Greetings, First name / reader:
In case you missed it: I’m Eira Estridsen, the new host of Nicole Adrianne’s Digital Book Club. Nicole’s put me in charge of organizing this weekly email to relieve some of her stress. In case you’re curious, you can find out more about me in my biography,
Girl in the Snow, which she released last year.
This week, Nicole asked me to explain to you what the enneagram personality test involves. She and I are both huge fans of this psychology-driven typing system. Recently, she’s been working with a personal development coach that uses the enneagram to identify a client’s strengths and weaknesses with a view toward achievement and balance. Here’s what her coach says about the enneagram:
“I don't know about you, but I used to be terrible at setting goals and resolutions I could stick to. I would have all these amazing ideas of what I wanted to achieve, and even how I would achieve them, but I never thought about how to ensure my well being was being taken care of. And let’s face it, none of us want to get stuck in the dreaded burnout.
By this point, I had been studying my personality for a long time—MBTI, DISC, Strengths—you name it, I had probably tried it. I think at one point I even tried colour-based personality testing, but I always ended up coming back to the Enneagram.
Why?
Because, all those other tests told me about who I was. But my EnneaType explains WHY I am who I am. In author terms, think of it like when your protagonist finally starts to see their misbelief for exactly what it is. Their “Ah-ha” moment, so to speak.
So, armed with this incredible knowledge, I decided to use what I knew about my personality type to help me, and it was a total game changer.
Even if you usually find it easy as pie to set and smash your goals, take a look at how you can set yourself up for even more success based on your EnneaType.
AS A TYPE ONE (THE PERFECTIONIST)
You are perfectionistic, responsible, and ethical but you have a tendency to be too critical of yourself and others. To avoid this struggle, set goals that focus on self compassion and self acceptance. Set aside time for self care and practice gratitude.
AS A TYPE TWO (THE GIVER)
You are warm, caring and generous but you have a tendency to put the needs of others before your own, leading to feelings of resentment and depletion. To avoid this struggle, set goals that focus on setting healthy boundaries and taking care of your own needs. Prioritise your own well being and say no to unreasonable requests.
AS A TYPE THREE (THE ACHIEVER)
You are driven, ambitious and competent but you have a tendency to overwork and prioritise success and recognition at the expense of your own well being. To avoid this struggle, set goals that focus on creating a good work-life balance. Set aside time for hobbies and leisure activities or set limits on the amount of work you take on.
AS A TYPE FOUR (THE INDIVIDUALIST)
You are introspective, in touch with your emotions, and creative but you have a tendency to feel misunderstood or different from others, which can lead to feelings of isolation or inadequacy. To avoid this struggle, set goals that focus on building connections with other authors and readers. Focus on the present, and set goals that are tangible rather than too vague or abstract.
AS A TYPE FIVE (THE INVESTIGATOR)
You are perceptive, analytical and detached but you have a tendency to withdraw from others and become overly independent, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and disconnection. To avoid this struggle, set goals that focus on building and maintaining healthy relationships, such as making time for social activities or reaching out to friends and family for support. Set small, easily attainable goals and celebrate even the smallest of wins to ensure you feel motivated and in control.
AS A TYPE SIX (THE QUESTIONER)
You are reliable, hardworking, and responsible but you have a tendency to feel anxious and uncertain, which leads to indecisiveness and a lack of confidence. To avoid this struggle, set goals that focus on building self confidence and develop a sense of personal direction. Take on new challenges or seek out new learning opportunities and practice mindfulness and self compassion to help combat your self doubt.
AS A TYPE SEVEN (THE ENTHUSIAST)
You are energetic, spontaneous, and fun loving but you have a tendency to avoid difficult emotions and responsibilities, which leads to a lack of follow through and commitment. To avoid this struggle, set goals that focus on developing discipline and commit to long term projects. Set aside time for daily meditation or take on a long term goal with a clear plan for achieving it.
AS A TYPE EIGHT (THE PROTECTOR)
You are confident, decisive, and assertive but you have a tendency to be overly controlling or aggressive, which leads to conflict and a lack of empathy. To avoid this struggle, set goals that focus on developing emotional intelligence and empathy. Practice mindfulness and seek out opportunities for emotional growth.
AS A TYPE NINE (THE MEDIATOR)
You are easy-going, receptive, and peaceful but have a tendency to avoid conflict and deny your own needs and feelings, which leads to a lack of self-assertion and a lack of clarity about what you want. To avoid this struggle, set goals that focus on developing self awareness and assertiveness. Set goals that are focused on personal growth, setting boundaries in a respectful way, learning new skills or pursuing new interests. If you are struggling to reach your goals, it can help to contact someone who will support you and hold you accountable.”
We hope this brief overview of the 9 enneagram types is interesting and insightful to you, readers. If you’d like to find out your enneagram type, please feel free to
take a free enneagram test here:
