The Enneagram Tells Me: Be Careful Reforming…

Posted: April 28th, 2011 | Author: Peter | Filed under: Seminary, Uncategorized, blogging, introspection | 9 Comments »

I just finished a seminary Spiritual Formation class exploring the Enneagram: another model of personality assessment, not unlike the Myers Briggs personality test, but much older (the Wikipedia link mentions the 1950s, but my class traced a history back to ancient Sufis, Christians, and other sources that culminated into the contemporary model.

What sets the Enneagram apart from Myers Briggs is its emphasis on process – personal growth.  Whereas Myers Briggs assessments are static (I’ll be an ENFP forever, more or less) Enneagram assessments are meant to be a starting point: we should grow beyond them, stretching, wrestling, doing the internal emotional and spiritual work necessary.  After the initial tests to determine my “type,” I found I was a 7: The Enthusiast. My basic fear is boredom.  Basic desire: the experience of life.  Vice: gluttony.  When I am stressed, my personality type naturally descends into the worst behavior of a different personality type (everyone does) and in my case, it’s a type 1: The Reformer. Isn’t that interesting?  It’s only when I’m at my worst, stressed, angry, and emotionally compromised, that I tend to function as a reformer.

As I’ve been blogging about over the last few months, when my own words begin to unravel into reformational tirades, it’s probably wise for me to suspect my motives (often subconscious).  As often as I make attempts to reform, I am not – by nature – a reformer.  I’m an enthusiast.  My “type” looks to the future with anticipation, innovation, excitement,  and optimism.  That’s where I’m at my healthiest.

So then, what’s next?!

9 Comments on “The Enneagram Tells Me: Be Careful Reforming…”

  1. 1 Crystal said at 9:10 pm on April 28th, 2011:

    Wow! I've never heard of this. I'm off to google the enneagram! :)

  2. 2 emergingpeter said at 9:19 pm on April 28th, 2011:

    Awesome! Crystal, I recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Enneagram-Psychologi...

  3. 3 emergingpeter said at 9:21 pm on April 28th, 2011:

    And here's a Christian approach from Rohr: http://www.amazon.com/Enneagram-Christian-Perspec...

  4. 4 Crystal said at 10:50 pm on April 28th, 2011:

    Thanks for the resources! Looking forward to learning more in the future. :)

  5. 5 Tobias said at 12:02 am on April 29th, 2011:

    Hm, interesting. I had thought you were an 8. You know, fighting for the marginalized, picking fights with the proud and strong… one of my best friends is an 8 and what you write reminds me of him a lot of the time. But then I only know your online personality AND even the Enneagram is only a model AND you might be a 7 with an 8 wing.

    Be careful with your "That's where I'm at my healthiest", though. I only know the Rohr perspective on the Enneagram but from what I understand, your type is NOT what's best for you but just what comes natural to you. If not reflected this will not be healthy but rather entrap you.

    When I did the test I was a 5. But I'm still not entirely sure of that. I also see some of the 7 in me as well as some of the 1 and the 4. Hm… maybe I'm a 7 as well. :)

  6. 6 Tobias said at 12:25 am on April 29th, 2011:

    I just did two online tests. I once came out as a 9 and once as a 3. :)
    I guess it's pretty hard for me to tell what I am. The only thing I'm sure of is that I'm definitely no 2!

  7. 7 emergingpeter said at 12:25 am on April 29th, 2011:

    Well said, well said, Tobias. 7 is where I naturally tend, not necessarily where I'm healthiest. Thanks for clarifying.

    5: Investigator, is actually where I "integrate," which means that's where I should first be working toward in my personal growth. So when I'm quietly observing, paying attention (thinking first, before reacting) that's an indication that I'm heading in the right direction, stretching beyond my natural hubris as a 7. And yes, I do have an 8 wing ;) There's also some of the obsessive, introspective (even introverted) 4 in me at times, too — which CAN help balance my 7-ness.

  8. 8 Andrew X said at 5:21 am on April 29th, 2011:

    It told me I am a Republican…?????

  9. 9 Travis Mamone said at 12:27 pm on April 29th, 2011:

    I'm a 4. Which makes sense, since I've always been the artsy-fartsy brooding bohemian.

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