those emotions. We’re so desperate to have others accept our self-image that we end up being offensive –  abrasive, indignantly angry, moralizing, scolding.
● We’re highly critical both of self & others: judgmental, picky, perfectionistic. Impatient, never satisfied with anything unless it’s done according to our prescription.
● Are very opinionated about everything : correcting people and badgering them to “do the right thing” – as we see it.

From:  “The Everything Enneagram Book“ by Susan Reynolds
“While it’s true that part of your type is genetically predetermined, without question our early childhood experiences vastly affect our development.
The quality & style of parenting, in conjunction with environmental givens — health, income, education, location, and wealth or dearth of physical, emotional, or spiritual resources — have everything to do with our ability to function at the higher, the middle, or the lower spectrum of our EnneaType.

We began life whole, but whatever happened in our early life led to a set of adaptive behaviors that suppressed our essence & created a self-constructed ego. ennea symbol
These traits are sustained by habit & the failure to examine our beliefs. If our childhood was particularly dysfunctional, our coping mechanisms will likely be more rigid and more neurotic than those people who had “normal” or idyllic upbringings. Fear grows in proportion to the dysfunction — the greater our early childhood family’s dysfunction the greater our underlying fear, anger, or need for relationship.”

NEXT: Levels of Development – part 3c

Ennea – LEVELS of Development Outlined (Part 3a)

dmtorbi 12-step, ACoAs, al-anon, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, mental health, Psychotherapy, recovery, self growth, self-help , , , , , ,

galaxy  I WANT TO IMPROVE MY LEVEL
so I can live better

PREVIOUS: Healthy Levels (Part 2)

SITE: “Identity & Type”

 

ANALOGY: Psychological layers (like the Ennea-levels) are like layers of apparel – is how we ‘clothe’ ourself, but are not our Essence.
● Outer – what we present to the world – like a man’s jacket. He can easily put it on or take it off, but it’s what he usually wears when he goes out. 3 levels
● Middle  – how we are with our family & friends – like his pants and shirt. He can take them off, but is not likely to do so & then walk down the street in his underwear.
● Inner  – what we only show to our most intimates, or keep totally private – like his underwear. He can easily take it off, but like most people, isn’t willing to walk naked through town. At home he’ll first take off his jacket, later his pants & shirt, & maybe only be naked when taking a shower. His clothes are what he uses, they’re not who he is.

MEANING of the 3 Mental Health GROUPINGS (see Part 2)
Everyone can express the achievements or tackle the lessons of the various Levels, no matter which Type, but how we handle the tasks & demands of any given Level will depend on our Number.

Most often, people live within a certain continuum of consciousness they believe to be their ‘self’, anywhere from the clarity of ‘Presence’ (Level 1) to self-harming behaviors (9). At any given moment, we are more OR less Present, in contact with ‘Being’ (Human Being rather than a Human Do-ing). Presence distinguishes the Essential from the ego-self, the real from the illusory.

Starting in 1973, Don Riso observed that a person might be healthy (high-functioning), average (‘normal’), or unhealthy (destructive to self & others), depending on what was motivating them at any given time.
He also observed that while people’s basic Type stays the same throughout life, the level they’re functioning from can fluctuate a great deal day-to-day, as well as over the years.

HEALTHY (1-3) – ALL Types
LEVEL 1 – Liberation level 1 optimal
♦︎ External Behaviors – I’ve become compassionate, energetic, enraptured, knowing, pioneering, profound, revolutionary, visionary
♦︎ Internal Attitudes – I’m awed, clear-minded, comprehending, immediately discerning, non-attached, participating, trusting

♦︎ Self-Actualization – I let go of the identification with a particular self-image, & are separate from the environment (an outside observer)
♦︎ Basic Fear of this LEVEL – Being helpless, incapable, overwhelmed, useless

At our best (no matter which Type) we have become extraordinarily wise and discerning. We no longer see ourself as limited & incomplete, having integrated qualities that were rejected at Level Two, & so truly come into balance. When living from Level 1 we realize that we DO possess what we were always looking for. By accepting what is, we become transcendentally realistic, knowing the best action to take in each moment. We are connected to ‘the Truth’ – humane, hopeful & an inspiration to others
* * * * *
LEVEL 2 – Psychological Capacity
♦︎ External Behaviors – I’ve become aware, curious, clever, perceptive, playful, unusual
♦︎ Internal Attitudes – I’m attentive, fascinated, have sensory acuity, objective, observant, unsentimentalcompetence
♦︎ Desire is To – be capable & competent (have something to contribute)
♦︎ Basic Fear of this Level – Of not being smart enough, since intuition & perceptions aren’t strong enough to give us confidence.

At Level 2 we achieve the full potential that our ‘personality’ allows us, for the most part being very open-minded & tolerant. Although we have preferences, we can act largely without bias.
We recognize our gifts, talents & qualities – trusting them : we are conscientious, have strong personal convictions, an intense sense of right & wrong, with personal, spiritual & moral values. Our desire is to be mature, moderate in all things, rational, reasonable & self-disciplined.
* * * * *
LEVEL 3 – Social Value
♦︎ External Behaviors – I’m communicative, creative, innovative, inventive, learning, original, skillful, tinkering
♦︎ Internal Attitudes – I’m concentrating, exploratory, focused, independent, open-minded, patient, uncompromising, whimsicalsocial interest
♦︎ Desire is To – master something in order to gain confidence & create a niche for ourself
♦︎ Basic Fear IS – not having anything of valuable to contribute (unprepared)

At Level 3 we form a stronger, clearer identification with our self-image, wanting to share our talents & abilities, believing that they will have a positive impact on those around us.
Extremely principled, we always want to be fair, objective & ethical : truth & justice are primary values. It’s no longer enough to just hold a certain picture of ourself to stave off underlying anxieties. We also want to show others who we are – with personal integrity & a sense of responsibility – which reinforces our self-image. Having a higher purpose often leads to being teachers & ‘witnesses to the truth’.

NEXT: Levels of Development – “AVERAGE”