What is the Enneagram?The
Enneagram (“ennea” is Greek for nine) is an ancient and powerful
system of knowledge that describes 9 distinctly different personality
types and the patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving for each
type. It combines traditional wisdom with modern psychology and is a
powerful tool for understanding ourselves and others. None of the 9
types are better or worse than the others, and we remain the same type
throughout of our lives.
The Enneagram focuses on the
motivation that lies beneath the behavior. Many personality systems
describe behaviors, but only the Enneagram
goes beneath the behavior to the motivation. This motivation of each
type is the real heart of the matter. It brings into our consciousness
why we do what we do. By understanding not only what we do, but why we
do it, we increase our awareness, acceptance and compassion for
ourselves and others.
The Enneagram also allows us to see
our focus of attention which is often unconscious to us. This focus of
attention limits us and keeps us from experiencing most of what life
has to offer. This along with our deeply ingrained habitual responses
and patterns don’t always get us the results we want. By identifying
these, we can become more aware to expand our perspectives and move
toward our inner resources.
It is important to note that people are more than their personality
type. Each of us has an essential, core self that is unique. Working
with the Enneagram allows us to get out
of the box and become more flexible and creative instead of stuck in
our habitual patterns of thinking, feeling and acting. This system has
real value in not only recognizing our problem areas but in
recognizing our higher qualities and to access them more freely and
more often.
Through understanding the nine distinctly different perspectives,
we can become more tolerant of different points of views and more
easily value others’ contributions. Misunderstandings lessen as we
become aware of the different ways of seeing the world. Thus, the
Enneagram can be a powerful tool for
peacemaking.
For more information on the
Enneagram system and the 9 personality types,
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