EnneaGRAM you look good

I remember it vividly. It was in October of 2018. We were at Jeni’s ice cream for my roommate’s birthday. The conversation shifted, and everyone started talking in a language I didn’t understand.
“Well, because I’m a one, blah blah blah.”
“Oh my gosh I have to go offer to help that person because I’m a two.”
“Nope. I’m a conflict avoidant nine.”
What. on. Earth. I found out that they were talking about personality types. I HATE being left out, but sometimes I just don’t care enough to research things (very telling of my type). So I let it go.
THEN a few weeks later, I was reading another blog, and the author said that she’d been recently introduced to the Enneagram, and she included a free online test in her post. A light bulb went off, and I realized that THIS was what everyone had been talking about at Marie’s birthday. I took the fifty question test. I wish you could have seen my face when I started reading the results. I have never felt more exposed. Basically naked on a stair master.

I’ve heard SO many people say that they “don’t like personality tests because they put complex human beings into such small boxes.” I get it. I can see that, but I can also attest to the fact that knowing this information about myself has given me so much language and insight as to why I do the things I do.

Now, I am in no way an expert. I don’t even know that much about it, but it is fascinating to learn about. Although I did take a test to determine my type, most experts and teachers of this tool encourage you to read the “motivations” for each type. The enneagram institute is a great resource if you’re curious. There are nine types, and I’m going to do what I do and put it in terms that make sense to me aka pop culture.

Type One-The Reformer
The key motivator of the Reformer is “to be right. To strive higher and improve everything. To be consistent with their ideals and justify themselves. To be beyond criticism.”

Obviously, that’s Monica from Friends.

Type Two- The Helper
The key motivator of the Helper is the “want to be loved. To express their feelings to others. To be needed and appreciated. To get others to respond to them to vindicate their claims about themselves.”

Sookie St. James from Gilmore Girls

Type Three-The Achiever
The key motivator of the Achiever is the “want to be affirmed. To distinguish themselves from others. To have attention. To be admired. And to impress others.”

That is for sure one Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec

Type Four- The Individualist
The key motivator of the Individualist is the “want to express themselves and their individuality. To create and surround themselves with beauty. To maintain certain moods and feelings. To withdraw to protect their self-image. To take care of emotional needs before attending to anything else. To attract a “rescuer.”

My girl-Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek

Type Five-The Investigator
The key motivator of the Investigator is the “want to possess knowledge. To understand the environment. To have everything figured out as a way of defending the self from threats from the environment.”

Dr. Ross Geller from Friends

Type Six-The Loyalist
The key motivator of the Loyalist is the “want to have security. To feel supported by others. To have certitude and reassurance. To test the attitudes of others toward them. To fight against anxiety and insecurity.”
P.S. This is Caroline’s type

Dwight K. Schrute- Assistant to the Regional Manager

Type Seven-The Enthusiast
The key motivator of the Enthusiast is the “want to maintain their freedom and happiness. To avoid missing out on worthwhile experiences. To keep themselves excited and occupied. To avoid and discharge pain.”
I’d like to introduce you to my brain. Hello. Nice to have you here.

Buddy the Elf

Type Eight- The Challenger
The key motivator of the Challenger is the “want to be self-reliant. To prove their strength and resist weakness. To be important in their world. To dominate the environment. And to stay in control of their situation.”

Paris Geller from Gilmore Girls

Type Nine-The Peacemaker
The key motivator of the Peacemaker is the “want to create harmony in their environment. To avoid conflicts and tension. To preserve things as they are. To resist whatever would upset or disturb them.”

My fashion sensei-Jessica Day

And there you have it. Was that a lot to take in? Probably. Maybe you got a little insight. Maybe you got a little curious. I mentioned this above, but this tool has been very helpful for me since I began digging a bit deeper and researching. I have found root for the things that I do, and it has helped me understand my friends and family better. If you want to know more, I highly encourage you to go to Annie Downs’ Podcast-“That Sounds Fun”. She is currently doing an Enneagram series. It’s a great resource. Also, Ryan O’Neal who goes by Sleeping at Last wrote songs for each of the types. I can attest to the fact that my song is eerily spot on and beautifully written. And the first time I heard the song for the Type Threes, I cried. Type Threes, you have my empathy.

I hope I didn’t lose credibility with you today, and I hope I didn’t bore you to tears. I’m a Seven. I’m all about the fun! Let’s go eat a whole roll of Toll House cookie dough as fast as we can.